Grants

The Student Grant Scheme is the main financial support available for eligible students attending full-time programmes at UCD. It is overseen by the Department of Education and Skills and is administered by SUSI. All new applicants to the Scheme apply to (opens in a new window)SUSI only.

For further information about entitlement to a SUSI Grant, Rates of Grants and Grants Means Testing, please visit the SUSI website at (opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)www.susi.ie

• How to (opens in a new window)renew an application.
• How to make a (opens in a new window)new application.

If you have any queries regarding these application dates please contact (opens in a new window)SUSI directly.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your grant application, whether renewal or first time, is complete and fully submitted to SUSI within the deadline.

Further details on the Student Grant Scheme, including how to check eligibility and how to apply, are available on the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) website at (opens in a new window)www.susi.ie

If your SUSI grant application is approved, SUSI will notify UCD.

UCD receives weekly files from SUSI with information about student grant awards.

• Files arrive on Monday
• UCD sends updates back to SUSI by Thursday

Please note:

• If you have been offered a place in UCD and have applied to SUSI for a grant you will be asked to input your SUSI number in the Personal details section of the registration process when you go online to register

To allow for any changes announced in the 2026 Budget, grants will be applied to student fee accounts after the Budget in October 2025.

UCD’s role is limited to confirming your registration. We do not manage maintenance payments.
We confirm registrations as quickly as possible.

Common reasons for delayed maintenance payments

• Changed University/other Institution but didn’t update SUSI about this change
• Missing or incorrect bank account details
• Application still inactive or pending
• Grant rate has changed

Before contacting the Student Desk:

• Ensure your SUSI letter lists UCD as your University
• Confirm that your grant includes maintenance payments
• Check your bank details on the SUSI website

Before we can apply your SUSI grant, your Free Fees Initiative (FFI) eligibility must be confirmed.

You’re automatically eligible if:

• You came to UCD straight from secondary school

You must apply for Free Fees if:

• There’s been a break between school and university/third-level 
• You’ve previously studied at another third-level institution
• You are not eligible for Free Fees (e.g. due to immigration status or previous attendance)

If you studied elsewhere, you’ll need to get a UCD form stamped by your previous third-level institution. 

Even if you're not eligible for Free Fees, you still need to apply so we can record why.

Important note regarding students not-eligible for FFI:

If your grant rate is: F3 (50% Student Contribution) or F6 (€500) and you’re not eligible for Free Fees, then you are not eligible for SUSI support this academic year.

Find out more about the Free Fees Initiative in UCD. 

All students are responsible for paying:

• The Student Centre Levy
• Any course-specific charges (e.g. Healthcare Screening Fee)

If your grant covers all fees

• No need to pay tuition fees in advance
• Only the Student Centre Levy and other charges need to be paid

If your grant covers some fees

• Treat the SUSI amount as part of your final payment. 

Check the UCD Fee Payment Deadlines  

Further information can be found on our Student Contribution Charge and Student Centre Levyweb page.

Contact the Student Desk with any queries.

Your grant rate can change at any time, even retroactively.

• SUSI will send you a new letter if your rate changes
• UCD receives these updates weekly

UCD will apply changes but will not notify you (SUSI already has)

If you are entitled to a refund of fees paid, due to your grant approval, it will be automatically processed after UCD has received the fee payment from SUSI.

If You Haven’t Progressed

If you haven’t moved on to the next stage of your Programme, UCD must inform SUSI. In most cases, this means you won’t receive further SUSI support until you progress.

If You Progress After Autumn Trimester Exams

Let the Student Desk know as soon as you progress. We’ll notify SUSI, and you’ll become eligible for support again.

•  Visit the UCD Student Desk  or read the Student Desk FAQs
• Learn more at the (opens in a new window)SUSI Website