SUSI income thresholds for 2026/27

Q: What is the SUSI income threshold for 2026/27?

It depends on the award. For a household with fewer than four dependent children, reckonable income must be under €28,600 for the special rate, under €47,010 for a full maintenance grant, and under €120,000 for the €500 student contribution grant. Thresholds rise with the number of dependent children.

Q: Which year of income does SUSI assess?

For 2026/27, SUSI assesses gross income from all sources for 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025 — the full calendar year before the academic year starts. A change in income since then is handled separately, through a change-of-circumstances review.

Q: Is a mature student assessed on their parents’ income?

It depends on where you live, not only your age. If you are 23 or over on 1 January of your year of entry and have lived independently since the previous October, you are an independent student and only your own income counts — plus a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant. If you are 23 or over but living with a parent or guardian, you are a mature dependent student and their income is assessed too.

Q: How much can a student earn without affecting the grant?

Up to €8,830 of holiday or student earnings can be deducted for 2026/27. Earnings above that count toward reckonable income.

Q: What is the difference between adjacent and non-adjacent rates?

Distance from the college. The adjacent rate applies if you live under 30km away, the non-adjacent rate if you live 30km or more away. The gap is substantial — on the special rate it is €3,230 against €7,936.

Q: What if the household income is over every threshold?

No grant, but tax relief on the fees may still apply. Relief is 20% of qualifying fees after a disregard, and the person who paid claims it — usually a parent. Use the tuition fees tax relief calculator to work out what it is worth.

A household with fewer than four dependent children needs reckonable income under €28,600 for the special rate, under €47,010 for a full maintenance grant, and under €120,000 for the €500 student contribution grant. Every band is below, with the maintenance each one pays.

Income assessed is gross income from all sources for 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

Maintenance grant bands

Full-time undergraduate, 2026/27. Reckonable income must be UNDER the figure shown.
Award	<4 children	4–7	8+	Adjacent	Non-adjacent
Special rate	€28,600	€31,350	€33,980	€3,230	€7,936
Band 1 — full maintenance	€47,010	€51,520	€55,850	€1,774	€4,722
Band 2 — part maintenance	€48,270	€52,900	€57,345	€1,343	€3,532
Band 3 — part maintenance	€51,040	€55,940	€60,635	€975	€2,702
Band 4 — part maintenance	€58,470	€64,080	€69,465	€612	€1,866

Fee and contribution grants, no maintenance

Award	<4 children	4–7	8+
50% tuition + 100% student contribution	€64,315	€70,490	€76,410
50% student contribution	€71,300	€78,145	€84,710
€500 student contribution	€120,000	€131,520	€142,570

Above eight dependent children, each additional person raises the threshold by €4,950 on the special rate, Band 1 and the fee grants, and €4,785 on Bands 2 to 4.

Whose income counts

This is the part that decides most applications, and age alone does not settle it. SUSI puts every applicant into one of three classes:

Dependent student — under 23 on 1 January of your year of first entry. Your income and your parents' or guardians' income are both assessed.
Mature dependent student — 23 or over, but living with a parent or guardian. Their income is still assessed alongside yours.
Independent student — 23 or over and living independently since the October before you apply. Only your own income counts, plus a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant.

The practical consequence: a mature student who moved home to study is assessed on the household, not on themselves. Independent status is about where you were living the previous October, so it is worth checking the date before assuming either way.

What reckonable income includes

Gross income from all sources before deductions — employment, self-employment, social welfare, rental income, pensions, savings, maintenance payments, lump sums, gifts and inheritances. SUSI publishes a long list of exclusions, including child benefit and disability allowance.

Two deductions are worth knowing: up to €8,830 of a student's own holiday or term-time earnings, and up to €14,000 under Rent a Room relief.

If you are over every threshold

No grant, but the fees may still carry tax relief — 20% of qualifying fees after a disregard, claimed by whoever paid them, which is usually a parent rather than the student. Work out the relief on your fees →

Applying

Applications are made at susi.ie, which is also the only authoritative source for eligibility. This page is a reference for the income figures — it does not assess your application, and distance, course approval and nationality or residency conditions all apply on top of income.

SUSI income thresholds — common questions

What is the SUSI income threshold for 2026/27?

It depends on the award. For a household with fewer than four dependent children, reckonable income must be under €28,600 for the special rate, under €47,010 for a full maintenance grant, and under €120,000 for the €500 student contribution grant. Thresholds rise with the number of dependent children.

Which year of income does SUSI assess?

For 2026/27, SUSI assesses gross income from all sources for 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025 — the full calendar year before the academic year starts. A change in income since then is handled separately, through a change-of-circumstances review.

Is a mature student assessed on their parents’ income?

It depends on where you live, not only your age. If you are 23 or over on 1 January of your year of entry and have lived independently since the previous October, you are an independent student and only your own income counts — plus a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant. If you are 23 or over but living with a parent or guardian, you are a mature dependent student and their income is assessed too.

How much can a student earn without affecting the grant?

Up to €8,830 of holiday or student earnings can be deducted for 2026/27. Earnings above that count toward reckonable income.

What is the difference between adjacent and non-adjacent rates?

Distance from the college. The adjacent rate applies if you live under 30km away, the non-adjacent rate if you live 30km or more away. The gap is substantial — on the special rate it is €3,230 against €7,936.

What if the household income is over every threshold?

No grant, but tax relief on the fees may still apply. Relief is 20% of qualifying fees after a disregard, and the person who paid claims it — usually a parent. Use the tuition fees tax relief calculator to work out what it is worth.

Thresholds and rates transcribed from SUSI's published 2026/27 tables. SUSI revises these annually and is the only authoritative source — check there before applying.