Student Grant Scheme

Name of the instrument - Local language: Student Grant Scheme
Name of the instrument - English translation: Student Grant Scheme
Scheme ID: 116
Country: Ireland
Reporting year: 2020
Type of instrument: Grant for individuals
Sub-type of instrument: Lump-sum support
Type of entry: Single instrument

Short description: A student enrolled in full-time further and higher education undergraduate courses can apply for the grant to cover the fees and living costs. The grant is means-tested. There are special eligibility criteria and rates for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The maximum amount of the grant is EUR 5 915. Students whose family's income is below certain limits can qualify for a partial fee grant. This means that they will either be exempt from 50% of the student contribution, or exempt from 50% of any tuition fees and all of the student contribution. Eligible costs include fees and other costs related to education and training (living costs). The same applicant can use the scheme once in each calendar year.

Level of operation

National

Name of a part of the country

Not applicable

Name of the region (for regional instruments)

Not applicable

Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)

Not applicable

Relevance

Key instrument

Legal basis

Student Support Act 2011

Objective(s) and target(s)

To assist students with the various costs of participating in full-time further or higher education; provide financial help for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to particiapte in further and higher education.

Year of implementation

2014

Operation/management

Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), an agency sponsored by City of Dublin Education and Training Board, is the body responsible for processing the applications and paying grants to the successful applicants. Previously, the student grant was awarded by any of the 66 local authorities around Ireland.

Eligible group(s)

Student enrolled in full-time further and higher education undergraduate courses

Group(s) with preferential treatment

Students whose family's reckonable income is below certain limits can qualify for a partial fee grant. This means that they will either be exempt from 50% of the student contribution, or exempt from 50% of any tuition fees and all of the student contribution.

Education and training eligible

Full-time further and higher education undergraduate courses.

Source of financing and collection mechanism

Department of Education and Skills

Financing formula and allocation mechanisms

There are different types of formula for the grants: - Maintenance grants are a contribution to the student's living costs. - Fee grants can cover all or part of the student contribution to tuition fees. The level of the grant is related to the means test. The latter is based on the applicant's family's gross income for the previous full tax year. Independent mature students are assessed on the basis of their own income. There are also special eligibility criteria for students from disadvantaged backgrounds (where family income is almost entirely based on receipt of social welfare). There are 5 rates: special rate (for disadvantaged students), full maintenance, 75% part maintenance, 50% part maintenance and 25% part maintenance. Max. amount of the grant: 5 915 per year. Allocation: applicants recive the grants directly from SUSI.

Eligible costs

Fees and other costs related to education and training (living costs)

Volumes of funding

2019: EUR 347 000 000 2018: EUR 363 000 000 2017: EUR 371 000 000

Beneficiaries/take up

2019: 76 500 2018: 79 600 2017: 82 000

Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation

Student Support Ireland (SUSI) - national student grant awarding authority

Monitoring/evaluation reports available

Not available

Most relevant webpage - in English