Postgraduate Income Thresholds and Grant Award Rates

Postgraduate Income Thresholds and Grant Award Rates

Income Threshold Tables and Grant Award Rates for Postgraduate Students

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.

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.

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.

Depending on the level of a student’s reckonable income, a postgraduate fee contribution of €4,500 or a postgraduate fee grant, up to a maximum of €6,270, towards the cost of fees plus a maintenance grant is available to Postgraduate students pursuing an approved course.

To receive the Postgraduate fee grant plus a maintenance grant, students must meet the criteria for the Special Rate of grant

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

Postgraduate students who are eligible for the postgraduate fee contribution of €4,500 are not eligible to receive the 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.

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

The table below outlines the income thresholds in bold and the associated maintenance grant rates for postgraduate students.

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

 

*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.

Postgraduate 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

+€4,950

Maximum Fee contribution grant available


Maximum €6,270


Maximum €6,270


Maximum €6,270

 

Special Rate Adj.* (Under 30km)

Rate of Maintenance grant available 

€2,936

€2,936

€2,936

 

Special Rate* 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

 

 

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 €6,270


Maximum €6,270


Maximum €6,270

 

Special Rate Adj.* (Under 30km)

Total value of Maintenance grant available for AY22/23

€2,775.99

€2,775.99

€2,775.99

 

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

Total value of Maintenance grant available for AY22/23

€6,590.96

€6,590.96

€6,590.96

 
 
 

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


€4,500


€4,500


€4,500