The Department of Education and Skills provides a means-tested maintenance grants scheme for students attending full-time Further Education courses.
Further information is available on www.studentfinance.ie
Maintenance Grants – Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I know if I am eligible:
- Age: You must be at least 17 years of age by the 1st January or before commencing the course. Post Leaving Cert students should be at least 16 years of age on commencement of the course.
- Nationality: Candidates must hold EU nationality or have official refugee status or have been granted leave to remain in the state for humanitarian or other specified reasons.
- Academic Requirements: Candidates must be attending a full time course in an approved institution. Candidates must not have previously received a maintenance grant for the same or higher level of study.
- Means: To qualify for a grant you must satisfy a means test - your income must be below a certain level.
2. When, how and where do I apply?
- New ONLINE only grant application system
A new ONLINE only student grant application system is being introduced for the 2012/2013 academic year. All NEW applications will be made online to a single awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), a unit of City of Dublin VEC, through www.studentfinance.ie. The details of the 2012/2013 student grant scheme will be announced in May and the SUSI online application system will be available from that date.
- Students already in receipt of a grant
Students who are currently in receipt of a grant and who are progressing to the next year of the same course will continue to be assessed and paid by their existing awarding authorities ie the relevant local authority or VEC. If you are changing course or progressing to a new course you will need to apply to the SUSI online system.
3. How does the Means Test Work?
The income that is assessed must be at or below a certain amount.
4. How much do I get?
It depends on where you live and how much you and your parents earn.