Rise in SUSI Applications

Minister welcomes rise in SUSI applications and urges students to check eligibility for support

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless is welcoming a significant increase in students applying to SUSI for supports following the expansion of eligibility criteria under Budget 2025.

Minister Lawless is strongly encouraging students and their families to visit susi.ie to see if they’re eligible for grant support on foot of recent changes.

Following engagement with student unions this month, Minister Lawless said: "I’m delighted to see an increase in student applications this year. I know the cost of further and higher education can be a challenge, which is why we have expanded grant eligibility by raising income thresholds to offer greater support. Undergraduate students from households whose reckonable* income is under €115,000 may now be eligible for financial support. These changes are about making education more accessible and helping students pursue their educational ambitions".

Budget 2025 provided substantial improvements to the Student Grant Scheme including:

• an increase to the income threshold for the special rate of grant from €26,200 to €27,400 in line with increases in social welfare rates.
• an increase to all other maintenance and student contribution grant thresholds  by 15%.
• an increase to the income deduction for student earnings outside of term time from €7,925 to €8,424 effective for the 2025/26 academic year.
• an expansion of the eligibility criteria to allow students who have certain immigration permissions to apply for grants.
• an increase to the thresholds for the Postgraduate Fee Contribution and the Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses to €64,315.

Over 7,500 more applications have been received for SUSI grant support compared to the same time last year. Following last year’s budget, undergraduate students whose household’s reckonable* income is under €115,000 may now be eligible for financial support. SUSI is now on course to receive close to 110,000 grant applications this year.

Last year, approximately, 65,500 students had their Student Contribution paid in full or in part through SUSI. Maintenance grant rates and income thresholds have all increased significantly in recent budgets, alongside targeted measures for apprentices, postgraduates, and vulnerable students. In addition to the SUSI grant supports, the Free Fees Initiative continues to cover tuition costs for over 140,000 students annually without means testing.   

 Minister Lawless continued:

"These improvements have now taken effect, but SUSI will continue to take applications for support up to November. I would strongly urge students and parents to visit www.susi.ie for further information and to find out if they are eligible for a grant".