The main support available to students is the statutory based SUSI grant scheme. In general, persons with refugee, subsidiary protection or leave to remain status can access the same supports as Irish nationals.
Persons in the asylum process are not eligible to access the statutory based SUSI grant scheme. However, the administratively based Pilot Support Scheme provides supports along similar lines to the SUSI grant scheme and is available to persons in the asylum, subsidiary protection or leave to remain process.
Following a review of the Pilot Support Scheme 2018/19, the criteria for applicants to have five years education in the Irish school system was reduced to three years from the 2019/20 academic year. This is similar to the residency requirement of the statutory-based Student Grant Scheme operated by SUSI.