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 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 2023/24

The income calculation is based on gross income from all sources for the previous calendar year. For example, for academic year 2023/24, applications are assessed on gross income from all sources for the period 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022.

Academic Year 2022/23

The income calculation is based on gross income from all sources for the previous calendar year. For example, for academic year 2022/23, applications are assessed on gross income from all sources for the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021.

 

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 €4,500 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, your:
      •    reckonable income must not exceed €24,500; and
      •    the reckonable income must include one of the long-term Department of Social Protection eligible payments 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 2023/24

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*

Rate of of maintenance grant available 

€2,936

€2,936

€2,936

 

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

Rate of maintenance grant available 

€6,971

€6,971

€6,971

 
         

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 

€1,613

€1,613

€1,613

 

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

Rate of maintenance grant available 

€3,677

€3,677

€3,677

 
         

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 for 

€1,221

€1,221

€1,221

 

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

Rate of maintenance grant available for 

€2,717

€2,717

€2,717

 
         

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 

€886

€886

€886

 

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

Rate of maintenance grant available 

€1,887

€1,887

€1,887

 
         

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) 

Rate of maintenance grant available 

€556

€556

€556

 

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

Rate of maintenance grant available for 

€1,051

€1,051

€1,051

 

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

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 fee contribution (special rate) Threshold

 

Reckonable income must be under


€25,000

Reckonable income must be under


€27,400

Reckonable income must be under


€29,702

+€4950

Maximum Fee contribution grant available

Maximum of

€6,270

Maximum of

€6,270

Maximum of €6,270

 

Special Adj. (under 30km) 

Rate of maintenance grant available 

€2,936

€2,936

€2,936

 

Special Non Adj. (30km or Over) 

Rate of maintenance grant available

€6,971

€6,971

€6,971

 
 
 

Postgraduate fee contribution (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 2022/23

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


€24,500

Reckonable income must be under


€24,500

Reckonable income must be under


€24,500

€0

Special Adj. (Under 30km) Rate*

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY22/23

€2,775.99

€2,775.99

€2,775.99

 

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

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY22/23

€6,590.96

€6,590.96

€6,590.96

 
         

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 AY22/23

€1,524.98

€1,524.98

€1,524.98

 

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

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY22/23

€3,475.97

€3,475.97

€3,475,97

 
         

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 AY22/23

€1,171.97

€1,171.97

€1,171.97

 

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

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY22/23

€2,606.96

€2,606.96

€2,606.96

 
         

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 AY22/23

€849.96

€849.96

€849.96

 

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

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY22/23

€1,811.04

€1,811.04

€1,811.04

 
         

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 AY22/23

€532.99

€532.99

€532.99

 

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

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY22/23

€1,007.99

€1,007.99

€1,007.99

 

Table 2: Outside the State Postgraduate (Northern Ireland Only) Income Thresholds and Grant Award Rates Academic Year 2022/23

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 fee contribution (special rate) Threshold

 

Reckonable income must be under


€24,500

Reckonable income must be under


€24,500

Reckonable income must be under


€24,500

€0

Maximum Fee contribution 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 AY22/23

€2,775.99

€2,775.99

€2,775.99

 

Special Non Adj. (30km or Over) 

Total value of maintenance grant available for AY22/23

€6,590.96

€6,590.96

€6,590.96