Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine. Details of eligibility for the Student Grant Scheme can be found at: www.susi.ie

Funding under the Free Fees Initiative is only available in respect of approved courses within the State. The Student Grant Scheme does not and never has, extended to the payment of tuition fees to institutions outside the State, other than the exceptional provision in respect of postgraduate courses in four publicly funded approved institutions in Northern Ireland:

Queen’s University, Belfast,

University of Ulster,

St. Mary’s College of Education, Belfast and

Stranmillis College, Belfast.

This provision is consistent with the principles of the Good Friday agreement and is intended to promote greater tolerance and understanding between both jurisdictions.

Students seeking to pursue their studies in the UK are advised to contact the Student Finance agency in each of the Devolved Administrations in the UK, as each jurisdiction may have variations in eligibility criteria. Students may also wish to contact the relevant Further or Higher Education Institution in the UK for advice on the type and range of supports that may be available in any specific college.

The HEA-led website, www.studentfinance.ie, has details of student supports including details of various bursaries and scholarships.