Can You Get the SUSI Grant for a Masters Degree? (2026/27)

Key Takeaways:

• Yes, but it operates differently: You can absolutely get a SUSI grant for a Master’s degree or PhD in Ireland, but postgraduate funding is structurally different—and generally less generous—than undergraduate funding.
• The €4,500 Fee Contribution: For the 2026/2027 academic year, the maximum standard postgraduate fee contribution has increased to €4,500. SUSI will pay this directly to your university to offset your tuition costs.
• Maintenance Grants Return for Postgrads: In a massive shift, eligible postgraduate students can now receive the monthly cash Maintenance Grant alongside their fee contribution, provided their household income falls under specific thresholds (starting under €58,470 for partial maintenance).
• The Special Rate Powerhouse: If your reckonable income is under €28,600 and your household receives a qualifying long-term social welfare payment, you unlock the “Special Rate.” This covers up to €6,270 of your tuition fees and awards the maximum maintenance grant (up to €7,936 non-adjacent).
• Previous Qualifications Matter: You must be progressing in your education. You cannot get SUSI for a Master’s degree if you already hold a Master’s degree.

One of the most pervasive myths in the Irish education system is that the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant is exclusively for 18-year-olds entering their first undergraduate degree.

This is fundamentally false.

Thousands of students rely on SUSI every year to fund their postgraduate studies, including Level 9 Master’s degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Level 10 Doctoral (PhD) programs. However, if you are transitioning from an undergraduate degree where SUSI covered your entire €2,500 contribution and paid you a monthly stipend, you are in for a shock.

The postgraduate SUSI system is heavily capped. Because postgraduate tuition fees in Ireland are completely unregulated—often ranging from €7,000 to €15,000 per year—SUSI rarely covers the total cost of the degree. It is a contribution system.

Furthermore, recent budgetary changes for the 2026/2027 academic cycle have completely rewritten the rules regarding maintenance grants for postgraduates, reintroducing monthly cash payments that were previously abolished for master’s students.

This comprehensive guide will decode exactly how the SUSI grant operates for postgraduate students in 2026/2027. We will break down the income thresholds, explain the difference between the standard fee contribution and the lucrative Special Rate, and outline the progression rules you must satisfy to qualify.

1. The Core Rule: Academic Progression

Before SUSI even looks at your bank account, they look at your academic history. The Irish government will only fund you to move up the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

• The Golden Rule: You must be entering an approved course that is at a higher NFQ level than any qualification you already hold.
• If you hold a Level 8 Honours Bachelor’s Degree, you can get SUSI for a Level 9 Master’s or Postgraduate Diploma.
• If you already hold a Level 9 Master’s Degree (even if you paid for it yourself or studied abroad), you cannot get SUSI to fund a second Level 9 Master’s Degree. You could only get SUSI if you progressed to a Level 10 PhD.

2. The Standard Postgraduate Package (2026/2027)

For the vast majority of postgraduate applicants, you will be assessed for the standard funding package. This package is split into two components: the Fee Contribution and the Maintenance Grant.

Component A: The €4,500 Fee Contribution

For the 2026/2027 academic year, the government increased the standard postgraduate fee contribution grant from €4,000 to €4,500.

• SUSI does not pay this money to you; they pay it directly to your university’s fees office.
• The Catch: If your Master’s degree costs €9,000, SUSI pays €4,500. You are personally liable for the remaining €4,500 balance before you can graduate.

Component B: The Maintenance Grant

Historically, standard postgraduates only received the fee contribution and zero monthly cash. However, recent changes mean postgraduates can now qualify for the Maintenance Grant (paid in nine monthly installments).

• The amount of maintenance you receive depends entirely on which income band you fall into (Bands 1 through 4).
• It also depends on whether you are Adjacent (living less than 30km from the college) or Non-Adjacent (living 30km or more from the college).

3. The 2026/2027 Income Thresholds

To determine what level of funding you receive, SUSI assesses your household’s “Reckonable Income” for the previous calendar year (January 1st, 2025 to December 31st, 2025).

If you are under 23 years of age, you are assessed on your parents’ income. If you are over 23 and live independently, you are assessed on your own (and your spouse/partner’s) income.

Standard Postgraduate Income Bands (Fewer than 4 Children)

Note: The income limits below apply to households with fewer than 4 dependent children. If your household has 4 or more children, these limits increase significantly.

SUSI Band	Reckonable Income Limit	What You Receive (2026/2027 Rates)
Band 1	Under €47,010	€4,500 Fee Contribution PLUS Full Maintenance (€1,774 Adj / €4,722 Non-Adj)
Band 2	Under €48,270	€4,500 Fee Contribution PLUS Part Maintenance (€1,343 Adj / €3,532 Non-Adj)
Band 3	Under €51,040	€4,500 Fee Contribution PLUS Part Maintenance (€975 Adj / €2,702 Non-Adj)
Band 4	Under €58,470	€4,500 Fee Contribution PLUS Part Maintenance (€612 Adj / €1,866 Non-Adj)
Fee Only	Under €64,315	€4,500 Fee Contribution ONLY. (Zero Maintenance Grant)

4. The Special Rate: The Ultimate Postgraduate Funding

If you are from a low-income household that relies on social welfare, the standard €4,500 contribution is rarely enough to bridge the gap to afford a Master’s degree. To solve this, SUSI operates the Special Rate.

If you qualify for the Special Rate, the postgraduate funding limitations are removed, and you receive a massive financial package.

What the Special Rate Provides:

1. Tuition Fee Grant: SUSI will pay up to a maximum of €6,270 toward your postgraduate tuition fees. (If your course costs less than €6,270, they pay the exact amount. If it costs more, you pay the difference).
2. Maximum Maintenance: You automatically receive the highest possible monthly cash stipend. For 2026/2027, this is €3,230 (Adjacent) or a massive €7,936 (Non-Adjacent).

How to Unlock the Special Rate:

You must pass a strict two-part test:

1. The Income Test: Your total household reckonable income for 2025 must be strictly under €28,600.
2. The Social Welfare Test: On December 31st, 2025, a parent, guardian, or the independent student themselves must have been in receipt of an eligible long-term social welfare payment (e.g., Jobseeker’s Allowance held for over 391 days, Disability Allowance, One-Parent Family Payment, etc.).
   • 2026 Update: Disablement Benefit and Pay Related Benefit (PRB) are now explicitly included as eligible payments for the Special Rate.

5. Strategic Advice for Postgraduates

Applying for SUSI as a postgraduate requires careful financial planning.

1. Calculate the Gap:

Do not assume SUSI will cover everything. If you are accepted into a highly specialized MSc in Data Science that costs €11,000, and you qualify for Band 1, SUSI will pay €4,500. You must have a concrete plan (savings, a student loan, or a part-time job) to pay the remaining €6,500 before you even accept the college offer.

2. Deduct Your Holiday Earnings:

Many students transition directly from an undergraduate degree to a Master’s. If you worked a part-time job during your undergraduate holidays in 2025, SUSI allows you to deduct up to €8,830 of those earnings from your reckonable income calculation. This deduction alone frequently pushes students down into a higher maintenance band.

3. The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) Conflict:

If you are an independent mature student receiving the BTEA to fund your postgraduate degree, you are entirely blocked from receiving the SUSI Maintenance Grant (the monthly cash). However, you can and should still apply to SUSI for the €4,500 Fee Contribution to cover your tuition costs.

Finalizing Your Master’s Funding

The decision to pursue a Master’s degree is a serious financial undertaking. While the SUSI system is more restrictive at the postgraduate level, the recent reintroduction of maintenance grants and the €500 increase to the fee contribution provide a vital lifeline for the 2026/2027 cycle.

If you are considering a Level 9 or Level 10 qualification, sit down and calculate your 2025 reckonable income today. Determine whether you meet the €64,315 baseline threshold, or if you qualify for the transformative €28,600 Special Rate. By understanding exactly how much state support you are entitled to, you can confidently apply to your chosen postgraduate program without the fear of hidden tuition debts.

Disclaimer: The income thresholds, fee contribution maximums (€4,500 / €6,270), and maintenance rates detailed in this guide are based on the published criteria for the SUSI Student Grant Scheme applicable to the 2026/2027 academic year. SUSI and the Department of Further and Higher Education hold absolute authority over grant assessments, and policies are subject to annual budgetary adjustments. Prospective applicants must always utilize the official SUSI Eligibility Indicator and consult SUSI.ie for legally binding assessments prior to finalizing their postgraduate financial plans.