SUSI- Student Universal Support Ireland is now open. If you feel that you may be eligible for a third level grant it is important in the first instance to know what class of applicant you are, and whose income is taken into account when assessing your application. The class falls into two categories:
· Independent (over 23 years of age ).
· Dependent.
As an independent student you must be:
· 23 years of age or over on January 1 of the year when you first enter/re-enter further or higher education.
· You must have been living independently from your parents/legal guardians and you will be required to provide proof of this. Further information is available on www.susi.ie
Assessment
As an independent student, you will be assessed under your own income. You will need:
· A letter confirming that the address is registered with Residential Tenancies Board (RTB ).
· A local authority lease agreement or a letter confirming your rental under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS ) or any Government housing scheme/arrangement. Private housing lease agreements will not be accepted.
· A letter on headed paper from a rental agency confirming your tenancy.
· A letter confirming the receipt and period of Rent Allowance.
· A utility bill in your own name, for example; landline telephone, fixed broadband, gas, electricity, television bill, home heating bills, and waste bills. SUSI does not accept mobile telephone bills.
· If you cannot supply any of the above documents to confirm independent residency, you can, if you wish, cancel your application and apply as a dependent student. SUSI may seek further information, for example, proof of your parents’ address.
Dependent
· If you are under 23 on January 1 of the year of your first point of entry into further or higher education, you are automatically classed as a dependent student. This means you must supply your parent(s ) or legal guardian(s ) information as well as your own when filling out your application and your own income (if applicable ) and the income of your parent(s )/legal guardian(s ) will be used when assessing you for grant funding.
Making an application
Make your application as early as possible after the opening date of April 2021.
Make sure the information you supply in relation to dates of birth, PPS numbers, etc, is correct, to avoid delays in the processing of your application. It is important that you supply SUSI with all of the documentation that is requested from you correctly and on time. Late submission of your documents will delay processing of your application.
With regard to third level education, a PLC course is regarded as the beginning of your third level education and you are entitled to a SUSI grant.
Maximum period of grant assistance
The maximum periods of grant assistance available to you at each level of study are as follows.
PLC (post Leaving Certificate ) level:
· Maximum three years funding in total at PLC level.
Undergraduate level:
· Maximum four years funding at undergraduate Level 8 (except where normal duration of course exceeds four years ).
· Maximum four years funding in total at undergrad Level 6 and 7.
· Maximum three years funding at undergrad Level 7.
· Maximum two years funding at undergrad Level 6.
Postgraduate level:
· Maximum four years funding in total at postgrad level.
· All previous attendance and attainment at postgrad level are considered regardless of whether a grant was received previously or not.
· For further information in relation to income thresholds please refer to www.susi.ie
Patricia Uí Fhlaithearta, career guidance counsellor
