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Grants - Mature students

  • 01-08-2009 7:51am
    #1
    insert-gear
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 686 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    A friend of mine got a place on the accountancy course in DCU as a mature student for this year. He has been unemployed for the last year and he has already done a 2 year college course, but failed the final exams.

    Anyway he's super super chuffed to be going, and were trying to find out about grant entitlements as he will have to pay 2 years of fees. Went to citizens advice and they hadn't a clue.

    Would anyone here know? I thought there was a grant you could get if you would have to move up to Dublin for your course. And that he could be a "second chance student" (not exactly sure what that is, or entitlements though). He finished the course in 2003 and a second chance student is after 5 years.

    Any advice at all would be appreciated.


Comments

  • #2
    loctite
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 589 ✭✭✭loctite


    Hey,

    Have just finished the A&F Degree in DCU as a mature student and in receipt of a grant.

    As far as I am aware, you are eligible to claim a grant (once you have met the grant criteria) for up to 4 years for an undergrad course. If you do not complete the course that you were claiming the grant for and decide to transfer to another course you will not be able to claim a grant for the number of years that you will have previously claimed for. In your friends case the 2 years.

    I'm not 100% on the 5 years. Because I know that you are not entitled to a grant as descried in the situation above, but you may also have to pay course fees also. You would want to contact the Finance department of DCU for clarification, or your friend may find on registration that he could be paying 4-5K in course fees.

    As for an extra allowance for studying in Dublin.... no. I live on the west coast and I certainly wasn't entitled to any additional grant because of distance. I think it is more that if you live within a certain distance from a University that you will receive a reduction in your grant. You friend may be entitled to claim a top up grant. But this is subject to a minimum level of income.

    It is also important to note that it is not the income in the year of application for a grant that is considered but the income in the year previous to application so if your friend was working and then became unemployed it may prevent grant receipt.

    Best thing is to apply either way. Call the Finance office. They will know what the story is.


  • #3
    evekat11
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5 ✭evekat11


    insert-gear wrote: »
    Hi,

    Don't know about the grant but if he's been unemployed for two years he should be entitled to a back to education allowance - get the form from social welfare office. Its the equivilant to the dole payments while he is in college.
    Any ideas how i'll get a grant. I've moved out of home & am a mature student but they are going by where I lives in October 08 which was at home & my dads self employed so wont get a grant - its crap:mad:


  • #4
    insert-gear
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 686 ✭✭✭insert-gear


    He has the back to education allowance. i.e gets to keep his dole. He's just wondering about how to pay the college fees for the 2 years that he isnt entitled to free education for because of his previous course.

    Thanks to both of you for your help.

    We'll contact the Finance office on Tuesday!

    If anyone else knows any more that would be great too


  • #5
    loctite
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 589 ✭✭✭loctite


    evekat11 wrote: »
    insert-gear wrote: »
    Hi,

    Don't know about the grant but if he's been unemployed for two years he should be entitled to a back to education allowance - get the form from social welfare office. Its the equivilant to the dole payments while he is in college.
    Any ideas how i'll get a grant. I've moved out of home & am a mature student but they are going by where I lives in October 08 which was at home & my dads self employed so wont get a grant - its crap:mad:


    Maybe you should "rent" a room in a friends house that way you will no longer be a dependent on your parents and then will be entitled to the grant??


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