The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has said that the recent expansion of the Student Grant Scheme is important for supporting farm families.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless announced that the expanded scheme will take effect from the new academic year.

IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Committee chair Teresa Roche said that the move is "a positive step forward and education is a cornerstone for the future of our rural communities".

"These adjustments make higher education more accessible to students from farming backgrounds.

"It's essential that farm families are aware of these opportunities and the upcoming application deadlines,” she said.

Budget 2025 provided significant improvements to existing supports under the Student Grant Scheme and the Student Part-Time Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses.

The changes from September 2025 for eligible students will include:

An increase in the income threshold to the special rate of grant from €26,200 to €27,400 in line with increases in social welfare rates;
An increase in all other income thresholds by at least 15%;
An increase to the income deduction for student earnings outside of term time from €7,925 to €8,424 effective for the 2025/26 academic year;
An increase in eligibility thresholds, which will see undergraduate students whose reckonable income is under €115,000 eligible for a €500 student contribution fee grant.

The IFA is urging farmers to visit the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) website for further information and to find out if they are eligible for a grant.

The priority closing dates are June 5, 2025 for renewal applications and July 10, 2025 for new applications.

The SUSI support desk is available Monday to Friday (9:00a.m – 5:30p.m), excluding public holidays. They can be contacted by phone on 0818 888 777 or by email.