Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, has welcomed the strong rise in student grant applications to SUSI for the 2025/26 academic year

The increase follows improvements to the Student Grant Scheme announced in Budget 2025, which expanded eligibility and raised income thresholds to help more families access financial support.

Minister Canney said: “Education should be accessible to all, regardless of background or financial circumstances. I welcome the significant rise in SUSI applications this year, which shows that more students are availing of the supports available. I would strongly encourage students and parents in Galway and across the country to check their eligibility on susi.ie and apply before the November deadline. These changes are making a real difference for families and ensuring that more young people can pursue further and higher education.”

Budget 2025 introduced a range of measures to expand support, including:

  • An increase to all maintenance and student contribution grant thresholds by 15%.
  • A rise in the income threshold for the special rate of grant from €26,200 to €27,400.
  • An increase in the income deduction for student earnings outside of term time to €8,424.
  • Expanded eligibility for students with certain immigration permissions.
  • Higher thresholds for the Postgraduate Fee Contribution and the Part-Time Fee Scheme.
Already, more than 7,500 additional applications have been received compared to this time last year, with SUSI on track to process close to 110,000 applications in 2025. Following last year’s budget, undergraduate students whose household’s reckonable income is under €115,000 may now be eligible for financial support.

Minister Canney added: “The SUSI scheme plays a vital role in easing the financial burden on families while also maintaining the Free Fees Initiative, which covers tuition for over 140,000 students annually. These supports are about giving every student a fair chance and helping young people fulfil their ambitions.”

  • Students can check eligibility and apply for a SUSI grant at www.susi.ie.
  • Applications for the 2025/26 academic year remain open until November.
  • Students do not need Leaving Cert results or a confirmed course to apply – details can be updated later.
  • Renewal applications are required for students continuing on an existing course.