What is Applicant Class?

Your applicant class determines whose income is included in the income calculation for grant assessment purposes. There are three types of applicant class: 

Applicant class is defined:

•         at your first point of entry to an approved PLC or higher education course or
•         at your point of re-entry to such an approved course after a three year break in studies.

This will apply for the duration of your studies.

If you are a care leaver, then you can find more details on how to define your applicant class on our Information for Care Leavers page. 

If you are a mature student, you can find more information on our Information for Mature Students page.

Your applicant class may be reclassified from Dependent  or Mature Dependent Student to Independent Student if:

• you move from further education (PLC course) to Higher Education (undergraduate course) or
• you re-enter further or higher education after a three year break in studies. This means you have not attended a course leading to a major award at levels 1-10 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) for three full years.

In both of the above circumstances, you must still meet the criteria to be over 23 on 1 January of the year of your first point of entry/re-entry to an approved course of further or higher education and be able to provide documentary evidence listed in our documents guide to support independent residency in order to be classed as an Independent Student.