SUSI STUDENT UNIVERSAL SUPPORT IRELAND 201516 ACADEMIC YEAR

SUSI (STUDENT UNIVERSAL SUPPORT IRELAND) 2015/16 ACADEMIC YEAR

ABOUT SUSI • Legislation • Single Grant Awarding Authority since 2012: • “ 66 to 1” awarding authorities; • New grants; and • Renew your SUSI grant each year. • SUSI Metrics: • • 70, 000 applications for 2012/13 – 40, 000 grants awarded; 90, 000 applications for 2013/14 – 60, 000 grants awarded; 103, 000 applications for 2014/15 – 74, 000 grants awarded; and 110, 000 applications expected for 2015/16: Ø Opened 23 April for all New and Renewal Applications; Ø Closing date for priority processing of Renewal applications – 12 June; and Ø Closing date for priority processing of New applications – 1 August.

Grant Types and Rates (Dependent on your Household Income) • Fee Grant: Ø € 3, 000 Student Contribution; Ø € 2, 000, or up to € 6, 270, Postgraduate Fees; Ø 50% or 100% rates; and Ø Paid directly to Colleges. • Maintenance Grant (“adjacent”<45 k from college): Ø Ø Ø € 1, 215 adjacent/ € 3, 025 non-adjacent; 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% rates; Special rate: € 2, 375 adjacent/ € 5, 915 non-adjacent; Paid to Students (9 monthly instalments); and Generally not payable if on BTEA.

KEY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Ø Approved Courses/Colleges; Ø Nationality; Ø Residency; Ø Income; and Ø Progression through Education.

KEY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA • Approved Courses/Colleges must be: Ø in an Approved Institution; Ø an Approved Course; Ø a Full-time Course; and Ø leading to a major award.

KEY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (cont. ) • Residency: 3 of the last 5 years in Ireland, the EU, the EEA or Switzerland (if not resident in Ireland for 3/5 but resident in EU/EEA/Switzerland not eligible for maintenance grant - Tuition student) • Nationality: Must be Irish, EU, EEA, a Swiss national, or have specific leave to remain in the State.

KEY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (cont. ) • Income: All household income (applicant and others). ØDependent: a) If you were under 23 on the 1 st January 2015; or b) If you were over 23 on the 1 st January 2015 but were under 23 when you first entered further or higher education. ØMature Dependent: a) If you were over 23 on the 1 st January 2015 and living with your parents/guardians in October 2014; or b) If you were over 23 on the 1 st January of the year when you first entered further or higher education and were living with your parents/guardians in the October prior to that year.

KEY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (cont. ) Ø Independent: a) If you were over 23 on the 1 st January 2015 and living independently from your parents/guardians in October 2014; or b) If you were over 23 on the 1 st January of the year when you first entered further or higher education and were living independently from your parents/guardians in October prior to that year. • Dependent and Mature Dependent applicants will be assessed on their own income and that of their parents/legal guardians. • Independent applicants will be assessed on their own income and that of their spouse/civil partner/cohabitant, where applicable.

PROGRESSION IN EDUCATION Level 10 PHD Level 9 Masters Degree Level 9 Post- Graduate Diploma Level 8 Higher Diploma Level 8 Honours Bachelor Degree Level 7 Ordinary Bachelor Degree Level 6 Higher Certificate Level 6 Advanced Certificate Level 5 Certificate • Maximum four years funding. All prior • Courses in academic attainment Republic of and • Maintenance is feestaken intoonly of Ireland Republic consideration Ireland Only • Contribution only of € 2000 • Maintenance • Not eligible only for For studying BTEA recipients • Special rate funding is abroad available for contribution of € 6270 • Fees only- Tuition • maintenance Maintenance • Nostudents Only and available BTEA recipients • Funding available • Maximum periodfor • Tuition Students Republic Ireland of studyofbetween not eligible for Only * level 6 and 7, for funding four years. Four years maximum • *Queen’s University, period of at St. University ofstudy Ulster • Maximum period level 8 (or the Mary’s College of of funding is course duration) Education, Stranmillis three. Belfast. years College,

TYPES OF STUDY

SUSI KEY DATES 2015 • New & Renewal Applications Opened: 23 April • Renewal Applications Closing: 12 June • New Applications Closing: 1 August

KEEP IN TOUCH & APPLY EARLY!!! 1. Tick the SUSI option on your CAO form NOW – so CAO can confirm your college place offer to SUSI. 2. Check out your grant eligibility NOW at www. susi. ie (all you need to know about grants). 3. Apply online - Applications opened on 23 April (early applications receive priority processing).

SUSI STUDENT UNIVERSAL SUPPORT IRELAND • • • Website: www. susi. ie Email: support@susi. ie Facebook. com/susisupport Twitter. com/susihelpdesk Telephone helpdesk: 0761 087 874 Go to: www. susi. ie