SUSI Grant Calculator Ireland 2026/27
Estimate a 2026/27 SUSI maintenance grant, income band and possible fee support for undergraduate, postgraduate or PLC study.
Your SUSI estimate
Adjust the example values to estimate a 2026/27 maintenance rate and possible fee support.
How this SUSI Grant estimate is calculated
The calculator applies the published 2026/27 income thresholds and grant rates for full-time undergraduate, postgraduate and PLC study.
Published by Irish Calculators. Rates, rules and assumptions are maintained against the official sources linked below.
- The course tab selects the undergraduate, postgraduate or PLC award sequence.
- The number of other dependent children selects the correct household column, and every relevant person increases each threshold by its published increment.
- The first income threshold strictly above 2025 reckonable income becomes the estimated award band. The Special Rate is considered only when its social-protection condition is confirmed.
- Distance under 30 kilometres uses the adjacent maintenance rate; 30 kilometres or more uses the non-adjacent rate.
- Annual maintenance is divided by nine published instalments. Possible fee support is shown separately because course, Free Fees Initiative and personal eligibility rules still apply.
Source note: SUSI 2026/27 full-time undergraduate, postgraduate and PLC income-threshold tables, SUSI income guidance and S.I. No. 70 of 2026. This is an estimate only and not financial advice.
How This Calculator Works
Who This Calculator Is For
SUSI Maintenance Grant Rates 2026/27
Distance changes the maintenance amount, while the income band sets the rate.
| Grant band | Adjacent under 30 km | Non-adjacent 30 km+ | Average of 9 payments (adjacent / non-adjacent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Rate | €3,230 | €7,936 | €358.89 / €881.78 |
| Band 1 | €1,774 | €4,722 | €197.11 / €524.67 |
| Band 2 | €1,343 | €3,532 | €149.22 / €392.44 |
| Band 3 | €975 | €2,702 | €108.33 / €300.22 |
| Band 4 | €612 | €1,866 | €68.00 / €207.33 |
The instalment figures are annual rates divided by nine. Actual payment timing and any deductions or holds depend on the award and registration confirmation.
Income Thresholds and Household Adjustments
The calculator chooses a base column, then increases each limit for every relevant person.
| Band | Fewer than 4 children | 4–7 children | 8+ children | Per relevant person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Rate | €28,600 | €31,350 | €33,980 | €4,950 |
| Band 1 | €47,010 | €51,520 | €55,850 | €4,950 |
| Band 2 | €48,270 | €52,900 | €57,345 | €4,785 |
| Band 3 | €51,040 | €55,940 | €60,635 | €4,785 |
| Band 4 | €58,470 | €64,080 | €69,465 | €4,785 |
SUSI’s tables use “under” each limit. The calculator therefore uses a strict less-than comparison. A relevant person is another household member on a qualifying further or higher education course; do not count the applicant as a relevant person.
Undergraduate, Postgraduate and PLC Fee Support
Fee support is not identical across the three course routes.
Undergraduate: the Special Rate and maintenance Bands 1–4 can include full tuition fees or the student contribution, subject to the Free Fees Initiative and the applicant’s circumstances. Higher income-only tiers can provide 50% tuition fees or 100% of the student contribution, 50% of the student contribution, or €500 towards the student contribution.
Postgraduate: the Special Rate can provide up to €6,270 towards tuition fees plus maintenance. Other qualifying maintenance bands and the postgraduate fee-only tier can provide up to €4,500 towards fees.
PLC: SUSI publishes maintenance support only. This calculator does not attach an invented fee award to a PLC estimate.
What Counts as Reckonable Income?
The income box is not the same as annual net salary.
For a dependent or mature dependent student, SUSI generally examines the applicant’s income and parent or legal guardian income. For an independent student, it generally examines the applicant and any spouse, civil partner or cohabitant.
The assessment begins with gross income from relevant sources during 2025 and applies student-grant rules for exclusions and allowable deductions. The 2026/27 holiday-earnings deduction can be up to €8,830. Pension contributions within Revenue limits and certain other items may also affect the final figure. If the household has self-employment, farming, maintenance, foreign income or one-off income, use the official guidance rather than guessing.
SUSI Grant Worked Examples
These examples show why distance and household adjustments matter.
Undergraduate, €42,000 income, two other dependent children
With no relevant person and no Special Rate payment condition, income is under the €47,010 Band 1 limit. The annual maintenance estimate is €1,774 adjacent or €4,722 non-adjacent, plus possible fee support subject to the individual rules.
One relevant person in college
For Band 1, one relevant person increases the first-column limit from €47,010 to €51,960. The increase is applied separately to every band using that band’s published increment.
Postgraduate Special Rate
Income of €27,000 in the first household column can pass the €28,600 Special Rate income test only where the qualifying long-term payment condition also applies. The published maximum tuition fee grant is €6,270, with maintenance based on distance.
How to Apply and What the Calculator Cannot Decide
Treat the result as a preparation tool, not an award letter.
- Check the official nationality, residency, course and progression requirements.
- Identify the correct applicant class and 2025 household income sources.
- Apply through the official SUSI service and upload any documents requested.
- Monitor the application tracker and respond to information requests.
- Confirm registration with the college before relying on a payment schedule.
The calculator does not determine approved course status, repeat-year rules, previous education, change-in-circumstances assessments or documentary evidence. Use the official SUSI application guidance for those checks.