Facing Fees

CuPpYcAkE_ZeRo

Hey all, Im going to DCU to study engineering, this will be my first year. I dont hold an irish passport yet i will be entitled to one next year as i have been in this country for nearly 13 years. My parents have adopted me and they are both irish citizens. Now i was completely shocked when i overlooked a few things i was certain that i would get free fees meaning i wont have to pay for course fees only the registration. So i went and got an assessment...good news....i dont have to pay non- EU fee (12,000 ish) bad news i do however have to pay the Eu price fee for my course totalling 6674 euros per year...

I was advised not to deferr a place as i would have to pay that amount anyways to keep my place. I was considering on deferring because next year i will definitely have an irish passport, however is there a point? When fees are due back in anyways...If i do deferr it could be a complete waste of year and money so i think i best pay up on the fees and register this year.

Now problem is 6674 is alot of money, for once off it is never mind that for the four years. My only hope now is to await further news on my application for the H.E.G...they are said to cover fee costs too. She also advised me to apply for remission of fees which is another option i will take. In addition she advised me to make my case known to the fees office.

Just wondering what yous think, if you have any other suggestions it would be greatly appreciated as registration must be paid soon and the closing date is creeping closer day by day.

It seems unfair to me though my friend is in same situation with no irish passport but her mother has it , she is going to tallaght IT and she just has to pay registration. Another case is someone i know who has been told to go on the dole for the year and then her fees be paid next year....is there something im doing wrong??? am i following the rules too much??? just seems people are coming into this country and taking such an advantage while iv been here since i was young , i even did irish and got a B in my leaving cert , paid taxes etc and now im being singled out???

Heart breaking when you work so hard for it

Rynner

You should try to schedule a meeting with the President. I hear he's a very liberal guy, and considering the case, I reckon he'd let you off. bad buzz overall though.

CuPpYcAkE_ZeRo

thats a great idea but the president?? wont he have a busy schedule , surely he has better things to be doing??? .... Im willing to try anything at this stage , is it easy to get in touch with him? And being a fresher , dont really know how to go about doing this

Choc123

F.von-Prondzynski@dcu.ie is the presidents email. Yes he is very busy but he is extremely open to talking to students and apparently has an open door policy. I have a meeting with him on monday for half an hour so he clearly is willing to talk to students.
give it a shot.

CuPpYcAkE_ZeRo

Thank you so much , im emailing him right now!!! fingers crossed if this works i owe you more than 26,000 euros!!!

c0rk3r

Rynner wrote: »

I hear he's a very liberal guy, and considering the case, I reckon he'd let you off.

No no no no no. Slamming head against the wall, no. Sometimes i just don't know.

Ferdinand von Prondzynski is a staunch advocate of reintroducing fees and always has citing DCUs need to be more competitive. Which makes sense since hes a member of the Irish National Competitiveness Council. I don't think hes the guy you need to approach about this. You should approach your local authority and explain your situation. See what avenues are open to you. You may be entitled to some kind of maintenance grant or allowance. Its better than trying to convince the president who backs reintroduction of fees...

Its unfortunate that you happen to miss the free fees window. You may as well face reality and whats ahead of you. If your not from a particularly rich family you only have a few options. Work like a dog during the summer and also at night during the college year to afford the fees/living. You may also need to apply for a loan. Apply for some sort of grant plus work at night. This is what the future students will have to endure to sustain themselves and their education.

Or just don't go to college. Its no longer a right but a privilege. Good thing i finished this year