Latest news with #SUSI
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- RTÉ News
High rents may force students to move abroad, USI warns
Third-level students may have to consider studying in other parts of Europe, due to spiralling accommodation costs, the President of the Union of Students of Ireland has warned. Speaking to RTÉ's This Week, Bryan O'Mahoney said some students may have to pursue the option of studying abroad. "There are options across Europe where accommodation is cheaper, and college courses are cheaper. Ireland has the highest costs to go to college," he said. "It is getting to the stage where it may be better to study in Europe because of all the hidden costs, the cost of accommodation. Students need to look at all options and do what is best suited for you," Mr O'Mahoney added. His comments come as the perennial rush to secure student accommodation is on all over the country. Student unions say this year the accommodation is worse than ever before. Rents can range from €800 to €1,200 per month, depending on location. Students are finding major obstacles and difficulties, such as the growing scarcity of accommodation, competition with Airbnbs and spiralling costs, he said. Mr O'Mahoney said the numbers of students going to college is rising over the last few years with more places being offered. "The accommodation crisis for students has never been worse and they're struggling. Some accommodation is up to €12,000 per year. Just look at Cork, 18% of the student accommodation there is publicly built, so there's no rent control on rents," he said. "So, it's a game of privilege being able to find accommodation, being able to out down multiple deposits in order to go to college," he added. Mr O'Mahoney said when he first went to college people were renting for €250 a month but added "now, you'd be lucky to get accommodation for €250 per week". "Everyone's at breaking point wherever you go around the country Students are also working full-time, and not able to attend classes, because the SUSI grant doesn't cover the cost of accommodation," he said. Mr O'Mahoney said accommodation costs vary nationwide. "It's different around the country, if you look at Cork and Galway, it could be around €800 per month whereas its €12,000 for an academic year. In Waterford, where I'm from it is easily €600 on average per month," he added.
Extra.ie
7 days ago
- General
- Extra.ie
All the important CAO dates to remember as Leaving Cert results loom
More than 60,000 students are set to receive their Leaving Certificate results next week, marking the end of second-level education. The Leaving Certificate results are released on Friday, August 22, with schools generally opening from 9am on the day of the results. Alternatively, students can access their results online from midday. Those looking to go to college will then have their sights set on the CAO offers, which will begin being released the week after results. More than 60,000 students are set to receive their Leaving Certificate results next week, marking the end of second-level education. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Here is everything you need to know… The first round of CAO offers will be available from 2pm on Wednesday, August 27. Students can access their offers online via the CAO website, and they will also receive a text message and email. If you have applied for level six/seven and level eight courses, you may be offered a course on both levels. You can only choose one. If an applicant is given their first choice, it will be the only offer they receive. If an applicant receives a lower preference in this round, there is a chance they could receive a higher offer in upcoming rounds. The first round of CAO offers will be available from 2pm on Wednesday, August 27. Students can access their offers online via the CAO website, and they will also receive a text message and email. Pic: Getty Images Those who do not get an offer in the first round will receive a 'Statement of Application' via email. This will give students instructions for checking all the data the CAO has on file. The deadline for accepting round one offers is 3pm on Tuesday, September 2. Recipients are advised to accept their offer as soon as possible. Once you accept an offer, you will receive an email of confirmation. Pic: Getty Images Applicants will receive offers from courses higher on their preference list in later rounds, even if they accept a lower preference course in the first round. Should you accept a new offer, the previous one will be automatically cancelled. Round two offers will be made available on Monday, September 8 at 2pm and will close again on Wednesday, September 10 at 3pm. The third round of offers will be released on Tuesday, September 16 at 10am and will close again on Thursday, September 18. Round four will be available on Tuesday, September 23 at 10am and will close on Thursday, September 25 at 3pm. You do not need to contact SUSI regarding your choice; the CAO will alert SUSI of the course students have accepted. If the course is different to the one SUSI accepted, the CAO will notify them of this change. If you accept a course not offered through the CAO, you will have to submit a 'course change notification' form through your SUSI account.
The Hindu
11-08-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Maris Stella student completes SUSI exchange programme
Maris Stella College congratulated its student, G. Sushma Vardhan, for successfully completing the Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) Exchange Programme, funded by the U.S. Department of State. According to information on the U.S. Department of State website, the SUSI is a five-six week academic programme designed for foreign undergraduate students. The programme The programme, focused on Religious Freedom and Pluralism was conducted by the Dialogue Institute and hosted by the Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from June 23 to July 28, 2025. Sushma was among a select group of emerging leaders from across the globe who engaged in immersive learning experiences on leadership development, civic engagement, and cross-cultural exchange, according to a release from the college. The programme included intensive dialogue training sessions, lectures on American history and society, leadership workshops, community service, and visits to places of worship representing diverse faith traditions. Upon her return, Maris Stella College principal and faculty felicitated Sushma for her achievement, commending her as a role model for her peers and an ambassador of the college's vision of empowering young women to make a positive global impact.
RTÉ News
07-08-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
A financial advisor's guide to paying for college
With colleges starting to ready themselves for students in the next two months, those lucky enough to be awarded a place will be excited at the prospect and a little intimidated or even overwhelmed at the logistics, not to mention the financials. It is estimated that the actual current cost of raising a child from birth until completion of their third-level education is just short of a whopping €240,000. Recent Bank of Ireland Begin research revealed that 80 per cent of parents said they do not believe the current State Child Benefit of €140 per child is sufficient to help them with their children's education expenses. John Lowe of tells all. In addition, 86% of parents surveyed for the study said that any possible further reductions in the child benefit allowance in future Budgets would leave them in a "financially difficult" position when it comes to funding their children's education. Inversely, I had worked out that if you invested that €140 Child Benefit each month in a stock market managed fund from the first month your child was born, continued it for 18 years (it finishes on the 19th birthday) fund the 18th year yourself, assumed a growth rate of 5% each year – from 1991 to 2020 the actual average annual growth in the stock market was a staggering 10.72% - you would wind up with c. €44,000 - just over the amount required to fund your child's entire 3rd level education. Now, when I tell you that 95% of households use the Child Benefit for the precise reason of its introduction - to help families financially with their week-to-week family living costs - you can understand why many families are under great financial strain when their children actually reach 3rd level. In the UK, the average student debt is £44,000 (€51,163) while in the USA it is even greater, where the average student accepts that they will have to repay their student debt for the first 10 years of their working life by paying 30% of each month's income. It is in-built, with their mortgage/rent payments. Here in Ireland, we are a far cry from that, where the parents are saddled with this debt from day one. For those with limited income, you can apply for a grant – SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) is a complicated grant process and outside most families' eligibility, especially those in the middle income bracket. Visit to check the specifics and see if you qualify. I am sure I do not need to repeat the advice to students reading this – shop around and also look for value. The difference between grabbing lunch on the go versus making your own might mean you have the fare to get home. Alternatively, your student card can also sometimes be a great way to find deals when you're on the move. As far as the financials are concerned, when it comes to student loans, I would always check out your local credit union first – they generally have the best rates and are the most flexible, especially now when they are being charged on their customers' surplus cash by AIB Bank and Bank of Ireland. Of the two pillar banks, AIB offer c. 8.15% (8.45% APR) so €3,000 over 1 year will cost €261.22 per month – interest for the year amounts to € 134.68 ) while Bank of Ireland offer 5% loans over 5 years, with a three month moratorium at the start ( € 188.14 per month for €10,000 – the maximum you can borrow). Credit cards are a minefield. Most students do not have the income to repay, so knowing the interest rate chargeable is important. Late payments will attract a charge of €7 – so don't be late and do not use your credit card at ATMs… interest is applied immediately, plus the minimum rate is 25%. Should you "max out" your card, you will be required to repay over a 12 month period – so on a limit of €1,500, the monthly repayment, including the € 30 government stamp duty, will be €127.50 per month – tough when you have to study too! An Post Money's credit card ( they offer 0% for 12 months on balance transfers ) should be checked out, while Revolut has already established itself in the Irish market. When it comes to current accounts, the pillar banks would have the edge. None of the providers charge fees, though the government still have their stamp duty charge on debit and ATM cards of 12 cent per transaction (to a maximum of € 2.50 for ATM cards and € 5 for both ATM and debit cards). Check out the for more information. I would certainly suggest a student budget. You should know what your total expenses are in relation to the income/grant coming in. You have two choices if your expenses exceed that income – earn more or cut costs.
Irish Independent
06-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Cork Councillors say SUSI grant process ‘is complicated and inefficient'
The funding body provides grants for students studying for PLC, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Ireland as well as the UK and the EU. Almost 70,000 applications have been received for the 2025/26 academic year. However, Cork County Councillors have called the grant application process cumbersome, inefficient and unnecessarily complicated. At a recent meeting of Cork County Council, Cllr Audrey Buckley put forward a motion calling on the Education Minister to review the application process. The Carrigaline Councillor said it should be simplified, particularly the income verification part. Integrating that with the Revenue Online Service would help, she said. 'It's not working, it's not fit for purpose, it's very complex, it's ineffective. When you fill out the SUSI grant, I'd say probably 80% of the time it shoots back to you because you could be missing something very simple that you could have found on the Revenue Online system,' Cllr Buckley said. Cllr Sinead Sheppard said a number of people came to her clinic last year seeking help with the application. 'We're people that fill out applications and fill out forms all day long. And even it took me a while to try and get my head around that grant to help people in the process of filling them out. It's so difficult, it's like they don't want people to continue filling it out.' 'It's the most cumbersome, leadránach and drawn-out application that you can possibly have, they nearly ask what you had for dinner yesterday. And then the difficulty about it is when you get to the other end and you pass it, you must turn around and then do it next year and the year after again,' said Cllr Finbarr Harrington. Cllr Sheila O'Callaghan said she can't see why the application process can't be linked with the information held by the Revenue Commissioners: 'Just to simplify it, the facts and the figures are there, and it would streamline the whole process for people and take the stress out of it.' Several Councillors also called for the grant's income assessment to be made on the basis of net rather than gross income. On the foot of Cllr Buckley's motion, Cork County Council agreed to write to the Education Minister to request an urgent review of the application process. SUSI told the Irish Independent that it "conducts ongoing customer satisfaction surveys to help us better understand our applicants' needs. Since opening for applications for academic year 2025/26, the application form has received an applicant satisfaction rating of over 90%." Around 70% of applicants don't need to provide supporting documentation, thanks to data sharing agreements with the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection and the CAO, SUSI said. The grant awarding authority pointed out that its support desk is available by phone, email and social media to help applicants through the process. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
