Special Rate Maintenance Grant- Important!!

saram

Hiya..

I was offered a place today in a postgrad course in NUIG.. I have a week to accept the offer. A big part of whether I accept or not will be financial reasons..

I have been unemployed (receiving jobseeker's benefit since last June). I have been living at home with my elderly father since. I was wondering if anyone here knows would that qualify me for the Special Rate Non-Adjacent Maintenance Grant. It is means tested I know. One other issue is that the house is under my brother's name who also lives here. So, whose income is calculated. Me, My father, both or what? I am confused about whether I am eligible or not!

I received the full Maintenance grant before when studying my undergraduate degree. In light of changed circumstances should i be eligible for the Special Rate..

There is a BIG Tuition Fee involved too and I know the grant would cover up to 6,xxx. Would this figure be added on to the Full Maintenance + Special Rate Grant too..

I am torn between taking up this offer and going off abroad!! I really hope I can get this answered definitely before I decide to accept.

Any help would be great..

Regards,

Saram..

fox65

I am in a similiar boat, have been offered a phd and would like to know where i stand with this. As an undergrad i wasn't eldigble to recieve the maintence grant, but as a post grad i am considering moving closer to the college.

I've read that to be eldigble for the grant, your scolarship cannot not exceed 16k. but contrary to this, if you are independant, you are judged on your own income limit, and 16k would put me in the full maintence catagory.

Sadly i've heard no reply from the college help on this, does anyone have an answer

saram

fox65 wrote: »

I am in a similiar boat, have been offered a phd and would like to know where i stand with this. As an undergrad i wasn't eldigble to recieve the maintence grant, but as a post grad i am considering moving closer to the college.

I've read that to be eldigble for the grant, your scolarship cannot not exceed 16k. but contrary to this, if you are independant, you are judged on your own income limit, and 16k would put me in the full maintence catagory.

Sadly i've heard no reply from the college help on this, does anyone have an answer

Contact the Student Support Unit in Offaly. Below is the number and I spoke to a person called Finian. He was brilliant and really knew his stuff.. I had called the college and my VEC before that but the answers were up in the air..

According to this guy I am eligible for the Top Up Grant.

Give the number below a call and I'm sure you will get the specific help you need!!
+353 (0)57 9324381

fox65

cleared it up no problem for me. took 3 minutes, what my college took over a week NOT to answer.

in short, if you go straight from undergrad to post grad, you are then assessed on your first year undergrad. only when you have a break from study can you be judged seperate from your parents.

also the TOTAL grant cannot excede 16thousand. this includes fees. which straight away eliminates most tech dergees

Thanks sarahm