Further and Higher Education

Tuesday, 29 September 2026

Questions (896)

Malcolm Byrne

Question:

896. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial measures to support students who wish to pursue postgraduate studies; and the number of such students who received these supports in 2025-2026. [68226/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme which is administered by SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

Postgraduate students, who meet the relevant conditions of the Student Grant Scheme, may become eligible for the following supports:

• A student Maintenance grant and/or;

• A postgraduate fee contribution of up to €4,500 (increased in Budget 2026 from €4,000), or a postgraduate fee grant (Special Rate of Grant) up to a maximum of €6,270, towards the cost of fees.

Based on the latest data available, the number of post graduate students who received supports for the 2025/26 academic year is 3,585. The 2026/27 application and assessment process in ongoing.

Further details of available supports are available on the SUSI website (www.susi.ie).