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Cost of living: Students in line for €1,000 budget boost - how to claim

Thousands of students are set for a handy boost of €1,000 thanks to new measures announced in Budget 2025 - here's everything you need to know about how to claim it

12 Oct 2024, 09:24 by Erica Carter · RSVP Live

Students are in line for a big boost as the government announced a €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for this academic year.

It means that anyone who hasn't paid it get will be €1,000 better off, while anyone who has is in line for a refund of €1,000.

The reduction will be available to all registered Higher Education Authority (HEA) eligible undergraduate students in the academic year 2024/25.

Students that paid 100% of the student contribution charge on registration will receive a refund of €1,000.

Card payments will be refunded directly onto the card used to make the payment.

Refunds will be processed in coming weeks and completed by November 30th 2024.

If SUSI is partially funding the student contribution fee, students will be eligible for the balance. If SUSI is funding 100% of the student contribution fee, then no refund or credit is required as there is no liability to the student.

Students who opted for 'Pay by Instalment' will not receive a refund, instead the credit is available for offset against student contribution fee liability.

Students have the option of using credit balances on their account for offset against liabilities on this account, such as accommodation charges.

Other measures announced for students in Budget 2025 include:

The Standard Rate Maintenance Grant income thresholds and Student Contribution Grant income thresholds for the Student Grant will increase by 15% (September 2025)
The income threshold for the special rate of maintenance grant will increase from €26,200 to €27,400 (September 2025)

As well as these, The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will receive a total of €4.5 billion from Budget 2025, which Minister Chambers described as “a demonstration of our commitment to investing for our future”.

Minister for Higher Education Patrick O’Donovan said part of this funding is intended to provide an increase in certain PhD stipends, however details of these policies are yet to be announced.

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