EXPLAINER: Are you eligible for a Susi grant now that criteria has changed?

Thousands of students across Ireland could now be eligible for a Susi grant as the criteria has expanded to allow further students gain access to much needed supports.

Susi is Ireland’s national awarding authority for further and higher education grants that offers support to eligible students in approved courses at PLC, undergraduate and postgraduate levels and in some cases, to students studying outside Ireland.

Susi grants are an invaluable source of support for students all over the country to cover the cost of going to college, accommodations, groceries and other daily expenses and nearly 80,000 students were awarded grants in the 2024/2025 academic year.

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What is the expanded eligibility?

Those applying for a Susi grant must meet a number of criteria to be eligible. The main criteria falls under household income, which must fall below a certain threshold.

Budget 2025 has now increased the income threshold for a special rate of maintenance grant from €26,200 to €27,400.

You must be progressing in your education by attending an approved course:

• that leads to a higher level of qualification than any you may already hold;
• that is at a higher level than any course you may have previously attended;
• in which you are progressing in your studies and not repeating any part of a course, except in exceptional circumstances.

A maximum period of grant assistance is available to you at each level of study. 

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Also, the Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses 2025 will see over 100 courses eligible, an increase from 62. A full list of the courses is available on www.susi.ie and the income threshold to avail of support has also increased to €64,315.

Speaking on the expanded criteria, Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless is strongly encouraging students and their families across Ireland to visit susi.ie to see if they’re eligible for grant support.

"I am very aware of the costs for students and families when attending further and higher education. That is why my department expanded eligibility for grants by increasing income thresholds to provide greater support. Undergraduate students whose household reckonable income is under €115,000 may now be eligible for financial support”.

“These improvements are long-term sustainable improvements which mark a significant step towards easing the financial burden on further and higher education students,” he added.

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 at least 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 Postgraduate Fee Contribution threshold to €64,315.

Students who are planning to attend further or higher education in the 2025/26 academic year can check their eligibility through Susi's Eligibility Indicator before making an application for grant support.