Education · Calculator companion · By K Imports
Student budget and SUSI grant estimate: practical guide
This guide explains how to use the Count.ie student budget and susi grant estimate. Estimate 2026/27 undergraduate SUSI bands and fees, or use an awarded grant in a course funding budget. Follow the inputs, method and worked example below, then compare your own scenario.
Guide written .
Open the Student budget and SUSI grant estimate calculatorWhat to prepare
- Collect fees, grades, course details or household information appropriate to the question.
- Check the relevant academic or tax year and official eligibility conditions.
- Distinguish a weighted assessment result from a financial-support estimate.
Understand the inputs
- Support calculation
Options: Estimate scoped 2026/27 SUSI undergraduate support; Use an actual awarded grant.
- Awarded annual support (€)
Shown when Support calculation is awarded.
- 2025 gross household income including disregards (€)
Shown when Support calculation is susi.
- Prescribed SUSI disregarded income included above (€)
- Use only SUSI's prescribed disregards, such as Child Benefit; not general tax deductions.
Shown when Support calculation is susi.
- Student's eligible 2025 holiday earnings included above (€)
- Approved full-time student who worked and studied in 2025; maximum deduction €8,830.
Shown when Support calculation is susi.
- Other evidenced SUSI allowable income deductions (€)
- Only deductions allowed by SUSI, e.g. qualifying pension-related payments; do not deduct ordinary Income Tax, USC or PRSI.
Shown when Support calculation is susi.
- Dependent children in household
Shown when Support calculation is susi.
- Additional SUSI relevant persons in education (exclude applicant)
Shown when Support calculation is susi.
- Normal residence to college distance (km)
Shown when Support calculation is susi.
- Special-rate qualifying long-term payment condition confirmed
Shown when Support calculation is susi.
- Ordinary nationality, residence, household class and approved-course conditions confirmed
Shown when Support calculation is susi.
- Eligible fee support type
Shown when Support calculation is susi.
Options: Student contribution (free-fees course); Eligible tuition fees (not free-fees eligible).
The calculation method
Annual study costs minus annual support/income across course years, then deduct available savings. SUSI mode subtracts prescribed income disregards, eligible holiday earnings up to €8,830 and evidenced deductions; applies 2026/27 household bands and the 30 km maintenance boundary; offsets eligible fee support and maintenance separately to avoid double counting.
Worked example
Illustrative inputs and their result.
Example inputs
- Support calculation
- Estimate scoped 2026/27 SUSI undergraduate support
- Annual tuition/fees (€)
- 2500
- Course years
- 4
- Monthly living costs (€)
- 1000
- Living-cost months each year
- 12
- Annual travel (€)
- 800
- Annual books/equipment (€)
- 600
- Monthly net work income (€)
- 600
- Working months each year
- 10
- Savings available for course (€)
- 5000
- 2025 gross household income including disregards (€)
- 40000
- Prescribed SUSI disregarded income included above (€)
- 0
- Student's eligible 2025 holiday earnings included above (€)
- 0
- Other evidenced SUSI allowable income deductions (€)
- 0
- Dependent children in household
- 2
- Additional SUSI relevant persons in education (exclude applicant)
- 0
- Normal residence to college distance (km)
- 40
- Special-rate qualifying long-term payment condition confirmed
- No
- Ordinary nationality, residence, household class and approved-course conditions confirmed
- Yes
- Eligible fee support type
- Student contribution (free-fees course)
Calculated example result
- Course Funding Shortfall
- €5,712.00
- Annual Course And Living Cost
- €13,400.00
How to interpret the result
A calculated grade or funding estimate does not override an institution's rules or establish award eligibility. Use the stated weighting or official scheme definitions.
Keep the same course, grading basis or scheme year while changing an input. Confirm a consequential result with the institution or official source.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not assume all assessments have equal weight.
- Keep eligible fees separate from accommodation or other costs when relief rules distinguish them.
- Check income definitions and boundary conditions against the specific scheme.
Assumptions and sources
SUSI estimate only for approved full-time undergraduates meeting ordinary residence criteria. 2025 reference income, household class and special-rate conditions must be correct. PLC, postgraduate, part-time and tuition-only-residency cases are excluded. Projecting the same award over course years is a budgeting assumption, not future entitlement.
Rules checked . Baseline rules year: 2026. Reviewed scope: 2026/27 full-time undergraduate income-band estimate only. This does not verify every selectable year, date or Budget announcement profile.
Sources and further information
If your case falls outside this scope, use a more suitable calculator or contact us about an unclear method.