Student Grant Scheme

Name of the instrument - Local language: Student Grant Scheme
Name of the instrument - English translation: Student Grant Scheme
Country: Ireland
Type of instrument: Grant for individuals
Type of entry: Single instrument

Short description: 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. Maximum amount of the grant is EUR 5 915.
Short description of the related instruments: nap

Level of operation

National

Name of a part of the country

nap

Name of the region (for regional instruments)

nap

Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)

nap

Relevance

Key scheme

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

Year of latest amendment

2011

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)

Higher education students meeting the means-test criteria.

Group(s) with preferential treatment

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds

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: EUR 5 915.

Allocation: applicants recive the grants directly from SUSI.

Eligible costs

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

Frequency of the use

Only once

Volumes of funding

For the academic year 2012/2013, the budget was EUR 103 400 000.

Beneficiaries/take up

For the academic year 2012/13, 47 585 individuals received grants by SUSI.

Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation

Student Universal Support Ireland.

Monitoring/evaluation reports available

One evaluation available - http://www.cdetb.ie/getattachment/footer/News/Latest/CDVEC-publishes-th…

Most relevant webpage - in English

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/third_level_education/fe… and http://www.studentfinance.ie/

Most relevant webpage - local language

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/third_level_education/fe… and http://www.studentfinance.ie/

Recent changes

In 2011, various student assistance grant schemes were consolidated into the current version of the Student Grant Scheme. The reform of the Student Grant Scheme resulted from a need to streamline various forms of student assistance.

Sources

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/third_level_education/fe… and http://www.studentfinance.ie/