do I get any funding as postgrad doing a further education course?

deeliteful

hi all,

can anyone please tell me,if someone who studied to level 8 (did H.Dip in computers after a B.Sc.Hons in chemistry) can go backwards and do a 1yr diploma at a senior college still get funding?the BTEA guidelines say no unless its a H.Dip. in teaching (which its not, its JEB Diploma in IT training) and my enquiry with the VEC said no,i cannot apply to them for a maintenance grant,even though i never applied for maintenance while i did my degree,and even though my parents paid the full 4 years of degree fees themselves (i have paid them back!).so i am stuck right now in a real jam.i cannot afford childcare costs and i had applied for VTOS but was told all the places are already taken.

so am i ineligible for any other funding?i am a single mum of a 4yr old who has struggled on benefits and is desperate to get out of the poverty trap and to get to work in a well-paid career so my son and i can have a quality of life.this 1 yr diploma will enhance my IT career enough to give me a real shot at earning enough to survive with my son on one salary and is recommended by my CWO and S W/F facilitator,yet i cannot afford to do it at the moment.its crazy!can anyone advise me?i cannot apply for the Student Assistance Fund as it is not available in further education colleges....running out of ideas here!many thanks...

deeliteful

deeliteful wrote: »

hi all,

can anyone please tell me,if someone who studied to level 8 (did H.Dip in computers after a B.Sc.Hons in chemistry) can go backwards and do a 1yr diploma at a senior college still get funding?the BTEA guidelines say no unless its a H.Dip. in teaching (which its not, its JEB Diploma in IT training) and my enquiry with the VEC said no,i cannot apply to them for a maintenance grant,even though i never applied for maintenance while i did my degree,and even though my parents paid the full 4 years of degree fees themselves (i have paid them back!).so i am stuck right now in a real jam.i cannot afford childcare costs and i had applied for VTOS but was told all the places are already taken.

so am i ineligible for any other funding?i am a single mum of a 4yr old who has struggled on benefits and is desperate to get out of the poverty trap and to get to work in a well-paid career so my son and i can have a quality of life.this 1 yr diploma will enhance my IT career enough to give me a real shot at earning enough to survive with my son on one salary and is recommended by my CWO and S W/F facilitator,yet i cannot afford to do it at the moment.its crazy!can anyone advise me?i cannot apply for the Student Assistance Fund as it is not available in further education colleges....running out of ideas here!many thanks...

Hey deeliteful,

Unfortunately the grant system usually only works for progression, and if you go back to do a lower course you probably wouldn't be entitled to a grant, fees paid for you, or even tax relief on the fees. The Council/VEC can waive this requirement in certain circumstances, as mentioned here:

http://www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/support_higher08.doc?language=EN

Apart from the special provisions for second chance students in Clause 3.3, candidates who have previously pursued an undergraduate course approved for the purposes of the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Vocational Education Committees’ Scholarship Scheme or the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees (formerly ESF Scheme) shall not receive a grant under this Scheme until they have completed an equivalent period of study at undergraduate level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. A Local Authority shall have discretion to waive this provision in exceptional circumstances, such as certified serious illness. Grants shall not be paid to candidates who already hold a Level 8 (Honours Bachelor Degree qualification or equivalent qualification) and are pursuing a second such qualification.

Check with the college and the students' union too in the place you're looking to attend since there is normally a childcare fund in most colleges which you can apply to.

I'm afraid I don't know of anything else that can be done in this situation, hopefully someone else here will be able to advise you of some solution.

deeliteful

many thanks,well i thought that alright.this JEB diploma is advertised as suitable for graduates,mature learners and parents as its morning classes only and for 9 months.so i thought a diploma to teach IT would be counted as a 'progression' in my case, as i had to have initially studied computers (i.e. my h.dip in computer science) in order to be able to teach computers later.no?but as its only a senior college diploma,i guess not?it seems a real poverty trap as i AM truly trapped now - no VTOS place,no VEC maintnenance grant, no millenium/student assistance fund etc.there is no creche onsite at scd either and i was told there is no childcare assistance available in the college....so i am basically screwed.it seems so unfair,to be honest.