EXPLAINER: Everything parents need to know about major changes to SUSI college grant

The SUSI grant is a lifeline for many students entering third-level education in Ireland and with different rates available and new changes to the scheme announced for the new academic year, here's everything you need to know.

SUSI is now open for new applications for the upcoming academic year 2025/26 and as a high number of applications are anticipated over the next few months, students are encouraged to apply as early as possible for their own clarity. 

What grants are available?

For students wishing to pursue a PLC course, full-time undergraduate course, undergraduate course in the EU or UK, or a postgraduate course, maintenance grants are available. This grant helps contribute towards day-to-day livings costs for students and is paid through nine monthly instalments over the course of the academic year. 

Grants for Student Contribution and/or Fees are only available for students who are undertaking full-time or part-time undergraduate courses. Postgraduate fees are then just available to those in postgraduate courses. 

What are the changes?

One major change that has been announced for the upcoming year is that there has been an increase to permitted Holiday Earnings for students. This refers to the amount a student can earn outside of school or college time within the previous calendar year.

The amount of money students can make has now increased from €7,925 to €8,424. Although a modest increase of just €499, it is worth checking for some students whether it affects their eligibility for the grant. 

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In addition to this, the maintenance grant income thresholds for PLCs, full-time undergraduates and postgraduate students has increased by 15%. 

The income threshold for the Special Rate of maintenance grants was also increased to €27,400 for households with less than four dependent children. 

Further increases have also been made for income thresholds for full-time undergraduate student contribution grants by 15%. As well as this, fee contribution grants for part-time undergraduate and post-graduate courses have increased to €64,315. 

There has also been new income disregards which have been excluded from this years income calculations for grant assessments, meaning that certain forms of income will not be means tested.

These new additions include the Cessation Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme, Protected Raised Bog Restoration Incentive Scheme and Stardust ex-gratia payment.

Unlike previous years, the first €5,000 of any eligible scholarship programme or bursary award that is not otherwise disregarded within the Student Grant Scheme will also be disregarded from the income calculation. This will, however, exclude stipends. 

Another change listed for the new academic year includes that students who receive scholarships from public funds that is listed as an eligibility exclusion under the Student Grant Scheme which doesn't fully cover their fees could now be eligible for a grant to cover the remaining fees. 

With such extensive changes to the SUSI grant for the upcoming year, it is worth checking out the website and finding out whether or not you meet the criteria of eligibility. There is an eligibility indicator which you can try before starting the application.