Postgraduate Income Thresholds and Grant Award Rates

• Depending on the level of a student’s reckonable income, they may qualify for either a Postgraduate Fee Contribution of €3,500 or a Postgraduate Fee Grant, up to a maximum of €6,270, towards the cost of their fees. In order to receive the maximum funding, students must meet the criteria for the Special Rate of grant
• Postgraduate students who are eligible for the Postgraduate Fee Contribution of €3,500 are not eligible to receive the maintenance grant. However, students who are eligible for the Postgraduate Fee Grant (Special Rate) are also entitled to the special rate of maintenance grant. It should be noted however that students in receipt of Back To Education Allowance (BTEA) and Tuition Students are not eligible for a maintenance grant.
• Maintenance grants are paid at adjacent and non-adjacent rates.  The adjacent rate is paid when a student’s college is 45km or less from their normal residence.  The non-adjacent rate is paid when a student’s college is more than 45km from their normal residence.
• The total amount of the grant will depend on the level of a student’s reckonable income. The table below details the income thresholds and maintenance payments for Postgraduate students (thresholds are in bold).

The conditions to qualify for Special Rate are:

• Total household reckonable income must not exceed €24,500; and
• Reckonable income must include one of the long term Department of Social Protection eligible payments which qualify you for Special Rate as prescribed under the Student Grant Scheme. See Special Rate awards for a list of eligible payments

Postgraduate Income Thresholds and Grant Award Rates