Outside the State Income Thresholds and Grant Award Rates

Outside the State Income Thresholds and Grant Award Rates

Income Thresholds and Grant Award Rates for Students Studying Outside the State

To be eligible for funding, your total household reckonable income must fall below specific income thresholds. If you are eligible for funding, your reckonable income is a factor in determining what type of funding you may receive.

Academic Year 2024/25

The income calculation is based on gross income from all sources for the previous calendar year. For example, for academic year 2024/25, applications are assessed on gross income from all sources for the period 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023.

What type of funding is available to students studying outside the State?

PLC courses are only available within the State. Similar courses which lead to further education awards outside of the State are not eligible for student grant assistance.

The maintenance grant is available to Undergraduate students pursuing approved courses outside the Irish State.  

Tuition students and students in receipt of a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) payment are not eligible to receive the maintenance grant.

The maintenance grant is a contribution towards day-to-day living costs and is paid directly to eligible students through nine monthly instalments over the course of the academic year.

Maintenance grants are paid at adjacent and non-adjacent rates.  The adjacent rate is paid when a student’s college is less than 30km from their normal residence.  The non-adjacent rate is paid when a student’s college is 30km or more from their normal residence.

The total amount of the grant will depend on the level of a student’s reckonable income.

Postgraduate students pursuing  approved courses in Northern Ireland may be eligible for the maintenance grant and fee grant.

Depending on the level of a student’s reckonable income, they may qualify for either a postgraduate fee contribution of €4,000 or a Postgraduate fee grant, up to a maximum of €6,270, towards the cost of their fees, plus a maintenance grant.

Maintenance grants are paid at adjacent and non-adjacent rates. The adjacent rate is paid when a student’s college is less than 30km from their normal residence.  The non-adjacent rate is paid when a student’s college is 30km or more from their normal residence

Tuition students pursuing a course outside the State are not eligible for grant funding.

 

To be eligible for the Special Rate of maintenance grant, you:

  • Must be eligible for the ordinary rate of grant;
  • Your total reckonable household income must not exceed the special rate thresholds; and
  • On 31 December of the previous year to your application, the reckonable household income must include an eligible long-term Department of Social Protection payment as prescribed in the Student Grant Scheme for the relevant year or its equivalence from an EU Member State.

Table 1 below outlines the income thresholds in bold and the associated maintenance grant rates for Undergraduate students studying outside the State.

Table 2 below outlines the income thresholds in bold and the associated maintenance grant rates for Postgraduate students studying outside the State (Northern Ireland Only).

Income thresholds may increase based on Dependent Children (Specifically Dependent Children section) and/or Relevant Persons in further and higher education.

Table 1: Outside the State Income Thresholds and Grant Award Rates Academic Year

Award

Less than 4 dependent children

Between 4 and 7 dependent children

8 or more dependent children

Income Threshold Increase per additional person in college

Special Rate* of maintenance Threshold

Reckonable income must be under

€26,200

Reckonable income must be under

€28,715

Reckonable income must be under

€31,128

 

+€4,950

Special Adj. (Under 30km) Rate*

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€3,230

 

€3,230

 

€3,230

 

Special Non Adj. (30km or Over) Rate*

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€7,586

 

€7,586

 

€7,586

 
         

Band 1 Full Maintenance Threshold

 

Reckonable income must be under

€40,875

Reckonable income must be under

€44,810

Reckonable income must be under

€48,575

 

+€4,950

Band 1 Full Maintenance Adj. (Under 30km) 

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€1,774

 

€1,774

 

€1,774

 

Band 1 Full Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over)

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€4,292

 

€4,292

 

€4,292

 
         

Band 2 Part Maintenance Threshold

 

 

Reckonable income must be under

€41,970

Reckonable income must be under

€46,025

Reckonable income must be under

€49,890

 

+€4,785

Band 2 Part Maintenance Adj. (Under 30km) 

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€1,343

 

€1,343

 

€1,343

 

Band 2 Part Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over)

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€3,332

 

€3,332

 

€3,332

 
         

Band 3 Part Maintenance Threshold

 

 

Reckonable income must be under

€44,380

Reckonable income must be under

€48,670

Reckonable income must be under

€52,760

 

+€4,785

Band 3 Part Maintenance Adj. (Under 30km) 

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€975

 

€975

 

€975

 

Band 3 Part Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over)

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€2,502

 

€2,502

 

€2,502

 
         

Band 4 Part Maintenance Threshold

 

 

Reckonable income must be under

€50,840

Reckonable income must be under

€55,768

Reckonable income must be under

€60,445

 

+€4,785

Band 4 Part Maintenance Adj. (Under 30km) 

Rate of maintenance grant available 

 

€612

 

€612

 

€612

 

Band 4 Part Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over)

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€1,666

 

€1,666

 

€1,666

 

Table 2: Outside the State Postgraduate (Northern Ireland Only) Income Thresholds and Grant Award Rates 

Award

Less than 4 dependent children

Between 4 and 7 dependent children

8 or more dependent children

Income Threshold Increase per additional person in college

Postgraduate Tuition Fees (Special Rate) Threshold

Reckonable income must be under

€26,200

Reckonable income must be under

€28,715

Reckonable income must be under

€31,128

 

+€4,950

Maximum Tuition Fee Grant available

Maximum of

€6,270

Maximum of

€6,270

Maximum of

€6,270

 

Special Adj. (under 30km) 

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€3,230

 

€3,230

 

€3,230

 

Special Non Adj. (30km or Over) 

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€7,586

 

€7,586

 

€7,586

 
 

Band 1 Full Maintenance and Fee Contribution Grant Threshold

Reckonable income must be under

€40,875

Reckonable income must be under

€44,810

Reckonable income must be under

€48,575

 

€4,950

Maximum Fee Contribution grant available

Maximum of

€4,000

Maximum of

€4,000

Maximum of

€4,000

 

Band 1 Full Maintenance Adj. (under 30km)

Rate of maintenance grant available 

 

€1,774

 

€1,774

 

€1,774

 

Band 1 Full Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over) 

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€4,292

 

€4,292

 

€4,292

 
         

Band 2 Part Maintenance and Fee Contribution Grant Threshold

Reckonable income must be under

 €41,970

Reckonable income must be under

 €46,025

Reckonable income must be under

 €49,890

 

€4,785

Maximum Fee Contribution grant available

Maximum of

€4,000

Maximum of

€4,000

Maximum of

€4,000

 

Band 2 Part Maintenance Adj. (under 30km) 

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€1,343

 

€1,343

 

€1,343

 

Band 2 Part Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over) 

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€3,332

 

€3,332

 

€3,332

 
         

Band 3 Part Maintenance and Fee Contribution Grant Threshold

Reckonable income must be under

€44,380

Reckonable income must be under

€48,670

Reckonable income must be under

€52,760

 

€4,785

Maximum Fee Contribution grant available

Maximum of

€4,000

Maximum of

€4,000

Maximum of

€4,000

 

Band 3 Part Maintenance Adj. (under 30km) 

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€975

 

€975

 

€975

 

Band 3 Part Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over) 

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€2,502

 

€2,502

 

€2,502

 
         

Band 4 Part Maintenance and Fee Contribution Grant Threshold

Reckonable income must be under

€50,840

Reckonable income must be under

€55,768

Reckonable income must be under 

€60,445

 

€4,785

Maximum Fee Contribution grant available

Maximum of

€4,000

Maximum of

€4,000

Maximum of

€4,000

 

Band 4 Part Maintenance Adj. (under 30km) 

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€612

 

€612

 

€612

 

Band 4 Part Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over) 

Rate of maintenance grant available

 

€1,666

 

€1,666

 

€1,666

 
         

Postgraduate Fee Contribution only (standard rate) Threshold

Reckonable income must be under

€55,240

Reckonable income must be under

€60,595

Reckonable income must be under

€65,700

 

€4,950

Maximum Fee contribution grant available

€4,000

€4,000

€4,000

 

 

 

 

Table 1: Outside the State Income Thresholds and Grant Award Rates Academic Year 2023/24

Due to measures announced in Budget 2024, from January 2024 the non-adjacent maintenance grant rates will increase by €615 and the adjacent maintenance grant rates will increase by 10%.

When these measures come into effect, eligible students will see their maintenance grant payments increase proportionately from January to May 2024.

The below table reflects these changes and shows the total value of maintenance grant available for the 2023/24 academic year.

Award

Less than 4 dependent children

Between 4 and 7 dependent children

8 or more dependent children

Income Threshold Increase per additional person in college

Special Rate* of maintenance Threshold

Reckonable income must be under

€25,000

Reckonable income must be under

€27,400

Reckonable income must be under

€29,702

 

+€4,950

Special Adj. (Under 30km) Rate*

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€3,099.33

€3,099.33

€3,099.33

 

Special Non Adj. (30km or Over) Rate*

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€7,312.69

€7,312.69

€7,312.69

 
         

Band 1 Full Maintenance Threshold

 

Reckonable income must be under

€40,875

Reckonable income must be under

€44,810

Reckonable income must be under

€48,575

 

+€4,950

Band 1 Full Maintenance Adj. (Under 30km) 

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€1,702.43

€1,702.43

€1,702.43

 

Band 1 Full Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over)

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€4,018.69

€4,018.69

€4,018.69

 
         

Band 2 Part Maintenance Threshold

 

 

Reckonable income must be under

€41,970

Reckonable income must be under

€46,025

Reckonable income must be under

€49,890

 

+€4,785

Band 2 Part Maintenance Adj. (Under 30km) 

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€1,288.78

€1,288.78

€1,288.78

 

Band 2 Part Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over)

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€3,058.66

€3,058.66

€3,058.66

 
         

Band 3 Part Maintenance Threshold

 

 

Reckonable income must be under

€44,380

Reckonable income must be under

€48,670

Reckonable income must be under

€52,760

 

+€4,785

Band 3 Part Maintenance Adj. (Under 30km) 

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€935.41

€935.41

€935.41

 

Band 3 Part Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over)

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€2,228.68

€2,228.68

€2,228.68

 
         

Band 4 Part Maintenance Threshold

 

 

Reckonable income must be under

€46,790

Reckonable income must be under

€51,325

Reckonable income must be under

€55,630

 

+€4,785

Band 4 Part Maintenance Adj. (Under 30km) 

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€587.12

€587.12

€587.12

 

Band 4 Part Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over)

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€1,392.67

€1,392.67

€1,392.67

 

Table 2: Outside the State Postgraduate (Northern Ireland Only) Income Thresholds and Grant Award Rates Academic Year 2023/24

Due to measures announced in Budget 2024, from January 2024 maintenance grants will be paid to students studying at postgraduate level who meet the relevant income thresholds.

In addition, the non-adjacent maintenance grant rates will increase by €615 and the adjacent maintenance grant rates will increase by 10% from January 2024.

When these measures come into effect, postgraduate students who are already in receipt of the special rate of maintenance grant will see their maintenance grant payments increase proportionately from January to May 2024.

Postgraduate students who meet the threshold for the ordinary rate of maintenance grant will be awarded a maintenance grant from January to May 2024. 

As a once-off measure the postgraduate fee contribution has been increased to €5,000 for the 2023/24 academic year. 

The below table reflects these changes and shows the total value of grants available for the 2023/24 academic year.

Award

Less than 4 dependent children

Between 4 and 7 dependent children

8 or more dependent children

Income Threshold Increase per additional person in college

Postgraduate Tuition Fees (Special Rate) Threshold

Reckonable income must be under

€25,000

Reckonable income must be under

€27,400

Reckonable income must be under

€29,702

 

€4,950

Maximum Tuition Fee Grant available

Maximum of

€6,270

Maximum of

€6,270

Maximum of

€6,270

 

Special Adj. (under 30km) 

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€3,099.33

€3,099.33

€3,099.33

 

Special Non Adj. (30km or Over) 

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€7,312.69

€7,312.69

€7,312.69

 
 

Band 1 Full Maintenance and Fee Contribution Grant Threshold

Reckonable income must be under

€40,875

Reckonable income must be under

€44,810

Reckonable income must be under

€48,575

 

€4,950

Maximum Fee Contribution grant available

Maximum of

€5,000

Maximum of

€5,000

Maximum of

€5,000

 

Band 1 Full Maintenance Adj. (under 30km)

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€985.55

€985.55

€985.55

 

Band 1 Full Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over) 

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€2,384.45

€2,384.45

€2,384.45

 
         

Band 2 Part Maintenance and Fee Contribution Grant Threshold

Reckonable income must be under

 €41,970

Reckonable income must be under

 €46,025

Reckonable income must be under

 €49,890

 

€4,785

Maximum Fee Contribution grant available

Maximum of

€5,000

Maximum of

€5,000

Maximum of

€5,000

 

Band 2 Part Maintenance Adj. (under 30km) 

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€746.10

€746.10

€746.10

 

Band 2 Part Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over) 

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€1,851.10

€1,851.10

€1,851.10

 
         

Band 3 Part Maintenance and Fee Contribution Grant Threshold

Reckonable income must be under

€44,380

Reckonable income must be under

€48,670

Reckonable income must be under

€52,760

 

€4,785

Maximum Fee Contribution grant available

Maximum of

€5,000

Maximum of

€5,000

Maximum of

€5,000

 

Band 3 Part Maintenance Adj. (under 30km) 

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€541.65

€541.65

€541.65

 

Band 3 Part Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over) 

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€1,390.00

€1,390.00

€1,390.00

 
         

Band 4 Part Maintenance and Fee Contribution Grant Threshold

Reckonable income must be under

€46,790

Reckonable income must be under

€51,325

Reckonable income must be under 

€55,630

 

€4,785

Maximum Fee Contribution grant available

Maximum of

€5,000

Maximum of

€5,000

Maximum of

€5,000

 

Band 4 Part Maintenance Adj. (under 30km) 

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€340.00

€340.00

€340.00

 

Band 4 Part Maintenance Non Adj. (30km or Over) 

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY 2023/24

€925.55

€925.55

€925.55

 
         

Postgraduate Fee Contribution only (standard rate) Threshold

Reckonable income must be under

€55,240

Reckonable income must be under

€60,595

Reckonable income must be under

€65,700

 

€4,950

Maximum Fee contribution grant available

€5,000

€5,000

€5,000