Going back to College? Check here for Mature/Disabled/Access/Grant & Fees information

ditzyfairy · 05-10-2012 6:24pm

Just off the phone with SUSI (my new bff) to see if there's been any progress with my appeal (i was turned down for the fee grant bk in August because i'd done 1st year of same level and appealed based on the fact I meet the requirements for 2nd chance student) so anyways ur man looked it up and said that a checklist had been posted to me yesterday so will probably get it monday, and he saw no reason for them to send a checklist if my appeal had been unsuccessful

so fingers crossed thigns are looking up

ditzyfairy · 05-10-2012 6:25pm

moonandstars wrote: »

Bleugh! I wish I could curse here but I've got a warning so I better be a good girl!
Didn't get mine this week so hopefully next week..

call up ur local SW office, mine told me last week that my payment would be out the 4th and told me I would be getting the €300 along with it

Hogzy · 12-11-2012 11:00pm

I have a primary degree in law and I want to go back to college and do a legal masters.

On the welfare website it says you must be doing a h.dip in order to get BTEA, What about masters? Are they specifically disallowed or something?

Seems a bit unfair.

paperclip2 · 13-11-2012 12:52pm

Hogzy wrote: »

I have a primary degree in law and I want to go back to college and do a legal masters.

On the welfare website it says you must be doing a h.dip in order to get BTEA, What about masters? Are they specifically disallowed or something?

Seems a bit unfair.

Yes, unfortunately BTEA is not available for any qualification beyond a H.Dip.

Drezden · 25-01-2013 1:34am

Hi Paperclip

I was attending a course in 2009/2010, (level 8 Psych) and left at about March, during my first year. I am currently considering re-applying for the year 2014/2015, (level 8 Computer Science) which would be five years since I started the course, but unfortunately not five years since I last attended eductaion.

Do you reckon I will have to pay the full tuition for the first year and then free fees for the subsequent years?
Any help would be much appreciated

Long Term Louth · 25-01-2013 2:27pm

Are free fees available for a H Dip?

paperclip2 · 25-01-2013 2:59pm

Drezden wrote: »

Hi Paperclip

I was attending a course in 2009/2010, (level 8 Psych) and left at about March, during my first year. I am currently considering re-applying for the year 2014/2015, (level 8 Computer Science) which would be five years since I started the course, but unfortunately not five years since I last attended eductaion.

Do you reckon I will have to pay the full tuition for the first year and then free fees for the subsequent years?
Any help would be much appreciated

Hi Drezden

There's a good chance you would be hit for fees. However if I was you I would check with the new college. The dept of education can pay your tuition fees if you fulfill the 5 year rule and have left one university degree and are re-entering another. SUSI can pay your tuition fees if you are a Mature student, fulfill the 5 year rule, and are within the income limits.

But check with the college first.

FatherFrost · 25-01-2013 6:25pm

Hey folks, I'm thinking of going to College as a Mature student this September(so doing CAO lark this weekend) and plan to get the BTEA, I assume I can get it fine as I'm currently getting jobseekers and will be up till the courses start If I don't get a job.

My only worry is that I done 1 year in an IT years ago when I was like 18, I done the sept-may year, but never 'completed' anything as I had lots of repeats from crimbo and summer and never bothered with em, I was there for all the wrong reasons and just a daft kid

Will that affect my BTEA plans?

Tks..

s08t · 25-01-2013 6:28pm

What does SUSI stand for? and what is the difference in getting a grant from a VEC and SUSI. As a mature student should I be with SUSI?

Help in answering these would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

s08t · 25-01-2013 6:39pm

Hi FatherFrost. As a mature student myself I was asking the same thing as you last year. This was posted to me so hope it helps :

'To get the BTEA you would need a minimum of 9 months on a social Welfare payment before starting the college course. It doesn't have to be a full rate of social welfare, a partial rate will be ok. If you get BTEA you cant get the Maintenance grant but you could apply for a fee grant to cover the college registration fees'.

Have you ever recieved the BTEA allowance before? I think you can only apply for it once, then your application is closed. Well thats what happened to me.

Hope it helped.

Maldesu · 25-01-2013 6:40pm

FatherFrost wrote: »

Hey folks, I'm thinking of going to College as a Mature student this September(so doing CAO lark this weekend) and plan to get the BTEA, I assume I can get it fine as I'm currently getting jobseekers and will be up till the courses start If I don't get a job.

My only worry is that I done 1 year in an IT years ago when I was like 18, I done the sept-may year, but never 'completed' anything as I had lots of repeats from crimbo and summer and never bothered with em, I was there for all the wrong reasons and just a daft kid
Will that affect my BTEA plans?

Tks..

So long as you don't have a degree already you should be ok for BTEA so long as you fill the criteria mentioned here. How many years has it been since you did the IT course? If it has been more than 5 years you should also be entitled to the 'free fees' as a second chance student.

s08t wrote: »

What does SUSI stand for? and what is the difference in getting a grant from a VEC and SUSI. As a mature student should I be with SUSI?

Help in answering these would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

SUSI stands for 'Student Universal Support Ireland'. It has replaced the VEC grants system. As a mature student you can apply to SUSI though AFAIK the application process is not yet open.

FatherFrost · 25-01-2013 7:25pm

Fairly sure it was like 2007-08 I done the year, so it'll just be on the line for 5 years I'd say. And Do mature students still have to pay fees? (its €2,500 i think for most places a year?)

I was under assumption we didn't, if we qualified for BTEA

s08t · 25-01-2013 7:57pm

There is a fee grant and a maintainance grant, If u avail of a BTEA u can still get your fee paid ( ye 2500 now I think it has risen to) but you wont get any maintainance on top of that.

You can either get the BTEA or the maintainance. not both together.

Maldesu · 25-01-2013 8:04pm

FatherFrost wrote: »

Fairly sure it was like 2007-08 I done the year, so it'll just be on the line for 5 years I'd say. And Do mature students still have to pay fees? (its €2,500 i think for most places a year?)

I was under assumption we didn't, if we qualified for BTEA

You'd be applying for the 2013-2014 as your first year so you should be ok for the fees if it was 07-08 you did the IT course. You will still have to pay the €2500 (which is called the student contribution) but you can apply to SUSI for the grant.

Here is a breakdown of an arts course to explain fees:

Total: 5809
Student Contribution: €2500 - Paid by student or by SUSI
Student Levy: €183 - Paid by student
EU Free Fees: €3126 - Paid if 1st time in Uni or eligible under second chance

BTEA does not cover you for any of the fees. It is a weekly payment that is granted to support you during the term. Doesn't cover anything else

FatherFrost · 25-01-2013 8:54pm

Maldesu wrote: »

You'd be applying for the 2013-2014 as your first year so you should be ok for the fees if it was 07-08 you did the IT course. You will still have to pay the €2500 (which is called the student contribution) but you can apply to SUSI for the grant.

Here is a breakdown of an arts course to explain fees:

Total: 5809
Student Contribution: €2500 - Paid by student or by SUSI
Student Levy: €183 - Paid by student
EU Free Fees: €3126 - Paid if 1st time in Uni or eligible under second chance

BTEA does not cover you for any of the fees. It is a weekly payment that is granted to support you during the term. Doesn't cover anything else

Tks for info, And ye I wasn't expecting a grant aswell as BTEA.
Sorry to be bit dim, but whats that EU fee you speak of, Ive never heard of that, I wont have to pay it will I?

I kinda just made some assumptions that say you get accepted after interview/tests etc to a mature spot, that you applied for BTEA through social welfare or w/e and then just got the €188 every week as if you were on the dole. I dunno why but I thought matures had no fees to pay at all(and I also assumed they got no grants at all, for that same reason)

Maldesu · 25-01-2013 9:15pm

FatherFrost wrote: »

Tks for info, And ye I wasn't expecting a grant aswell as BTEA.
Sorry to be bit dim, but whats that EU fee you speak of, Ive never heard of that, I wont have to pay it will I?

I kinda just made some assumptions that say you get accepted after interview/tests etc to a mature spot, that you applied for BTEA through social welfare or w/e and then just got the €188 every week as if you were on the dole. I dunno why but I thought matures had no fees to pay at all(and I also assumed they got no grants at all, for that same reason)

The EU free fees is basically the free fees paid by our government for the duration of the degree. You usually only get one chance, but if you didn't get a degree before and have been out of education for 5+ years you are considered eligible as a 'second chance student'. You don't really hear about it as most new 3rd level students get this automatically and it's not an issue. It only becomes a problem for those going back.

The student contribution charge is €2500 and you either pay it yourself or look for a grant. Most of the time when you hear of SUSI paying fees, what they actually mean is the contribution charge. This charge applies to all students. BTEA won't pay for this, but you can apply to SUSI for it. The only rule is that if you are on BTEA you CANNOT get the MAINTENANCE grant from SUSI, but you can get the charge paid.

The only other thing is the Student Levy, which is different depending on what uni you go to. This can range from €150 - 250, but again, it depends.

grasshopper1 · 25-01-2013 9:22pm

Maldesu wrote: »

You'd be applying for the 2013-2014 as your first year so you should be ok for the fees if it was 07-08 you did the IT course. You will still have to pay the BTEA does not cover you for any of the fees. It is a weekly payment that is granted to support you during the term. Doesn't cover anything else

Maldesu is correct on all counts. BETA is just another word for the dole. Once you've been offered a place, let the dole office know immediately. Your money will be paid into your bank account every week. During summer holiday you go back to signing on every month. Get all your documents ready now. There were a lot of problems with SUSE this year, I'd suggest you register them, so if they turn around and say 'they never arrived' you have proof of postage. Good luck grasshopper

Annasopra · 25-01-2013 9:32pm

s08t wrote: »

What does SUSI stand for? and what is the difference in getting a grant from a VEC and SUSI. As a mature student should I be with SUSI?

Help in answering these would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

The VEC grants don't exist anymore -

Info on SUSI here

http://www.studentfinance.ie/
http://www.cdvec.ie/Student-Supports/Grants.aspx

Annasopra · 25-01-2013 9:34pm

Long Term Louth wrote: »

Are free fees available for a H Dip?

No

It's a postgraduate course - you can apply for a grant towards the fees

FatherFrost · 25-01-2013 10:26pm

Tks for info lads, gona get the CEO and the direct apps to the colleges sorted this weekend.

Cant see any reason I wont be eligible for BTEA, and delays aside the €2.5k should be sorted for me. Its never nice to be so needy for grants/pay but something like that would put me over the edge.
Be nice to get back into education and be able to feed myself at the same time

s08t · 27-01-2013 8:30pm

Hi. Does anyone know if you can be on the dole or signing on in the summertime after you finish college? Im a mature student and been out of work since I started college fulltime in Sept 2011 although I did and still am sending out cv's but as yet to no avail. Thanks.

grasshopper1 · 28-01-2013 12:28am

Absolutely yes, Go down the same day the term finishes and sign on. Usually there is no problem. They might ask/expect you to look for work during the holidays, but just do as you are doing.

grasshopper1

Annasopra · 28-01-2013 12:51am

s08t wrote: »

Hi. Does anyone know if you can be on the dole or signing on in the summertime after you finish college? Im a mature student and been out of work since I started college fulltime in Sept 2011 although I did and still am sending out cv's but as yet to no avail. Thanks.

Yes. Once you finish up in May or June get a letter from the college stating you are finished and bring it to the dole office

FatherFrost · 29-01-2013 6:18pm

Sorry folks another Q,
but Ive been reading up and I fear I may be liable for the EU 3k~ fee for first year If I do go back to college. As I done a 1st year years ago in an IT(didn't complete, was a youngster with a lot of family Issues etc) So I think I have to pay for another 1st year as the govt. wont pay.
I should get grant for the 2.5k student fee and the BTEA, but I don't think there is anyway to get away from the 3k is there.

Tks..

Annasopra · 29-01-2013 6:38pm

FatherFrost wrote: »

Sorry folks another Q,
but Ive been reading up and I fear I may be liable for the EU 3k~ fee for first year If I do go back to college. As I done a 1st year years ago in an IT(didn't complete, was a youngster with a lot of family Issues etc) So I think I have to pay for another 1st year as the govt. wont pay.
I should get grant for the 2.5k student fee and the BTEA, but I don't think there is anyway to get away from the 3k is there.

Tks..

My understanding is that you would be deemed a second chance student.

If you have a look at these three links they explain about second chance students

http://fees.nuim.ie/freefees.shtml

http://www.ucd.ie/registry/adminservices/fees/free_tuition.htm

http://www.tcd.ie/Treasurers_Office/fees/fees_freefees.php

grasshopper1 · 29-01-2013 7:54pm

This might help:

<http://www.studentfinance.ie/dl.php?dl=/downloads/1339418623/Student_Grant_Scheme_2012.pdf>

grasshopper1

paperclip2 · 30-01-2013 12:25pm

FatherFrost wrote: »

Sorry folks another Q,
but Ive been reading up and I fear I may be liable for the EU 3k~ fee for first year If I do go back to college. As I done a 1st year years ago in an IT(didn't complete, was a youngster with a lot of family Issues etc) So I think I have to pay for another 1st year as the govt. wont pay.
I should get grant for the 2.5k student fee and the BTEA, but I don't think there is anyway to get away from the 3k is there.

Tks..

You might get the tuition fees if you are under the reckonable income limits for these. Last year this was €47,205 but this year has been reduced by 3% to approximately €45,790.

In this case SUSI would pay them for you.
Taken from the student regulations: http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1339418623/Student_Grant_Scheme_2012.pdf

(2) Subject to article 8(2) and (3), a student or a tuition student, may be
assessed for the tuition fee element where they are—
(a) pursuing an approved undergraduate course to which the Free Fees
Schemes applies but where the student, or tuition student, is ineligible
for free tuition fees under those schemes;

Long Term Louth · 31-01-2013 7:27pm

Can anyone assist with the following, are free fees available for a H Dip?

Thanks in advance

FatherFrost · 03-02-2013 5:43pm

Ah thanks, Think i asked the same question about 3 times lol, sorry bout that. Just bit paranoid over the EU fee(the rest I'm sure will be fine/sorted)

But yeah if the second chance thing is as it seems then I should be ok, It was defiantly no later then 06/07 School year I was last in 3rd Level Education.

Now I just have to wait for the colleges to get back to me for interviews/Assessments in March to see what I got, if any

Betty Swallocks 83 · 26-02-2013 7:07pm

I'm a little lost on all this. Can someone tell me when you can actually apply for the grant? Sorry, I know it probably sounds like a silly question.
I did a PLC course before and it says on the SUSI that I should not apply for SUSI??

Telchak · 26-02-2013 11:28pm

Just so I'm sure...

I left UCD in January 2011 after doing a year and a half of Social Science.

Am I right in understanding that if I were to apply for the Back to Education Allowance to do Computer Science, that I wouldn't be eligible for free fees for my first three semesters? Either that, or I can wait until five years have passed to get free fees again?

grasshopper1 · 27-02-2013 12:11am

Telchak wrote: »

Just so I'm sure...

I left UCD in January 2011 after doing a year and a half of Social Science.

Am I right in understanding that if I were to apply for the Back to Education Allowance to do Computer Science, that I wouldn't be eligible for free fees for my first three semesters? Either that, or I can wait until five years have passed to get free fees again?

No. Back to Education Allowance is just another word for "Unemployment Benefit" The Social is delighted to get people off the Live Register, and they want people to return to education. Since you didn't complete the full course, you are eligible for 'free fees' The best thing to do is contact UCD

grasshopper

SuSi: Reps · 27-02-2013 12:13pm

Betty Swallocks 83 wrote: »

I'm a little lost on all this. Can someone tell me when you can actually apply for the grant? Sorry, I know it probably sounds like a silly question.
I did a PLC course before and it says on the SUSI that I should not apply for SUSI??

Hi there,

Applications for the 2013/2014 academic year are not yet being accepted. We will be updating the following pages as soon as a date has been decided:

www.studentfinance.ie

http://www.facebook.com/susisupport

https://twitter.com/Susihelpdesk

You will need to be progressing your education to be eligible for a student grant. If you have done a Level 5 course in a PLC college, you must be progressing on to a Level 6, 7 or 8.

If you are doing a repeat period of study you may not be entitled to receive funding.

There are many different circumstances, so if you would like you may PM me explaining your individual circumstances and I will be able to advise you accordingly.

Regards,
Robbie

grasshopper1 wrote: »

No. Back to Education Allowance is just another word for "Unemployment Benefit" The Social is delighted to get people off the Live Register, and they want people to return to education. Since you didn't complete the full course, you are eligible for 'free fees' The best thing to do is contact UCD

grasshopper

Hi,

To be eligible for free fees, you must fulfil the following 3 course requirements.
1. You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 years' duration (or certain shorter courses in institutes of technology).

2. You must be a first-time full-time undergraduate. (However, prior undergraduate qualifications may be taken into consideration where exemptions are provided to a student pursuing a higher undergraduate qualification, to a maximum of Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications.)

3. In general, you must not be repeating the year because of failing your exams or changing course. This exclusion may be waived if you repeat a year due to certified serious illness. There are also some exceptions for students in institutes of technology that are switching courses.

The undergraduate courses for which the free fees arrangements apply are courses in:

• Universities
• Institutes of technology
• Publicly funded colleges of education
• National College of Ireland
• A number of religious education institutions

Free fees do not apply to courses in private colleges, whether they have Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) approval or not. The fact that a course is listed by the Central Applications Office (CAO) is not, in itself, enough to make it a free fees course.

I hope this helps clear things up.

Kind regards,
Robbie

Annasopra · 27-02-2013 5:20pm

Betty Swallocks 83 wrote: »

I'm a little lost on all this. Can someone tell me when you can actually apply for the grant? Sorry, I know it probably sounds like a silly question.
I did a PLC course before and it says on the SUSI that I should not apply for SUSI??

As per Robbies reply it is generally in the Summer

Drezden · 27-02-2013 5:33pm

Telchak wrote: »

Just so I'm sure...

I left UCD in January 2011 after doing a year and a half of Social Science.

Am I right in understanding that if I were to apply for the Back to Education Allowance to do Computer Science, that I wouldn't be eligible for free fees for my first three semesters? Either that, or I can wait until five years have passed to get free fees again?

Yeah you're right,you will have to pay full tuition for the first 3 semesters combined with the registration fee for each year. But for the following years (2 and half years for CS) you will return to free fees and only have the registration fees to worry about.

I'm in a similar position myself, I was in college 3 and a half years ago. I've chosen to wait for the remaining year and a half so I can get free frees again.

I have confirmed this with NUIM....unfortunately the above grasshoper post is incorrect.

Best of Luck

Regards
Drezden

paperclip2 · 28-02-2013 10:06am

grasshopper1 wrote: »

No. Back to Education Allowance is just another word for "Unemployment Benefit" The Social is delighted to get people off the Live Register, and they want people to return to education. Since you didn't complete the full course, you are eligible for 'free fees' The best thing to do is contact UCD

grasshopper

As long as there are five years between the time you left the course and the new one.

Captain Slow IRL · 28-02-2013 3:47pm

I've been awarded my fees for my first year, do I have to reapply for the second year?

paperclip2 · 28-02-2013 6:00pm

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

I've been awarded my fees for my first year, do I have to reapply for the second year?

You don't apply for the free fees initiative. If you are eligible its awarded automatically.

if you mean the registration fee then SUSI will probably contact you at renewal time to declare your income again. If you are eligible under the revised income limits then they will pay the contribution on your behalf.

SuSi: Reps · 01-03-2013 10:56am

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

I've been awarded my fees for my first year, do I have to reapply for the second year?

paperclip2 wrote: »

You don't apply for the free fees initiative. If you are eligible its awarded automatically.

if you mean the registration fee then SUSI will probably contact you at renewal time to declare your income again. If you are eligible under the revised income limits then they will pay the contribution on your behalf.

Good morning all,

I apologise, I don’t think I explained clearly enough exactly what the Free Fees initiative is.

The Free Fee's initiative is an initiative run by the Department of Education and Skills to entitle first-time full-time students attending an undergraduate course to cover the cost of tuitions fees and the student contribution.

This scheme is completely separate from SUSI and any prospective Free Fees initiative applicant should consult the Department of Education and Skills directly for more information. I must add that each applicant is assessed for eligibility for the Free Fees Initiative on a case-by-case basis so I would strongly advise contacting the Department of Education should you have any queries.

Department of Education contact details:

http://www.education.ie/en/Contact-Us/

If you have been awarded with SUSI, then indeed you will need to apply for a renewal as soon as the applications for the 2013/2014 academic year are being accepted.

Should anyone have any further queries, as always please do not hesitate to PM me and I would be more than happy to assist if at all possible.

Again, apologies if I was not clear enough in the first instance.

Kind regards,
Robbie

kryogen · 19-03-2013 4:17am

Ok, so heres a big problem I hope I can get some sort of assistance with, I applied to go to college as a mature student last year, was accepted but due to an unforeseen change in circumstance I had to defer for the year, no problem, until now when I realise I have let the deadline for re applying for my place pass (by a hell of a long way) I don't have any good excuse for this other then stress and a hectic working life the last few months.

Do I have any options to get back this year or do I have to start all over again next year?

paperclip2 · 19-03-2013 10:30am

Kryogen, talk to CAO and the college asap. Basically you need to let them know you are still interested in the place.

kryogen · 20-03-2013 2:14am

Cheers for the reply, I had emailed the CAO, they got back to me this morning basically telling me the same thing, to get in touch with the admissions department at the college as it would now be there decision whether to accept me or not, have e mailed them so fingers crossed

AgeDefying · 28-03-2013 1:36pm

Hi all, just hoping you can clarify something for me.
I graduated in 2002 from a level 8 course. Didn't get the grant for it. After working for a few years I went back to college & finished a masters in 2010. I paid full fees for it. I earned 60k last year & have been lucky enough to never have been on the dole. I will be 29 this summer & want to go back and do a 4 year level 8 undergrad. So I have 2 q's: 1. I know I will have to pay fees but will I have to pay for 4th yr as my previous undergrad was 3 yrs? And 2. I know I wouldn't get any type of a grant this year but what about from 2nd year on when I have no income? I know it's probably wishful thinking but the course will cost 40k before living expenses so I'm clutching at straws!

Annasopra · 28-03-2013 2:44pm

AgeDefying wrote: »

Hi all, just hoping you can clarify something for me.
I graduated in 2002 from a level 8 course. Didn't get the grant for it. After working for a few years I went back to college & finished a masters in 2010. I paid full fees for it. I earned 60k last year & have been lucky enough to never have been on the dole. I will be 29 this summer & want to go back and do a 4 year level 8 undergrad. So I have 2 q's: 1. I know I will have to pay fees but will I have to pay for 4th yr as my previous undergrad was 3 yrs? And 2. I know I wouldn't get any type of a grant this year but what about from 2nd year on when I have no income? I know it's probably wishful thinking but the course will cost 40k before living expenses so I'm clutching at straws!

Its unlikely you will get anything if you have a masters

h2005 · 29-03-2013 4:11pm

Hi, I am finishing my degree this semester but had to defer one of my christmas exams due to illness. Is it possible to remain on the BTEA until I have sat this?

paperclip2 · 02-04-2013 11:35am

h2005 wrote: »

Hi, I am finishing my degree this semester but had to defer one of my christmas exams due to illness. Is it possible to remain on the BTEA until I have sat this?

If you are repeating the year fulltime it might be ok. I found this in the BTEA operational guidelines:

BTEA participants who have to repeat a year of their course will continue to be paid the allowance for the repeat year. This is provided that the BTEA participant is registered and attending as a FULL-TIME student for the repeat year. Repeat students who register as external students, exam only students or part-time students for their repeat year are not eligible for the allowance. A person will only be allowed to repeat one academic year of their course of study on the basis of exam failure and/or exceptional circumstances,evidence of such to be provided. eg due to illness, pregnancy, force majeure reasons.

http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Back-to-Education-Allowance-Scheme.aspx#1.14

But to be honest its up to social welfare so check with them.

abceire · 01-05-2013 12:33pm

I found a seasonal part time job which is due to end in October. I have applied for Tap course in Trinity that starts in Sept. I was reading up on the BTEA, it says you need to be getting a payment immediately before the course starts. I hae also applied to do psychology in Trinity, UCD, and Dun Laoghoire. These I take it start in October. If I just left my job in August will this make me ok to get BTEA? I'm slightly freaked as I can't find out exactly what I can or can't work if I want to get BTEA. I don't really want to sit on my behind until college starts. I'm a landscaper so it is easy enough to find a job for the summer.
I will be working 3 days a week in the new job, I only get 98euro a week dole as I have savings, wondering will I still get some dole or be classed as being on dole so that even when working I will be getting this payment immediately before college starts.

paperclip2 · 01-05-2013 12:49pm

abceire wrote: »

I found a seasonal part time job which is due to end in October. I have applied for Tap course in Trinity that starts in Sept. I was reading up on the BTEA, it says you need to be getting a payment immediately before the course starts. I hae also applied to do psychology in Trinity, UCD, and Dun Laoghoire. These I take it start in October. If I just left my job in August will this make me ok to get BTEA? I'm slightly freaked as I can't find out exactly what I can or can't work if I want to get BTEA. I don't really want to sit on my behind until college starts. I'm a landscaper so it is easy enough to find a job for the summer.
I will be working 3 days a week in the new job, I only get 98euro a week dole as I have savings, wondering will I still get some dole or be classed as being on dole so that even when working I will be getting this payment immediately before college starts.

Hmm. To get BTEA for a college course you need to be getting a Social Welfare payment immediately before starting the course and you need to have at least 234 signing days built up on the payment before the course starts. If you have been working on and off over the last few years social welfare can add up the time you were claiming for as long as there are no breaks of longer than a year.

So in your case to get BTEA for college you need to be some form of a social welfare payment up to this September and have 234 days built up on that payment.

Have you checked if you can get BTEA for TAP in Trinity itself? I have seen it being refused for the TCD course but it may be available for the affiliated courses in Pearse college and Plunkett college.

abceire · 01-05-2013 1:16pm

I do have the 234 days worked up. I asked in with a nice lady in the Social Welfare office and she said TAP in Trinity should be ok to get a BTEA for. I've applied to do it in Pearse college too.
Can I be getting say 3 days dole and working 3 days a week, and leave the part time job to do college full time and get BTEA.
Cheers for the advice!

Halloween Jack · 13-05-2013 2:49pm

Bit of a complicated one here, was wondering if anybody can help?

I dropped out of a degree program in 2006, i was in second year. I have been working full time since and now want to change career. However, while working, i studied for a level 6 diploma, part time.

Does anybody know if i would qualify for free fee's foe a degree programme?

I emailed the fees office of the college i wish to attend, but they didnt respond.

Many thanks.

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