Means testing of Maintenance Grants
Maintenance grants are subject to means testing, in every case, on the basis of the contributors' income as well as that of the student.
Calculating the Reduction on Account of Contributor's Income
The amount of the grant is reduced by the amount shown below with reference to the total net income of the contributors in respect of maintenance grants in all cases
| Net income £ | Reduction £ | Net income £ | Reduction £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16,795 | 0 | 40,000 | 3,868 |
| 17,000 | 34 | 41,000 | 4,034 |
| 18,000 | 201 | 42,000 | 4,201 |
| 19,000 | 368 | 43,000 | 4,368 |
| 20,000 | 534 | 44,000 | 4,534 |
| 21,000 | 701 | 45,000 | 4,701 |
| 22,000 | 868 | 46,000 | 4,868 |
| 23,000 | 1,034 | 47,000 | 5,034 |
| 24,000 | 1,201 | 48,000 | 5,201 |
| 25,000 | 1,368 | 49,000 | 5,368 |
| 26,000 | 1,534 | 50,000 | 5,534 |
| 27,000 | 1,701 | 51,000 | 5,701 |
| 28,000 | 1,868 | 52,000 | 5,868 |
| 29,000 | 2,034 | 53,000 | 6,034 |
| 30,000 | 2,201 | 54,000 | 6,201 |
| 31,000 | 2,368 | 55,000 | 6,368 |
| 32,000 | 2,534 | 56,000 | 6,534 |
| 33,000 | 2,701 | 57,000 | 6,701 |
| 34,000 | 2,868 | 58,000 | 6,868 |
| 35,000 | 3,034 | 59,000 | 7,034 |
| 36,000 | 3,201 | 60,000 | 7,200 |
| 37,000 | 3,368 | 61,000 | 7,200 |
| 38,000 | 3,534 | 61,790 | 7,200 |
| 39,000 | 3,701 | 61,795 | 7,200 |
For intermediate amounts, the reduction is calculated as follows:-
- Where net income exceeds £16,795 the amount of the grant is further reduced by £1 for each £6 of the contributor’ net income above the relevant amount specified in the above table
- Where the grant reduction causes the maintenance grant to fall below the base grant of £300, the student will be entitled to a maintenance grant of £300 per annum unless the total income of contributors exceeds £61,795 as specified in the above table
Means Testing of Student Income for the Calculation of Maintenance Grants
Reduction on Account of Student's Income
If the student has unearned income in the academic year, the grant is reduced by £1 for every £1 by which the income in the academic year exceeds the relevant amount specified below:
| Category of income | £ |
|---|---|
| Any scholarship, studentship, exhibition or award of a similar kind bestowed on the student in respect of the course (in pursuance of a sponsorship scheme or otherwise), except an award under these Regulations | 8,000 |
| Any payment made by the student's employer, where the student is released by the employer to attend the course | 8,000 |
| Pension | 3,300 |
| Trust income | 2,000 |
| Other unearned income (except income received by the student from renting out his or her own home) | 900 |
Income falling within the following categories will not be taken into account for the purpose of determining the amount of the grant:
- remuneration for employment
- disability pension not subject to income tax
- payments covenanted by a parent or guardian of the student
- payments for an educational purpose, other than to meet:
- tuition fees
- expenses for which an allowance is made in respect of disability
- living and course expenses
- child benefit in respect of dependent children of the student
- payments made under:
- the action scheme of the European Community for the Mobility of University Students (“ERASMUS”)
- the European Commission programme for foreign language competence (“LINGUA”)
- payments made to the student out of access funds held by the institution which he or she is attending.
The 'parent or guardian', in relation to a student, includes any person (other than a public authority) who has parental responsibility for him or her, or would have parental responsibility for him or her if he or she were under the age of 18.
Contribution towards Tuition Fees where Family Income exceeds £112,000
The universal contribution of £2,500 towards annual tuition fees is increased by 35% of that part of total gross income that exceeds £112,000 per annum, up to the full cost of tuition fees.
If there is more than one student from a family attending College/University at the same time, the level of income above which the additional 35% becomes payable is increased by £19,285 per student.
This additional contribution is payable by the student and/or contributors and is not covered by the loan scheme operated by the Department.
