Income Restrictions

The use of income testing for eligibility to the Tertiary and Fees Grants is a special and new feature of the planned scheme. Thus unlike the STB (and the Fees Bursary) the basic level is not really a basic level in the real sense of the term; it is not available to all eligible students.

Please note that the income restriction for the Tertiary Study Grant is called "personal income" while for the Fees Study Grant it is called "personal gross annual income." Whether this is sloppy drafting by the Department of Education or whether there is a real difference between the two is not known.

• 1. Tertiary Study Grant

  Students are not eligible for the full Tertiary Study Grant if they are in receipt of a personal income of over $2000 per annum. The amount of the Tertiary Grant will be reduced by $2 weekly for every $100 or part thereof over $2000.

  For full-time students holiday earnings may be disregarded in this context.

  Even if a student's basic grant has been reduced s/he may still apply for Supplementary Hardship Grants.

• 2. Fees Study Grant

  Students are not eligible for a Fees Study Grant if they have a personal gross annual income from any source in excess of $3000.