Can I apply for the grant?

I am highly confused about whether or not I can apply for the grant. Here's my situation:

Have been living out of home independent of my family since June '07 (well, more since '05, but I have rent receipts to prove from June '07)
Turned 23 on June 21st 2008
I am attending GMIT and my family live in Tuam
Have my P21 for 2008

Shall be progressing into my 3rd and final year of college, so would like to quit my job and focus on my college work a lot more. However, a lot of people have been giving me different reactions - some have said that I needed to be 23 since first year, but a lady in the Galway VEC told me I could apply yearly - my brother successfully applied for his final year of college

So, can I apply for the grant?

I should probably add that I would like to apply for the mature student grant.

snappieT

Yep, you're 23 so you apply under your own income only, which is nil if you're not working.

studentfinance.ie has all of the details.

My understanding is that it all depends when you enter college. So if you went straight from an undergrad to a postgrad, you'd have been assessed based on when you entered college as an undergrad even if you're in year 4 of your PhD! In order to get around this you have to take at least one year out between UG and PG, for example.

The above is the 2008 regulations, so it's possible that this is being looked at since there was a plan to put changes into play, so the lady in the VEC could indeed have more info than anyone else here. As always, I'd apply anyways.

snappieT

snappieT wrote: »

Yep, you're 23 so you apply under your own income only, which is nil if you're not working.

studentfinance.ie has all of the details.

I have a job, which I would like to quit so I can focus on college more. Got my P21 in the post today so that I can show my earnings for '08.

Only problem with studentfinance is that I can't seem to find if you can apply yearly, or if you need to be 23 before January 1st on the year you started college.

Dónal wrote: »

My understanding is that it all depends when you enter college. So if you went straight from an undergrad to a postgrad, you'd have been assessed based on when you entered college as an undergrad even if you're in year 4 of your PhD! In order to get around this you have to take at least one year out between UG and PG, for example.

The above is the 2008 regulations, so it's possible that this is being looked at since there was a plan to put changes into play, so the lady in the VEC could indeed have more info than anyone else here. As always, I'd apply anyways.

I started college straight as an undergrad. This is the final year of my 3 year course. Also, I am slightly confused. When I asked in the Galway city VEC, she informed me that because I wasn't a mature student at the time (I was applying in July '08 and turned 23 in June '08), I had to apply through Galway County VEC (as my family home is in Tuam), yet now that I am (finally) fully independent from my parents, will I go back into the Galway City VEC because my student (well.. my other) home is in the city?

It's all very confusing.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

I have a job, which I would like to quit so I can focus on college more. Got my P21 in the post today so that I can show my earnings for '08.

Only problem with studentfinance is that I can't seem to find if you can apply yearly, or if you need to be 23 before January 1st on the year you started college.



I started college straight as an undergrad. This is the final year of my 3 year course. Also, I am slightly confused. When I asked in the Galway city VEC, she informed me that because I wasn't a mature student at the time (I was applying in July '08 and turned 23 in June '08), I had to apply through Galway County VEC (as my family home is in Tuam), yet now that I am (finally) fully independent from my parents, will I go back into the Galway City VEC because my student (well.. my other) home is in the city?

It's all very confusing.

You normally apply to where you were resident on the 1st October in the year previously, so in 2008 for yourself. But I think it's one of the less stringent bits of the grant, since lots of people who were in college in Dublin on the 1st October 2008, for example, at the time don't apply to Dublin since they apply to where they would normally be resident. So you're right to be confused!

In your case, if I was applying as independent, I'd apply to Galway City. Dependent, Galway County. But that's just me, and they may return it to you to look for more info at their discretion. Best to confirm with them first before you send it in, since it could delay your application.

I'm still unsure whether you'd be eligible or not, but if there's doubt at all, apply anyways.

Shockme1nce

Hey,
As far as I know, you will not be able to recieved the grant for your 3rd year of your course as a mature student. In order to recieve a mature student grant, you should be starting a full time undergraduate course or a postgraduate course.
If your course is a 4 year honours degree, then you might be eligable for the grant as a mature student on your 4th year only if it's an add-on degree.