Thousands of college students across the country are in line to claim a major €500 cash boost.

As a result of Budget 2023 due to the cost of living crisis, thousands more people are eligible to have their fees paid through the SUSI grant as well as receive a maintenance grant. General applications for the SUSI grant remain open until November.

The SUSI grant now allows students from households with an income of between €62,000 and €100,000 to apply for the €500 grant towards their student contribution fee. Latest figures show that while an estimated 40,000 students are eligible for the grant, only 10,000 have applied.

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said: “While a large number of students have already applied for the grant, there are potentially tens of thousands more who could be availing of this support.

Read more: Budget 2024: All the social welfare changes we know so far with less than a month to go

“Today I am encouraging students and their families to go to susi.ie and to use the eligibility reckoner and take advantage of the supports that are there to reduce the cost of education.”

Here's everything you need to know about the €500 SUSI grant, who can get it, and when it can be expected to be paid.

What is the SUSI grant?

The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) is Ireland's national awarding authority for further and higher education grants. SUSI offers funding to eligible students in approved full time courses at PLC, undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Ireland and in some cases the UK.

Who can get the SUSI grant?

A new student contribution grant of €500 has been introduced for undergraduate students. For it is available to those who meet the following criteria:

  • Families of less than four dependents with an income of €100,000 or less.
  • Families of four to seven dependents with an income of €109,600 or less.
  • Families of eight or more dependents with an income of €118,806 or less.

The new income thresholds for the 50% student contribution grant have increased to the following amounts:

  • Less than four dependent children in the household - €62,000

  • Between four and seven dependent children in the household - €68,014

  • Eight or more dependent children in the household - €73,727

Students in this 2023/24 academic year will also see the full benefit of increases to the maintenance grants announced in Budget 2023. From 1 January 2023, the Special and Band 1 maintenance grant rates increased by 14 per cent and all the other maintenance grant rates increased by 10 per cent.

The increase in student earnings outside of term time from €4,500 to €6,552 has also come into effect this academic year. There has also been a reduction in the eligibility period from 5 years to 3 for second chance mature students who did not complete a course and are returning to college to pursue an approved course at PLC, undergraduate or postgraduate level.

How to apply for SUSI

  • Before you apply check out the eligibility criteria via susi.ie
  • Create an account in the SUSI student portal. You will be asked for your Name, Date of birth, Personal Public Service Number (PPSN), email address and phone number.
  • Complete the form and submit your application using the SUSI student portal
  • You may be asked to send on supporting documentation such as a copy of your birth cert to SUSI (it's best to send this on quickly)
  • Receive your grant decision, you will be told you have been awarded the grant or that have been refused( which you can review or appeal with more info here)

Important payment dates for SUSI

  • October 12, 2023
  • November 9, 2023
  • December 14, 2023
  • January 11, 2024
  • February 15, 2024
  • March 14, 2024
  • April 11, 2024
  • May 16, 2024

For more information on available grants visit SUSI's website susi.ie.

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