From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris has today (Thursday, 1 April 2021) announced the opening of the SUSI Student Grant Scheme for renewal applications, and several improvements for the most disadvantaged students.
The changes to the scheme include:
The priority closing dates for the 2021 to 2022 student grant scheme are 8 July 2021 for new applicants and 10 June 2021 for renewal students.
Renewal applicants have been contacted by SUSI directly and can submit their renewal applications on 31 March. All new applicants will be able to apply to SUSI on 22 April.
In announcing the opening of the Student Grant Scheme, Minister Harris said:
"SUSI is now open for renewal applications for the 2021/22 academic year. New grant applicants will be able to apply on April 22nd. The early opening date for renewal students will facilitate earlier decisions for students on their grant applications and provide students with greater certainty about the financial support that will be available to them. I would encourage students who think they might be eligible for support to submit their online applications to SUSI and use the ready reckoner on their website.
"COVID-19 has created challenges for the economy and households which is likely to result in a significant increase in the number of applications to the SUSI scheme in 2021. We have secured additional funding and will continue to engage with government colleagues on these matters."
"We are conducting an independent review of the student grant scheme, which is underway, with more than a hundred submissions received. Public consultation is open until 16 April. We really want to hear from you about how we can make the scheme better so I would really encourage people to email studentgrantschemereview@dfheris.gov.ie and have your voice heard."
The SUSI eligibility calculator can be accessed at: https://susi.ie/eligibility-reckoner-app-irish/index.html
The main changes to the 2021 Student Grant Scheme are:
Postgraduate students from low-income households, who meet the criteria for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme 2020 may be eligible to have their tuition fees paid, up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270, as well as receiving the special rate of maintenance grant of up to €5,915.
All other postgraduate students undertaking approved courses can apply for a postgraduate fee contribution of €2,000 towards tuition fees.
The income threshold for this payment was €31,500 for the 2020/21 academic year, depending on the number of family dependents. For 2021/22, the income threshold will be €54,250, and the fee grant contribution will increase from €2,000 to €3,500.
A Fuel Allowance is a DSP payment under the National Fuel Scheme to help with the cost of heating a person’s home during the winter months. It's paid to people who are dependent on long-term social welfare payments and are unable to provide for their own heating needs. The Living Alone Increase is an extra payment for people who are on long-term social welfare payments, who are living alone.
Both of these payments will not count towards the income total for the 2021 to 2022 student grant scheme.
There are financial supports to help Travellers move into and progress in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. These supports will not count towards the income total for the college year 2021 to 2022.
The Pandemic Placement Grant or student nurses and midwives will not count towards the income total for the college year 2021 to 2022.
Students who received the €250 once-off emergency payment from SUSI in 2020 to 2021 will not have this payment included in the calculation of income for 2021 to 22.
The new benefit payment for 65-year-olds, introduced by DSP in February 2021, is included as an eligible payment for the special rate of grant.
The student grant scheme allows the Irish Research Council’s postgraduate stipend holders to also benefit from the student grant. The value of the stipend amount allowed for in the student grant scheme has increased to €18,500, in line with the increase to the stipend in 2021.
If a student who has started first year of a course becomes entitled to a higher CAO offer and chooses to accept that offer in the next college year, the student will remain eligible for free fees and SUSI funding for the first year on the new course.