Noticeboard Fees

Government arrangements for displaced Ukrainian students for September 2023 entry and beyond  

Ukraine • July 5th, 2023

The following information has been prepared based on recent communications between the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), and is aimed at students displaced by the war in Ukraine continuing their studies and those applying for university places for September 2023. This information is subject to change.

While this information is provided in good faith with the intention of assisting displaced Ukrainian students in Ireland, in the absence of any official Government publication on this matter, neither IUA nor its members can be held responsible for the accuracy or otherwise of this information.

1. Displaced Ukrainian Students who were admitted to an Irish university in 2022 and wish to continue their chosen course in September 2023: 

• Fees will continue to be paid from the Higher Education Temporary Tuition Fee Support Scheme for Displaced Ukrainian Students 2022/2023.
• Students will continue to receive a monthly support payment.

2.  Displaced Ukrainian Students who were admitted to an Irish university in 2022                 and not progressing to a subsequent year: 

• Students who commenced their studies in 2022/23, but who in 2023/24 repeat a year or change programme will no longer be eligible for free fees or other supports.

• Only those progressing to the next year on a normal progression route within the university they started in 22/23 will continue to receive free fees and financial supports.

3. Displaced students applying to start 1st year of university in September 2023: 

• Students displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and who have been granted Temporary Protection in Ireland were eligible to apply for entry into higher education in academic year 2023/24 via the CAO by May 1^st, 2023.

• New students who are offered a place in university will be eligible for EU fees rather than non-EU fees. EU fee rates are set by each individual third-level educational institution. Students should contact the university they are interested in to find out about the EU fee rate.

• New entrants to a university in the academic year 2023/24 will have their eligibility to access the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) assessed on the same basis as for all other students, including Irish citizens, and those who have been granted International Protection[i] in Ireland.

• To be eligible for FFI, a student must demonstrate that they have been resident in the State, the EEA, Switzerland or the UK for at least three years in the previous five-year period ending on the day before the start of their approved course of study.

• Eligibility to access the Student Grant Scheme will be on the same basis as Irish/UK/ EU students residency requirements

• We are awaiting advice from DFHERIS on any additional financial supports that may be available.

Pre-entry access /Foundation/ FET progressing to University in 2023

• Students who in the academic year 2022/23 were on a pre-entry access or foundation route, or in FET (Further Education Training) and who progress to a formal Higher Education programme in 2023/24 are not eligible for Free Fees Initiative (FFI) or other supports unless they meet the residency requirements outlined above.

• Those who do not qualify for FFI will be required to pay EU student fees. EU fee rates are set by each individual third-level educational institution. Students should contact the university they are interested in to find out about the EU fee rate.

Government website: 

Updated Government advice on fees and funding will be published on gov.ie – Ireland’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

This page last updated on 4^th July 2023

Budget 2023: Ministers Harris and Collins announce cost-of-living package for students, and investment in third level education for 2023

From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 

Published on 27 September 2022

Last updated on 27 September 2022

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris and Minister of State for Skills Niall Collins have today outlined a significant cost of living package for third level students.

The package will include a:

• once-off €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for the undergraduate free fees initiative

(for students who have already paid their fees in full, the University will arrange an automatic refund in due course )

• once-off extra payment for all student maintenance grant recipients
• once-off increase of €1,000 in the support to SUSI qualified Post Graduate students, increasing from €3500 to €4,500
• further €8 million investment in the Student Assistance Fund for the 2022/23 academic year

In addition, Ministers Harris and Collins welcome a Budget of €3.9 billion for 2023 including:

• a reduction of €500 in the contribution fee for eligible grant applicants earning between €62,000 and €100,000
• the threshold for the student contribution 50% grant (€1500) has been expanded to €62,000;
• student maintenance grants will increase from January
• a permanent increase in the support for Post Graduate fees under SUSI by €500 from €3,500 to €4,000 from September 2023
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