Accommodation is the biggest cost of going to college in Ireland. The headline supports are the SUSI grant (with a higher non-adjacent rate if your college is 30 km or more from home), the €1,000 Rent Tax Credit (which now covers digs and can be claimed by a parent), and the Student Assistance Fund, which explicitly covers rent and bills. Living away from home costs roughly €1,400–€1,900+ per month, dominated by rent.
The SUSI grant
SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) is the national grant body. A grant has two separate parts: a maintenance grant paid directly to the student in nine monthly instalments toward living costs, and a fee grant that covers the Student Contribution and tuition. "Free fees" students don't get a fee grant but may still get maintenance.
Maintenance is paid at two rates depending on adjacency — whether your college is under 30 km from home (adjacent, lower rate) or 30 km or more away (non-adjacent, higher rate). This is directly relevant to accommodation: students who move away qualify for the larger non-adjacent rate. Income is assessed on the household's gross income for the previous calendar year. For 2026/27, apply by 9 July 2026 for priority assessment.
| Band | Reckonable income under | Adjacent (<30 km) | Non-adjacent (≥30 km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Rate | €28,600 | €3,230 | €7,936 |
| Band 1 (full) | €47,010 | €1,774 | €4,722 |
| Band 2 | €48,270 | €1,343 | €3,532 |
| Band 3 | €51,040 | €975 | €2,702 |
| Band 4 | €58,470 | €612 | €1,866 |
Sources: SUSI — thresholds & rates · SUSI — adjacency · Apply at grantsonline.ie
Rent Tax Credit
The Rent Tax Credit is worth €1,000 per year for a single person (or €2,000 for a jointly assessed couple), available for the tax years 2024–2028. Crucially for students, it now covers digs and rent-a-room arrangements, and a parent can claim it for rent they pay for a student child — not just the student's own tenancy.
Conditions for the parent/child case: the property must be the child's term-time principal residence; the child must have been under 23 when they first started the course; it must be an approved course; and there can be no family relationship with the landlord. Claim through Revenue myAccount (PAYE) or Form 11 (self-assessed), supplying the RTB registration number where applicable.
Sources: Revenue — Rent Tax Credit · Revenue — used by your child
Student Assistance Fund (SAF) and hardship supports
The Student Assistance Fund helps students in genuine financial difficulty and explicitly covers rent and utility bills (as well as food, books, transport, childcare and medical costs). It does not cover tuition or registration fees. Apply confidentially through your college's Access Office or Student Services — apply early, as some colleges set deadlines.
The 1916 Bursary (~€2,000/year) supports students from groups under-represented in higher education, applied for via the college Access Office.
Sources: HEA — Student Assistance Fund · HEA — 1916 Bursary
Deposits — what you can legally be asked for
Under the Residential Tenancies Acts, a landlord cannot require more than one month's rent as a deposit, and cannot require more than one month's rent in advance — so the most you can be required to pay to secure a place is the equivalent of two months' rent. The one exception: in student-specific accommodation you may choose to pay more in advance if you pay rent and tuition to the same provider. Always get a dated receipt and avoid cash.
Sources: RTB — security deposits · RTB — student-specific accommodation
What it actually costs to live away from home
DCU's official 2025/26 "away from home" guide breaks down a realistic monthly budget: rent ~€796, groceries ~€200, eating out ~€120, utilities ~€125, internet ~€30, phone ~€27, local transport ~€92, weekend travel ~€140, books ~€34, plus social/clothing/misc — about €1,822/month, or roughly €16,400 across September–May on top of the student contribution. Across universities a reasonable planning range is €1,400–€1,900+ per month, dominated by rent.
Sources: DCU cost-of-living guide (PDF) · TU Dublin cost-of-living guide · UCD living costs
Frequently asked questions
Does SUSI pay more if I live away from home?
Yes. The non-adjacent maintenance rate (for colleges 30 km or more from home) is significantly higher than the adjacent rate — for example €7,936 vs €3,230 at the Special Rate — so moving away can increase your SUSI maintenance grant.
Can parents claim the Rent Tax Credit for a student child's rent?
Yes. A parent can claim the €1,000 Rent Tax Credit for rent they pay for a student child's term-time accommodation, including digs, provided the child was under 23 when starting an approved course and there's no family relationship with the landlord.
What is the most a landlord can ask for upfront?
Under the Residential Tenancies Acts a landlord can require at most one month's rent as a deposit plus one month's rent in advance — two months' rent in total — except in some student-specific accommodation where you may choose to pay more.
Does the Student Assistance Fund cover rent?
Yes. The Student Assistance Fund explicitly covers rent and utility bills (along with food, books, transport and other costs) for students in genuine financial difficulty. Apply confidentially through your college's Access Office or Student Services.
University accommodation guides
Get costs, deadlines and how-to-apply detail for each of Ireland's eight largest universities.
Browse all accommodation guidesLast updated: June 2026 · Researched against official SUSI, Revenue, RTB and college sources. Rules and rates change each cycle — always confirm on the official pages linked above.