S.I. No. 71/2025 - Student Support Regulations 2025

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 11th March, 2025.

I, JAMES LAWLESS, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 4 , 7 , 8 , 14 and 14A of the Student Support Act 2011 (No. 4 of 2011) (as adapted by the Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 ( S.I. No. 451 of 2020 ), and the Public Expenditure and Reform (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2023 ( S.I. No. 19 of 2023 )), with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, hereby make the following Regulations:-

Citation and commencement

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Student Support Regulations 2025.

(2) These Regulations shall come into operation on 6th March 2025.

Interpretation

2. (1) In these Regulations—

“Act” means the Student Support Act 2011 (No. 4 of 2011);

“national framework of qualifications” means the framework of qualifications established and maintained pursuant to section 7 of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 (No. 26 of 1999);

“postgraduate course” is a course leading to a major higher education and training award at Level 8 (Higher Diploma), Level 9 (Postgraduate Diploma, Master Degree), Level 10 (Doctoral Degree) on the national framework of qualifications, or equivalent awards;

“relevant specified jurisdiction” means the United Kingdom as respects the class of person standing prescribed by virtue of paragraph (3) of Regulation 5;

“undergraduate course” means a course leading to a major higher education and training award at Level 6 (Higher Certificate), Level 7 (Ordinary Bachelor Degree), Level 8 (Honours Bachelor Degree) on the national framework of qualifications, or equivalent awards, other than a course known for the time being as a post-leaving certificate course.

(2) A word or expression which is used in these Regulations and which is also used in the Act has, unless the context otherwise requires, the same meaning in these Regulations as it has in the Act.

(3) (a) A reference in these Regulations to a Regulation is to a Regulation of these Regulations, unless it is indicated that reference to some other Regulations is intended;

(b) A reference in these Regulations to a paragraph or subparagraph is to the paragraph or subparagraph of the provision in which the reference occurs, unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended;

(c) A reference in these Regulations to a Schedule is to a Schedule to these Regulations, unless it is indicated that reference to some other Regulations is intended.

Approved institutions

3. (1) The institutions listed in Schedule 1 are “approved institutions” under section 7(1)(a) to (d) of the Act.

(2) The institutions listed in Schedule 2 are prescribed as “approved institutions” for the purposes of section 7(1)(f) and (2) of the Act.

Approved courses

4. The following courses are prescribed as “approved courses” for the purposes of section 8(1)(c) of the Act—

(a) full-time courses, known as “post-leaving certificate courses”—

(i) that take not less than one year to complete;

(ii) that are provided by an approved institution that comes within the terms of section 7(1)(d) of the Act and listed in Part C of Schedule 1;

(iii) that are approved for funding by SOLAS as post-leaving certificate courses;

(iv) on the successful completion of which a student is awarded a major education and training award which is a recognised qualification that is not at a lower level than Level 5 in the framework of qualifications; and

(v) notwithstanding subparagraph (iv), the courses listed in Part C of Schedule 2 will be considered to be post-leaving certificate courses for the purposes of these Regulations;

(b) the following full-time undergraduate courses, on the successful completion of which a student is awarded a major higher education and training award which is a recognised qualification pursuant to the framework of qualifications—

(i) a course that takes not less than two years to complete and is provided by an approved institution that comes within the terms of section 7(1)(a), (b), (ba) or (c) of the Act and is listed in Part A or B of Schedule 1, including courses listed in Part D of Schedule 2 which require the successful completion of a course listed in Part C of Schedule 2 as a condition of entry;

(ii) a course at Level 6 in the framework of qualifications that takes one year to complete and is provided by an approved institution that comes within the terms of section 7(1)(b), (ba) or (c) of the Act and is listed in Part B of Schedule 1;

(iii) a course that takes not less than two years to complete and is provided by an approved institution listed in Part A of Schedule 2;

(iv) a course that takes not less than two years to complete and is listed in Part B of Schedule 2, along with the approved institution providing it;

(v) a course, known for the time being as an “add-on course”, that is provided by an approved institution that comes within the terms of section 7(1)(a), (b), (ba) or (c) of the Act and is listed in Part A or B of Schedule 1 and that takes—

(I) one year to complete and allows persons to progress to an undergraduate course leading to a qualification at Level 7 in the framework of qualifications, or

(II) a minimum of one year to complete and allows persons to progress to an undergraduate course leading to a qualification at Level 8 in the framework of qualifications;

(vi) a course, known for the time being as an “add-on course”, that is provided by an approved institution listed in Part A of Schedule 2 and that takes—

(I) one year to complete and allows persons to progress to an undergraduate course leading to a qualification at Level 7 in the framework of qualifications, or

(II) a minimum of one year to complete and allows persons to progress to an undergraduate course leading to a qualification at Level 8 in the framework of qualifications;

(vii) a course, known for the time being as an “add-on course”, that is listed in Part B of Schedule 2, along with the approved institution providing it, and that takes—

(I) one year to complete and allows persons to progress to an undergraduate course leading to a qualification at Level 7 in the framework of qualifications, or

(II) a minimum of one year to complete and allows persons to progress to an undergraduate course leading to a qualification at Level 8 in the framework of qualifications;

(viii) a course, known for the time being as an “accelerated technician programme”, that takes eighteen months to complete and is provided by an approved institution that comes within the terms of section 7(1)(b) of the Act and listed in Part B of Schedule 1;

(c) a full-time undergraduate course that—

(i) takes not less than 2 years to complete;

(ii) is provided by an approved institution in a Member State, other than the State, or in a relevant specified jurisdiction that comes within the terms of section 7(1)(e) or (f) of the Act; and

(iii) leads to a major higher education and training qualification that is recognised—

(I) in a manner, provided for by the laws of the Member State, or the relevant specified jurisdiction, as the case may be that corresponds to the arrangements, procedures and systems of the framework of qualifications, or

(II) otherwise in accordance with the laws of the Member State, or the relevant specified jurisdiction, as the case may be;

(d) the following full-time postgraduate courses in the State, on the successful completion of which a student is awarded a major higher education and training award which is a recognised qualification pursuant to the framework of qualifications—

(i) a course that takes not less than one year to complete and is provided by an approved institution that comes within the terms of section 7(1)(a), (b), (ba) or (c) of the Act and listed in Part A or B of Schedule 1;

(ii) a course that takes not less than one year to complete and is provided by an approved institution listed in Part A of Schedule 2;

(iii) a course that takes not less than one year to complete and is listed in Part B of Schedule 2, along with the approved institution providing it;

(e) a full-time postgraduate course that—

(i) takes not less than one year to complete;

(ii) is provided by an approved institution that comes within the terms of section 7(1)(e) of the Act and is situated in Northern Ireland;

(iii) is listed in Schedule 3; and

(iv) leads to a major higher education and training qualification that is recognised—

(I) in a manner, provided for by the laws of Northern Ireland, that corresponds to the arrangements, procedures and systems of the framework of qualifications, or

(II) otherwise in accordance with the laws of Northern Ireland.

Prescribed students

5. (1) The following family members are prescribed for the purposes of section 14(1)(d) of the Act—

(a) a person who is a family member of a person referred to in section 14(1)(a) of the Act and has permission to remain in the State as a family member of such person under the provisions of the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons Regulations) 2006 and 2008 and Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004; and

(b) a person who has permission to remain in the State—

(i) by virtue of marriage to, or a civil partnership with, an Irish national residing in the State, or

(ii) as a dependent child of a person coming within clause (i), or

(iii) as a dependent child of a person who has acquired Irish Citizenship by naturalisation, residing in the State.

(2) The following classes of persons are prescribed for the purposes of section 14(1)(e)(ii) of the Act—

(a) a person in respect of whom the Minister for Justice has granted humanitarian leave to remain in the State under any enactment for the time being in force;

(b) a person granted permission to reside in the State under Section 49 of the International Protection Act 2015 (No.66 of 2015);

(c) a person in respect of whom the Minister for Justice has granted permission to remain following a determination not to make a deportation order under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (No. 22 of 1999);

(d) a person, pursuant to the European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2013 ( S.I. No. 426 of 2013 ) —

(i) who is a person eligible for subsidiary protection and in relation to whom a subsidiary protection declaration is in force and to whom a permission to reside within the State has been granted pursuant to those Regulations, or

(ii) to whom the Minister for Justice has granted permission to enter and reside in the State pursuant to Regulation 25 of those Regulations, or

(iii) to whom the Minister for Justice has granted permission to reside in the State pursuant to Regulation 26 of those Regulations;

(e) a child of a Turkish national in respect of whom the Minister for Justice has granted a permission to reside and who, in accordance with Article 9 of Decision 1/80 of the Association Council made pursuant to the Ankara Agreement 1963, is residing with their parents, who are or have been legally employed within the State and can satisfy the conditions relating to employment laid down in Articles 6 and 7 of Decision 1/80;

(f) a person to whom the Minister for Justice has granted a residence permission in accordance with the Regularisation Scheme for Long-Term Undocumented Migrants, which permission is still valid; and

(g) a person who has been granted permission to reside in the State by the Minister for Justice on the basis that he or she is a parent of an Irish citizen child, as supported inter alia by the issuance of a Stamp 4.

(3) The following class of person is prescribed for the purposes of paragraph (aa) of section 14(1) of the Act, namely a person who is a national of the United Kingdom.

Regulations 3 and 4.

SCHEDULE 1

Approved institutions

PART A

Atlantic Technological University

Dublin City University

Maynooth University - Ireland

Munster Technological University

National University of Ireland, Dublin

National University of Ireland - University College Cork

South East Technological University

Trinity College Dublin

Technological University Dublin

Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands and Midwest

University of Galway

University of Limerick

PART B

Dundalk Institute of Technology

Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology

PART C

Regulations 3 and 4.

SCHEDULE 2

Approved institutions and courses

PART A

National College of Art & Design, Dublin

National College of Ireland, Dublin

Marino Institute of Education, Dublin

Mary Immaculate College, Limerick

PART B

Pontifical University of Maynooth

In respect of the following undergraduate courses:

— Hons. Bachelor’s Degree in Theology [3 years]

— Hons. Bachelor Degree in Theology and Arts [3 years]

— Hons. Bachelor Degree in Theology & Arts International [4 years]

In respect of the following postgraduate courses:

— MA Degree in Theology [1 year]

— MA Degree in Theology [2 years]

— Doctoral Degree of PhD in Theology [3 years]

Carlow College (St. Patrick’s)

In respect of the following undergraduate courses:

— BA (Ordinary) in Applied Social Studies (Professional Social Care) [3 years]

— BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies (Professional Social Care) [1 year add-on]

— BA (Ordinary) in Arts and Humanities [3 years]

— BA (Hons) in Arts and Humanities [4 years]

— BA (Hons) in Social, Political and Community Studies [4 years]

— BA (Hons) in English and History [4 years]

In respect of the following postgraduate courses:

— MA English by Research [2 years]

— MA Philosophy by Research [2 years]

— MA History by Research [2 years]

— MA Religion/Theology by Research [2 years]

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

In respect of the following undergraduate courses:

— MB, BCh, BAO (LRCP, SI) [5 years]

— MB, BCh, BAO (LRCP, SI) [6 years]

— BSc (Hons) in Pharmacy [4 years]

— BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy [4 years]

— BSc (Hons) in Advanced Therapeutic Technologies [4 years]

In respect of the following postgraduate courses:

— Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) [4 years]

— Medical Doctorate (MD) [2 years]

— MSc by Research [2 years]

— Master of Pharmacy (M Pharm) [1 year]

— MSc in Technologies and Analytics in Precision Medicine [1 year]

— Bachelor of Dental Surgery [5 years]

— MSc Physician Associate Studies [2 years]

— Master of Surgery (by Module) [1 year]

The Honorable Society of Kings Inns

In respect of the following postgraduate course:

— Barrister-at-Law Degree (1 year)

The Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place

In respect of the following postgraduate course:

— Professional Practice Course (PPC) [1 year full-time campus attendance]

PART C

CARLOW

Carlow Institute of Further Education and Training

In respect of year 1 of the following courses:

— BSc in Applied Health Care

— BBs in Tourism and Hospitality Services

CAVAN

Cavan Institute

In respect of year 1 of the following courses:

— BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice

— BSc (Hons) in Software and Technology

CLARE

College of Further Education and Training, Ennis Campus

In respect of year 1 of the following course:

— BB (Hons) in Business

CORK

Morrison’s Island Campus, Cork College of FET

In respect of year 1 of the following courses:

— BSc (Hons) in General Nursing

— BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing

— BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy

— Bachelor of Social Work (Hons)

Mallow Campus, Cork College of FET

In respect of year 1 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing

Cork College of FET, Life Sciences Centre

In respect of year 1 of the following course:

— BSc in Process Manufacturing Practice & Technology

Douglas Street Campus, Cork College of FET

In respect of years 1 and 2 of the following course:

— BA (Hons) in Animation, Visual Effects and Motion Design

DONEGAL

Donegal ETB, FET Centre

In respect of year 1 of the following courses:

— BSc (Hons) in General Nursing

— BSc (Hons) in Software & Technology

DUBLIN

City of Dublin ETB

City of Dublin, FET College Central Campus

In respect of year 1 of the following courses:

— BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing

— BSc (Hons) in Intellectual Disability Nursing

In respect of years 1 and 2 of the following courses:

— BA (Hons) in Digital and Business Skills

— BBs (Hons) in Business and Psychology

— BA (Hons) in Politics, Society and Media

City of Dublin, FET College Northeast Campus

In respect of year 1 of the following courses:

— BSc (Hons) in Intellectual Disability Nursing

— BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing

City of Dublin, FET College Southwest Campus

In respect of year 1 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) Radiography

In respect of years 1 and 2 of the following courses:

— BBs (Hons) in Business and Psychology

— BA (Hons) in Immersive Media Production

— BA (Hons) in Politics, Society and Media

Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB

Blackrock Further Education Institute

In respect of years 1 and 2 of the following course:

— BA (Hons) in Politics, Society and Media

Collinstown Park Community College

In respect of year 1 of the following courses:

— BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing

— BSc (Hons) Radiography

In respect of years 1 and 2 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) in Network Systems Engineering

Dundrum College of Further Education

In respect of year 1 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) Radiography

In respect of years 1 and 2 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) in Network Systems Engineering

Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute

In respect of year 1 of the following courses:

— BSc (Hons) in Intellectual Disability Nursing

— BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing

— BSc (Hons) Radiography

In respect of years 1 and 2 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) in Network Systems Engineering

Grange Community College

In respect of year 1 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) Radiography

Greenhills Community College

In respect of year 1 of the following courses:

— BSc (Hons) in Intellectual Disability Nursing

— BSc (Hons) Radiography

In respect of years 1 and 2 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) in Network Systems Engineering

GALWAY

Galway Technical Institute

In respect of year 1 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) in Software & Technology

KERRY

Kerry College of Further Education and Training, Denny Street Campus

In respect of year 1 of the following courses:

— BSc (Hons) in General Nursing

— BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing

— BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy

Kerry College of Further Education and Training, Listowel Campus

In respect of year 1 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) in General Nursing

Kerry College of Further Education and Training, Clash Road Campus

In respect of years 1 and 2 of the following course:

— BA (Hons) in Animation, Visual Effects and Motion Design

KILKENNY

Kilkenny College of Further Education and Training

In respect of year 1 of the following courses:

— BSc (Hons) in Information Technology Management

— BSc (Hons) in Public Health and Health Promotion

LAOIS

Portlaoise Institute

In respect of year 1 of the following courses:

— Bachelor of Business (Hons)

— BSc (Hons) in Software Development

— BSc (Hons) in Information Technology Management

LIMERICK

College of Further Education and Training, Mulgrave St Campus

In respect of year 1 of the following courses:

— Bachelor of Business (Hons)

— BA(Hons) in Business Studies with Beauty and Spa Management

— BSc (Hons) in Mobile & Web Computing

MAYO

Mayo College of Further Education and Training

In respect of year 1 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) in Software & Technology

MEATH

Dunboyne College of Further Education

In respect of year 1 of the following course:

— Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons)

SLIGO

Ballinode College

In respect of year 1 of the following courses:

— BSc (Hons) in General Nursing

— BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Engineering Technologies

ROSCOMMON

GRETB Further Education and Training Centre

In respect of year 1 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) in General Nursing

TIPPERARY

Central Technical Institute

In respect of year 1 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) in Digital Arts (Common Entry)

Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed

In respect of year 1 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) in Applied Sports Science (Common Entry)

WATERFORD

Dungarvan College

In respect of year 1 of the following course:

— Bachelor of Business

WEXFORD

Gorey Community College

In respect of years 1 and 2 of the following course:

— BA (Hons) in Immersive Media Production

WICKLOW

Bray Institute of Further Education

In respect of years 1 and 2 of the following courses:

— BBs (Hons) in Business and Psychology

— BA (Hons) in Immersive Media Production

PART D

Atlantic Technological University

In respect of years 2, 3, and 4 of the following courses:

— BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Engineering Technologies

— BSc (Hons) in Software & Technology

— BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice

In respect of years 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) in General Nursing

Institute of Art Design and Technology, Dun Laoghaire

In respect of years 3 and 4 of the following courses:

— BA (Hons) in Immersive Media Production

— BBs (Hons) in Business and Psychology

Munster Technological University

In respect of years 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the following courses:

— BSc (Hons) in General Nursing

— BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing

In respect of years 2 and 3 of the following course:

— BSc in Process Manufacturing Practice & Technology

In respect of years 3 and 4 of the following course:

— BA (Hons) in Animation, Visual Effects and Motion Design

National College of Ireland

In respect of years 3 and 4 of the following course:

— BA (Hons) in Digital and Business Skills

South East Technological University

In respect of years 2 and 3 of the following courses:

— BBs in Tourism and Hospitality Services

— BSc in Applied Health Care

— Bachelor of Business

In respect of years 2, 3, and 4 of the following courses:

— BSc (Hons) in Public Health and Health Promotion

— Bachelor of Business (Hons)

— BSc (Hons) in Software Development

— BSc (Hons) in Information Technology Management

Technological University Dublin

In respect of years 3 and 4 of the following courses:

— BA (Hons) Politics, Society and Media

— BSc (Hons) in Network Systems Engineering

Technological University of the Shannon

In respect of years 2, 3, and 4 of the following courses:

— BB (Hons) in Business

— BA (Hons) in Business Studies with Beauty and Spa Management

— BSc (Hons) in Mobile & Web Computing

— BSc (Hons) in Digital Arts (Common Entry)

— BSc (Hons) in Applied Sports Science (Common Entry)

Trinity College Dublin

In respect of years 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the following courses:

— BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing

— BSc (Hons) in Intellectual Disability Nursing

University College Cork

In respect of years 2, 3, and 4 of the following course:

— Bachelor of Social Work (Hons)

In respect of years 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the following course:

— BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy

University College Dublin

In respect of years 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the following courses:

— Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons)

— BSc (Hons) Radiography

Regulation 4.

SCHEDULE 3

Approved Postgraduate Courses in Northern Ireland

Queen’s University, Belfast

Full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration

University of Ulster

Full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration

St Mary’s College of Education, Belfast

Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Irish Medium)

Stranmillis College, Belfast

Postgraduate Certificate in Education

The Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform consents to the making of the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform,

6 March, 2025.

JACK CHAMBERS,

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

6 March, 2025.

JAMES LAWLESS,

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.