Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, which is administered by the centralised national grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) on behalf of my Department, 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.
The funding available to a student can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the student's access route including previous education.
To satisfy the current terms and conditions of the Student Grant Scheme, a student must be progressing in their studies.
In general, under the progression/previous academic attainment criteria of the Student Grant Scheme, students cannot qualify for grant assistance or free tuition fees for a second period of study at the same level or for a different course at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant or tuition fees were paid previously.
The main objective of this policy is to assist as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study.
In line with the rules of progression in the 2026 Student Grant Scheme there is no provision to award a grant to a student who is pursuing a level 9 course who already holds an award at Level 9 of the framework of qualifications, or equivalent.
The Deputy will appreciate that the Scheme operates in the context of competing educational priorities and limited public funding, however, the provision of accessible, affordable, high quality tertiary education to all learners, regardless of their background will continue to be a core priority for me and for this Government.
