[Cobbe354]

Good evening everyone!

I just have some enquiries about applying as a mature student for the start of the 2012 year. It has been a while since I have been in college so I'm quite nervous about all this.

I completed my leaving cert in 2007, and have since studied International Business up at ITB before dropping out. It was a great course, but business really was not for me to be honest.

So I took a few years off to work, and am currently 22 years old. I plan on returning to college next year (I will be 23 by then). So I was thinking about NUI Maynooth as I hear it has lots of Mature students and not too far from where I live in Castleknock. The train would be quite handy!

I think I would be more looking at the Arts course, possibly English and French as I have always been interested in languages.

So some of my questions are;

1. How would one go about applying to college as a mature student? Through CAO possibly?

2. How much are fees for Mature students in general? Does it fluctuate with different courses? Would there be any grants that Mature students could benefit from?

3. What date would I have to apply by?

4. Are there any interviews / entrance tests mature students must take in order to be accepted?

I appologise if all of this is in the wrong board or stickied already, maybe someone can direct me to the page.

Greatly appreciated.

Sincerely, Dave.

[Seren_]

There is loads of info on the mature students' section on the access website -Link. From a quick glance, it goes through the application procedure and finances. Definitely get in touch with them anyway; I haven't had any dealings with the mature students' officer, but if she's as nice as the rest of the staff in the access office you will be grand

One thing to keep in mind is as you have already done part of a course previously, you may be liable to pay tuition fees for some of your time in a new course. This depends on when you dropped out of your previous course i.e. if you dropped out before January means you will only have to pay half fees etc.

I graduated with an arts degree just there in September; it's a great course English especially is brilliant!

I actually did my LC in 2007 too. It's slightly freaking me out to think that people my age are nearly able to be classed as mature students!!

[Cobbe354]

Oh fantastic! Thank you kindly for your quick and accurate reply.

I finished the first year completely in ITB so i suppose i'll have to pay full fees.

Oh I know exactly what you mean haha. I'm going to feel so out of place being 23 and starting fresh
Ah well, i'll be a bit behind everyone else but hopefully will get there eventually.

Arts is a 3 year course is it not? If so, it wont be that bad. Then possibly a masters after that might sort me out ^_^

I really hope to study English that's for sure!

[Seren_]

Yeah, arts is three years - 3 subjects in 1st year, and then 2 in 2nd and 3rd year. And you will be fine! There seems to be a good number of people who start courses around mid-twenties If you want to know anything about the subjects you're hoping to do, there's loads of stuff in one of the stickys on this forum. Not sure if there's anything about first year English, but if you ask someone will answer! (I'd answer, but when I was in first year it was a different course to what they study now).

[sanj2408]

Hi Dave,
I started back as a mature student last year doing arts. Its great fun, best thing I ever did.
In terms of applying, you need to apply to the CAO and also fill in a mature student application for NUIM. You'll be called for interview (its quite informal, more of a chat) and then if you're accepted, you'll be offered your place officially by the CAO in July.
Have a look at studentfinance.ie. It'll let you know if you're entitled to any grants allowances or fee reductions. The grant which is paid by your County Council if you're entitled to it, it pays a certain amount a few times a year and covers the student registration charge. The details are all on studentfinance.ie or you could try phoning the access office. If you dropped out of your business course and its five years since you left, you might qualify for free fees. Access office will be able to tell you all this anyway.
Good luck :-)

[Cobbe354]

Ah that's fantatsic thank you for the information Sanj2408! I will check out Studentfinance without hesitation!
What arts subjects did you choose to persue may I ask? Hope you are enjoying the course.

[Alt_Grrr]

Originally Posted by Cobbe354

I completed my leaving cert in 2007

ಠ_ಠ
I did mine the same year... suddenly feeling old...

Maynooth as I understand it is a good place for mature students, friendly atmosphere and enough work to keep you busy.

If your picking arts then look though the prospectus and have a look for the subjects that might interest you, you can always ask your fellow boardsies about subjects and combinations, etc

[sanj2408]

I did History, Irish and Greek and Roman Civilisation. Greek and Roman wasn't a subject I planned to do but it looked interesting and it turned out to be my favourite. Do what interests you because in the end, the quality of degree you get will be far more important than the subjects you studied to a potential employer and you'll always get a better mark in a subject you like. Also, in the first couple of weeks you'll get a chance to "shop around" before you pick your subjects.

[Fbjm]

Dave, my auntie is the mature student officer. You'll love her!

Don't worry, you'll get on grand here

[whats_my_name]

Hey Cobbe,

Are you 23 on Jan of 2012?? It may sound obvious but one of my friends had the intention of starting this year as a mature student, she was 23 in April there and has to wait til 2012 to start! The tution fees are 11,000 i think for the year. I started there in September as a mature student, also doing Arts, was also in college before but was given a "second chance" in regards to my tution fees as I have been out of college since 2006!

Best of luck with it all, you will not find a more student based university, people go out of their way to help you!

[LeixlipRed]

€11,000? Not unless you're Chinese