Maintenance grant fee query

Tusky

Hi - Im applying for a maintenance grant for my masters and Im 99% sure I will be eligible for the full non adjacent rate. However, me fees are close to 8,000 which I simply cannot afford. I spoke to the fees department in the college and the lady mentioned that most people who receive a maintenance grant are also eligable for help with fees, and that last year they paid around 6,500 of the 8000.

Im just wondering if anyone knows what the requirements are to get help with fees ? Cant find anything definite on studentfianace and couldn't really get an answer from my local council. They just seemed to want me to get my application in.

Anyone got any ideas ? I cant afford to do the course without assistance so I kind of need to know asap!

pow wow

The amount your grant administration body will pay is capped at about 6k or so (according to studentfinance.ie it's 6,270 but I'm not sure if that figure is current). Subject to the usual eligibility stuff etc etc., if you qualify for the grant you qualify to get your fees paid up to the cap (if your fees are 4k you don't get 2k change though :P).

See here and here.

Tusky

pow wow wrote: »

The amount your grant administration body will pay is capped at about 6k or so (according to studentfinance.ie it's 6,270 but I'm not sure if that figure is current). Subject to the usual eligibility stuff etc etc., if you qualify for the grant you qualify to get your fees paid up to the cap (if your fees are 4k you don't get 2k change though :P).

See here and here.

That is absolutely incredible news if true. Although it doesnt sound definite here:

All postgraduate courses fall outside the scope of the Free Fees Scheme. However, if you are enrolling in one of these courses and if you qualify for any of maintenance grant levels 2 -6 above, your grant administering body may also pay the full cost of tuition (subject to a specified maximum) to the college on your behalf.

Also here, it mentions qualifying criteria. What is this ? Its quite ambiguous.

However, it is possible, if you meet the qualifying criteria, to have all or part of your tuition fees for first-time entry to an approved postgraduate course paid on your behalf through the maintenance grant schemes.

pow wow

Tusky wrote: »

That is absolutely incredible news if true.

Also here, it mentions qualifying criteria. What is this ? Its quite ambiguous.

Well it's true for those of us who have already done it and had the grant and fees paid. They may of course cut the funding but it seems unlikely in the immediate future.

The rules for postgrad fees funding are more specific and narrow than those for undergrad and I think that's why they use the ambiguous language - not all courses and colleges are covered, and it only covers courses in Ireland and not the UK etc. as it would at undergrad (NI excepted - for postgrad purposes they classify 'Ireland' as the 32 counties). The eligibility is a mixture of where you do the course and what course you do and of course if you qualify for the grant itself. There are lists of what and where on studentfinance.ie

So stop arguing with me :P. See here if you don't want to take my word for it.

Tusky

Im only arguing with you because it seems to good to be true. I have been saving hard to try get the 7.6k together and now its looking like im only going to have to pay 1.6k. Fingers crossed and thanks for your help!