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Fatboydim · 03-05-2012, 16:44

Went into my local SWO today to tell them about my offer of a place - I'm doing a Masters on an exemption from doing a degree due to life experience - which last year at least meant I would qualify for BTEA [as I'm on JSA now] - The lady - who was nice enough said she couldn't do anything now as they were going to make small changes to the scheme and no one knew what they were yet - so come back in August.

**cee_jay** · 09-05-2012, 22:51

There are expected changes to the BTEA Guidelines this summer. Until those changes are released, decisions cannot be made on BTEA claims. A lot of offices won't even look at decisions until later in the summer either - at this time of year they are concentrating on those on BTEA who are finishing up for the summer.

Fatboydim · 10-05-2012, 10:19

Yes that was pretty much what I was told.

**mango salsa** · 10-05-2012, 16:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatboydim

Went into my local SWO today to tell them about my offer of a place - I'm doing a Masters on an exemption from doing a degree due to life experience - which last year at least meant I would qualify for BTEA [as I'm on JSA now] - The lady - who was nice enough said she couldn't do anything now as they were going to make small changes to the scheme and no one knew what they were yet - so come back in August.

You generally will not get btea for a masters though there are some exceptions

Fatboydim · 10-05-2012, 16:45

I'm the exception.

1.8.1 Postgraduate Study

From 1 January 2003, the postgraduate option of the Back To Education Allowance is payable only to persons who wish to pursue a postgraduate course of study that leads to a Higher Diploma (H.Dip.) qualification in any discipline or to persons in pursuit of a Professional Diploma in Education hitherto known as a Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary & Secondary Teaching) [NVQ Level 8].

Other types of postgraduate qualifications are not recognised for BTEA purposes. e.g. Masters, MA, MSc, M.Phil etc. However, there is an exception to the eligibility rule for Masters based on ‘life experience’ whereby a person is admitted to a Masters programme without a primary degree. The person needs confirmation from the college detailing the basis of their offer of a college place and confirming that it excludes the requirement to hold a primary degree. A small number of cases have arisen where a college has granted an exemption from the requirement to hold a primary degree and has admitted a person to a Master’s course on the basis of relevant life experience. In the context of the ongoing review of the operation of the scheme, it was decided to extend entitlement to back to education allowance in these instances on an exceptional basis. Under no circumstances will BTEA be awarded to a person who already holds a postgraduate qualification
Source: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Operational...s/bte_all.aspx

Or at least would be based on last year.

Fatboydim · 10-05-2012, 16:49

Which is why I was initially told to get in early. I should also qualify for fees [But obviously not maintenance grant]

Fatboydim · 29-06-2012, 14:26

Went back in to SWLO today and still told to come back in August... Anyone else getting this? As it seems others are able to hand in their forms.

DRose1 · 02-07-2012, 11:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatboydim

1.8.1 Postgraduate Study

From 1 January 2003, the postgraduate option of the Back To Education Allowance is payable only to persons who wish to pursue a postgraduate course of study that leads to a Higher Diploma (H.Dip.) qualification in any discipline or to persons in pursuit of a Professional Diploma in Education hitherto known as a Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary & Secondary Teaching) [NVQ Level 8].

Other types of postgraduate qualifications are not recognised for BTEA purposes. e.g. Masters, MA, MSc, M.Phil etc.

Going by the above guidelines, how would my course be treated?

Quote:

The 90 credits of Semesters 1 and 2 are core credits. 70 of the 90 credits are at Level 4, and 20 at Level 3. Students must obtain more than a 50% average in order to continue in the MSc stream in Semester 3. Thus, students may exit at this point with either a Graduate Certificate (30 ECTS) or a Higher Diploma (60 ECTS), provided they have obtained the appropriate number of credits.

If I told them that I only intended getting the Higher Diploma from my course, would I qualify for the BTEA? (I do qualify based on the other requirements).

Course Link - Msc Computer Science (Conversion) UCD

FWIW, I have rang my welfare local office and the lady on the phone didnt seem to have a clue and basically said they wont be processing applications until August (I didnt get into any specifics about what course I would be doing).

DRose1 · 03-07-2012, 15:34

Anyone have any idea on the above?

Any input would be appreciated.

Fatboydim · 03-07-2012, 15:45

I think all you can do is get in touch with the people running your course - as you'll need to do that anyway - stating duration of course and the details of the qualification. Mine have done that... It's a similar thing were I have to gain the right marks to progress. Then put in your Beta application and hope for the best. Likewise at my SWLO they seem a little clueless. Or maybe it's just they are super cool and I'm uptight because I would like to know before I actually start attending that I can attend.

On the face of it - it seems to me that you should qualify. Then again I'm no expert only an applicant. Be prepared to fight your corner. Best of luck.

Keogh08 · 04-07-2012, 14:15

My husband is planning on going back to college and fulfills the regular BTEA requirements, he requested a BTE1 form from the welfare site, 3 copies got posted out to him, he filled it in & handed it into our local SWO two weeks ago, the lady he handed it into wasnt too sure when it would be processed. Yesterday a letter from the local SWO arrived stating that his application has been successful. Hope this helps.

DRose1 · 04-07-2012, 15:23

I am just going to go ahead and fill in the application form, hand it into the local office and see what happens.

Missdior12 · 19-07-2012, 15:15

That's weird because I handed mine in mid June still no answer from them tho.. They said there won't be one until I actually start college :/

mr.boombastic · 19-07-2012, 23:11

I picked up a BTE1 form the other day and was told to fill it out and hand it in straight away, the thing is i get the impresson that if i was to speak to a different person in my SWO I would get a different answer!!!

Its frustrating not getting the answers youd like to hear! I presume once the application is completed and returned to the SWO and provided i get approval, the next step wont be until early september to provide the SWO with a letter of registration from the college and the BTEA will be activated!!

Heard a lot of different views on this but guessing this will be the procedure....

Missdior12 · 19-07-2012, 23:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.boombastic

I picked up a BTE1 form the other day and was told to fill it out and hand it in straight away, the thing is i get the impresson that if i was to speak to a different person in my SWO I would get a different answer!!!

Its frustrating not getting the answers youd like to hear! I presume once the application is completed and returned to the SWO and provided i get approval, the next step wont be until early september to provide the SWO with a letter of registration from the college and the BTEA will be activated!!

Heard a lot of different views on this but guessing this will be the procedure....

Don't mind them they know nothing about it!

Just make sure you tell them your waiting on the letter so they can atleast progress your application..
I'm hearing different things aswell now I'm getting worried
Good luck with yours.

03-05-2012, 16:44	#1
Fatboydim Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Westport Posts: 1,914 Adverts \| Friends	BTEA - Told not to bother until August? Went into my local SWO today to tell them about my offer of a place - I'm doing a Masters on an exemption from doing a degree due to life experience - which last year at least meant I would qualify for BTEA [as I'm on JSA now] - The lady - who was nice enough said she couldn't do anything now as they were going to make small changes to the scheme and no one knew what they were yet - so come back in August.

10-05-2012, 16:45	#5
Fatboydim Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Westport Posts: 1,914 Adverts \| Friends	I'm the exception. 1.8.1 Postgraduate Study From 1 January 2003, the postgraduate option of the Back To Education Allowance is payable only to persons who wish to pursue a postgraduate course of study that leads to a Higher Diploma (H.Dip.) qualification in any discipline or to persons in pursuit of a Professional Diploma in Education hitherto known as a Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary & Secondary Teaching) [NVQ Level 8]. Other types of postgraduate qualifications are not recognised for BTEA purposes. e.g. Masters, MA, MSc, M.Phil etc. However, there is an exception to the eligibility rule for Masters based on ‘life experience’ whereby a person is admitted to a Masters programme without a primary degree. The person needs confirmation from the college detailing the basis of their offer of a college place and confirming that it excludes the requirement to hold a primary degree. A small number of cases have arisen where a college has granted an exemption from the requirement to hold a primary degree and has admitted a person to a Master’s course on the basis of relevant life experience. In the context of the ongoing review of the operation of the scheme, it was decided to extend entitlement to back to education allowance in these instances on an exceptional basis. Under no circumstances will BTEA be awarded to a person who already holds a postgraduate qualification Source: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Operational...s/bte_all.aspx Or at least would be based on last year. Last edited by Fatboydim; 10-05-2012 at 16:48.

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09-05-2012, 22:51	#2
cee_jay Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,978 Adverts \| Friends Mod: State Benefits	There are expected changes to the BTEA Guidelines this summer. Until those changes are released, decisions cannot be made on BTEA claims. A lot of offices won't even look at decisions until later in the summer either - at this time of year they are concentrating on those on BTEA who are finishing up for the summer.

10-05-2012, 10:19	#3
Fatboydim Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Westport Posts: 1,914 Adverts \| Friends	Yes that was pretty much what I was told.

10-05-2012, 16:49	#6
Fatboydim Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Westport Posts: 1,914 Adverts \| Friends	Which is why I was initially told to get in early. I should also qualify for fees [But obviously not maintenance grant]

29-06-2012, 14:26	#7
Fatboydim Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Westport Posts: 1,914 Adverts \| Friends	Went back in to SWLO today and still told to come back in August... Anyone else getting this? As it seems others are able to hand in their forms.

03-07-2012, 15:34	#9
DRose1 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 225 Adverts \| Friends	Anyone have any idea on the above? Any input would be appreciated.

03-07-2012, 15:45	#10
Fatboydim Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Westport Posts: 1,914 Adverts \| Friends	I think all you can do is get in touch with the people running your course - as you'll need to do that anyway - stating duration of course and the details of the qualification. Mine have done that... It's a similar thing were I have to gain the right marks to progress. Then put in your Beta application and hope for the best. Likewise at my SWLO they seem a little clueless. Or maybe it's just they are super cool and I'm uptight because I would like to know before I actually start attending that I can attend. On the face of it - it seems to me that you should qualify. Then again I'm no expert only an applicant. Be prepared to fight your corner. Best of luck.

04-07-2012, 14:15	#11
Keogh08 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 33 Adverts \| Friends	My husband is planning on going back to college and fulfills the regular BTEA requirements, he requested a BTE1 form from the welfare site, 3 copies got posted out to him, he filled it in & handed it into our local SWO two weeks ago, the lady he handed it into wasnt too sure when it would be processed. Yesterday a letter from the local SWO arrived stating that his application has been successful. Hope this helps.

04-07-2012, 15:23	#12
DRose1 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 225 Adverts \| Friends	I am just going to go ahead and fill in the application form, hand it into the local office and see what happens.

19-07-2012, 15:15	#13
Missdior12 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 6 Adverts \| Friends	That's weird because I handed mine in mid June still no answer from them tho.. They said there won't be one until I actually start college :/

19-07-2012, 23:11	#14
mr.boombastic Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 26 Adverts \| Friends	I picked up a BTE1 form the other day and was told to fill it out and hand it in straight away, the thing is i get the impresson that if i was to speak to a different person in my SWO I would get a different answer!!! Its frustrating not getting the answers youd like to hear! I presume once the application is completed and returned to the SWO and provided i get approval, the next step wont be until early september to provide the SWO with a letter of registration from the college and the BTEA will be activated!! Heard a lot of different views on this but guessing this will be the procedure....