This page sets out the definitions and methodology for the Student Grant Recipients: A Collaborative Data Analysis reports.  This includes:

• How each HEA and SUSI data set linking is carried out
• A listing of grant definitions

The Introduction to the project sets out the four elements of analysis, namely:

1. Equity of Access Statistics
2. Student Demographic Statistics
3. Non-progression Analysis
4. Graduate Outcomes Statistics

Each of these analyses, as they relate to different datasets within the HEA’s data infrastructure, applies a particular methodology for the linking of SUSI data to HEA data.  The SUSI dataset includes PPSN, higher education institution attended, year of study, student grant rates, adjacency rates and distance from college.  This data is linked, in turn, with each of the following HEA datasets:

• Student Records System (SRS): The HEA’s main database of enrolments and graduates.
• The Equal Access Survey (EAS): This voluntary survey, at entry to education, gathers data on students’ disability status and ethnicity, amongst other variables.
• The Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS): This voluntary survey, nine months post graduation, captures the main activity of graduates such as employment or further study.

Readers are requested to take into account the analytical note included in the Introduction, noting that each of these reports stand alone analytically.

Data Protection and Data Processing

Data protection and privacy by design and default is at the heart of data collection and processing in the HEA.  The HEA processes personal data lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018.

The HEA processes  a range of personal and sensitive data on students and graduates and has taken the necessary steps to abide fully with its obligations under data protection law.  Since the introduction of the Data Protection Act 2018, the HEA has put all relevant data protection policies and procedures in place.

Firstly, the HEA ensures compliance with the principle of lawfulness by ensuring a valid legal basis for each processing activity, including specific legal bases for data collection in the HEA Act 2022 (Sections 48-51).  In terms of the principles of fairness and transparency, it is crucial that students and graduates are made aware of, and understand, what data is being collected by higher education institutions and provided to the HEA.  At the time of registration, students are provided with a data collection notice, which sets out in detail the data being collected, and purposes to which that data collection is being put, and students’ rights in relation to that data. The HEA has procedures in place to facilitate the exercise of data subject rights.

The HEA also ensures that there are specific, explicit and legitimate purposes for the processing of personal data, including for statistical purposes, that only the necessary data is collected for these purposes, and only retained as long as necessary to fulfil these purposes.

 

Secondly, the HEA has established Data Sharing Agreements with each HEI under its aegis and other stakeholders to govern the data sharing required for the performance of the HEA’s functions. The HEA has a Data Change Management Policy in place to ascertain when Data Privacy Impact Assessments are required, and DPIAs are regularly carried out on proposed new data processing, or where there is a proposed change in processing.

 

Thirdly, to ensure that individual data is protected with the highest levels of security, student and graduate data collection is managed through an online portal that is developed on Oracle APEX. Using user authentication, it allows each HEI to upload data in XML format where it is validated upon upload. The portal uses SSL certificates to confirm to the user they are connected to the right server and the data passed to and from the user’s browser is properly encrypted.

 

Accuracy of data is ensured through extensive data audits which are carried out on receipt of data each year.  Higher education institutions sign-off on data at a senior level following resolution of all audit queries.

 

The HEA is committed to ensuring the lawful, fair and transparent processing of students’ and graduates’ personal data through compliance with data protection legislation, including the use of appropriate technical and organisational measures. The HEA will take all reasonable steps to secure and protect students’ and graduates’ personal data while complying with Data Protection Law.  In relation to special category data, we will continue to observe the highest standards of data protection best practice,  and we rely on and comply with Article 9 of the Data Protection Act 2018, including putting in place suitable and specific measures where necessary to protect this data.

Data Sharing Agreements are in place with all providers of individual-level data to the HEA, and these are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are in line with all relevant legal provisions and data developments. Data Privacy Impact Assessments are also carried out and updated where new or updated data processing takes place, where necessary.

1. Equity of Access Statistics

For the Equity of Access Statistics report, the HEA definition of new entrants is as follows:

• Level 6, 7, 8 programmes including: higher certificates, ordinary degrees, undergraduate honours degree
• Full-time mode of study
• First year students
• New entrant student code

These New Entrants were considered for the period 2017/18 to 2022/23, grouped by whether students were awarded a SUSI grant or not and examines variables from data collected in the Equal Access Survey for the corresponding year.

2. Student Demographic Statistics

For the Student Demographic Statistics report, for each academic year, each student PPSN in the SUSI dataset was linked with the same student PPSN in the HEA SRS dataset.

 

It should be noted that the dataset in this analysis does not encompass the full cohort of students in receipt of a SUSI grant.  Other SUSI grant holders, such as those in further education, those in non-HEA-funded institutions and those studying abroad are not included in the analysis.  This analysis is restricted to those studying higher education in HEA-funded institutions.

 

Furthermore, the analysis in this chapter includes internationally domiciled students who do not typically receive a grant.  Therefore, the HEA student body considered here is broader than those eligible for a grant.

 

Finally, given that data in this chapter is linked on the basis of PPSN, those who do not have a PPSN or have an invalid PPSN are considered to be in the category of not being in receipt a grant.

 

Therefore, any conclusions reached by the reader should take these considerations into account.

3. Non-progression Analysis

Non-progression describes whether New Entrants to Higher Education in Ireland re-enrol at their institution in their second year and is an important measure for capturing early outcomes for students who are new to Higher Education.

This report examines non-progression outcomes among New Entrants who were awarded a SUSI grant and compares this group to New Entrants who did not receive a SUSI grant. For the Non-progression Analysis, the HEA definition of new entrants is as follows:

• Level 6, 7, 8 programmes including: higher certificates, ordinary degrees, undergraduate honours degree
• Full-time mode of study
• First year students
• New entrant student code

Each student is also assigned a “non-progression indicator” which signifies the students progression from first to second year, or otherwise.  This dataset comprises a file of “SRS Non-Progression New Entrants” file. However, readers should note that not all these students have a PPSN; and PPSN is used as the basis for linking of data between HEA and SUSI datasets. Those that don’t have a PPSN are mainly internationally-domiciled students.  The “SRS Non-Progression New Entrants” file is then linked with the SUSI dataset using PPSN.

Further, readers should note that this report considers the HEA definition of non-progression, which differs from that of SUSI: a SUSI applicant must be deemed to be progressing in their education in order to be eligible for a grant, either moving from one year to the next or advancing in their level of education, i.e., PLC → Undergraduate → Postgraduate.

4. Graduate Outcomes Analysis

In the Graduate Outcomes Analysis report, the Graduate Outcomes Survey Class of 2022 is considered.  These are graduates who responded to the Graduate Outcomes Survey in 2023, approximately nine months after graduation.

The process linked 2017/18 – 2021/22 SUSI records with the Graduate Outcomes Survey Class of 2022 dataset, using PPSN and level of study (undergraduate or postgraduate) to identify matched records.

As can be seen in 1. Student Demographic Statistics, nearly all grant recipients are Irish domiciled, this report is restricted to Irish domiciled graduates.  Also, given the low numbers of graduates at level 10  in receipt of a grant, the analysis is also resticted to those graduates at NFQ Levels 6, 7, 8 and 9.

It should be noted that the dataset in this analysis does not encompass the full cohort of students in receipt of a SUSI grant.  Other grant holders, such as those in further education, those in non-HEA-funded institutions and those studying abroad are not included in the analysis.  This analysis is restricted to those studying higher education in HEA-funded institutions.

Grant types

There are several types of SUSI grant awards which are listed below.  The financial amounts listed relate to the 2023/24 academic year.

 

Special Rates:

Special Rate Non Adjacent (over 30 km from college for current year), Maintenance of €6,791 a year and Full Fees/Contribution (€3,000) paid too (Up to €6,270 for Post Grads)

Special Rate Non Adjacent (under 30 km from college for current year), Maintenance of €2,936 a year and Full Fees/Contribution (€3,000) paid too (Up to €6,270 for PGs)

 

Band 1:

Band 1 (a.k.a. 100% Rate) Non Adjacent, Maintenance of €3,667 a year and full Fees/Contribution (€3,000) paid too

Band 1 (a.k.a. 100% Rate) Adjacent,  Maintenance of €1,613 a year and full Fees/Contribution (€3,000) paid too

 

Band 2:

Band 2 (a.k.a. 75% Rate) Non Adjacent, Maintenance of €2,717 a year and full Fees/Contribution (€3,000) paid too

Band 2 (a.k.a. 75% Rate) Adjacent,  Maintenance of €1,221 a year and full Fees/Contribution (€3,000) paid too

 

Band 3:

Band 3 (a.k.a. 50% Rate) Non Adjacent, Maintenance of €1,887 a year and full Fees/Contribution (€3,000) paid too

Band 3 (a.k.a. 50% Rate) Adjacent,  Maintenance of €886 a year and full Fees/Contribution (€3,000) paid too

 

Band 4:

Band 4 (a.k.a. 25% Rate) Non Adjacent, Maintenance of €1,051 a year and full Fees/Contribution (€3,000) paid too

Band 4 (a.k.a. 25% Rate) Adjacent,  Maintenance of €556 a year and full Fees/Contribution (€3,000) paid too

 

No Maintenance Rates (Adjacency not considered):

100% Student Contribution/50% Tuition Fees

50% Student Contribution where eligible under FFI

Postgraduate Fee Contribution €4,000

Postgraduate Tuition Fees up to a maximum of €6,270

€500 towards Student Contribution where eligible under FFI