If you got both the Back to Education Allowance & maintenance grant last year

cisco27

If you got both the Back to Education Allowance & maintenance grant last year, will you get both this academic year?

DrZeuss

From what I understand, if the course you are following is not a different course but is a follow on course, ie going from certificate to ordinary degree or honours degree, then you will still be entitled to receive both (normal conditions apply).
Same for going from year 1 to year 2.
There was a letter sent to VEC's regarding this but I am just going by what the Student's Union told me. Maybe your best bet would be to contact your local VEC or SU.
Hope this helps a bit.

cisco27

DrZeuss wrote: »

From what I understand, if the course you are following is not a different course but is a follow on course, ie going from certificate to ordinary degree or honours degree, then you will still be entitled to receive both (normal conditions apply).
Same for going from year 1 to year 2.
There was a letter sent to VEC's regarding this but I am just going by what the Student's Union told me. Maybe your best bet would be to contact your local VEC or SU.
Hope this helps a bit.

thanks dr.

that was my understanding of it as well. happy days.

DrZeuss

cisco27 wrote: »

thanks dr.

that was my understanding of it as well. happy days.

No problem
Hopefully happy days as I'm in the same boat.

Stuxnet

lucky feckers !:D
ill have to scrape by....sigh

Duff

Is it possible to get both? I didn't think it was?

DrZeuss

Duff wrote: »

Is it possible to get both? I didn't think it was?

If you were starting a new course this year you would not be entitled to both, but as my understanding is if you are continuing a course then you continue to get what you were already receiving, assuming your circumstances have not changed.

Duff

DrZeuss wrote: »

If you were starting a new course this year you would not be entitled to both, but as my understanding is if you are continuing a course then you continue to get what you were already receiving, assuming your circumstances have not changed.

Ah, I see. Cheers. Might apply for both anyway and hope for the best!:P

DrZeuss

Duff wrote: »

Ah, I see. Cheers. Might apply for both anyway and hope for the best!:P

Well goodluck with it mate.
Am applying for both myself and hoping what I said above actually happens. :cool:

Duff

DrZeuss wrote: »

Well goodluck with it mate.
Am applying for both myself and hoping what I said above actually happens. :cool:

You too!

sports physio

Hey,

I am going from cert to degree but its a different course, I have been getting both for the past 2 yrs, will I get them this yr ???

Annasopra

sports physio wrote: »

Hey,

I am going from cert to degree but its a different course, I have been getting both for the past 2 yrs, will I get them this yr ???

No

Long Term Louth

DrZeuss wrote: »

Well goodluck with it mate.
Am applying for both myself and hoping what I said above actually happens. :cool:

The only difference will be 5% less as regards the maintenance grant.

Annasopra

Duff wrote: »

Is it possible to get both? I didn't think it was?

If you're starting a new course you can get BTEA and the grant will pay your registration fee but not the maintenance grant part

Jay Walker

DrZeuss wrote: »

If you were starting a new course this year you would not be entitled to both, but as my understanding is if you are continuing a course then you continue to get what you were already receiving, assuming your circumstances have not changed.

I completed a Higher Diploma in 2002 and have been accepted into the Honours degree this year. As this is a follow-on, do you reckon I could get both BTEA and grant? I obtained the grant for the Diploma.

DrZeuss

Jay Walker wrote: »

I completed a Higher Diploma in 2002 and have been accepted into the Honours degree this year. As this is a follow-on, do you reckon I could get both BTEA and grant? I obtained the grant for the Diploma.

Doubtful, as its a follow on course, which I was wrongly told last year is still covered by the grant.
You may get the fees covered for the year, but unlikely to get the grant and the BTEA.
But if you don't apply you won't get anything, better to try just in case.
Good luck with the course.

Jay Walker

DrZeuss wrote: »

Doubtful, as its a follow on course, which I was wrongly told last year is still covered by the grant.
You may get the fees covered for the year, but unlikely to get the grant and the BTEA.
But if you don't apply you won't get anything, better to try just in case.
Good luck with the course.

Cheers DrZeuss. I have applied for the grant anyway and should get the fees payed. When I was handing in my forms, the lady that was dealing with me mentioned that she has taken note that it is a follow on so she will investigate further, although I am not holding my breath as there is a gap of 8 years since I did the Diploma. I did come across this on www.studentfinace.ie, so it is highly unlikely that I will get both:

[HTML]Progression by those currently in receipt of BTEA and the student grant

If you are currently in receipt of both the BTEA and maintenance and are taking part in an approved full-time course, you will continue to be eligible to receive both payments for the entire duration of your current course.

If you have completed a course and now wish to progress to a course at a higher level, you can continue to retain your BTEA payment (generally up to and including Level 8 on the NFQ) however you will no longer be entitled to the maintenance element of the student grant. You can apply under the grant scheme to have the Student Service Charge paid on your behalf and, where appropriate, tuition fees. The loss of entitlement to apply for maintenance for BTEA-holders applies in all the following progression routes:

From FETAC Level 5 to FETAC Level 6;
From FETAC Level 5/6 to Higher Education Levels 6, 7, or 8;
From Higher Education Level 6 to Higher Education Levels 7 or 8;
From Higher Education Level 8 to Postgraduate Level 9*.
There is one exception to the general approach: if you are in receipt of both BTEA and maintenance and wish to progress, without a break in studies, from a Level 7 Ordinary Degree to a one-year ‘add-on’ Level 8 Honours Degree, you can continue to avail of both BTEA and maintenance for the ‘add-on’ year.[/HTML]

RoyalMarine

here's my situation.

I was studying a level 7 course in lyit.
I finished first year, and applied for a transfer into 2nd year in waterford.

i got it.

the course in waterford is a 3 year honour degree.

I had the grant and the btea last year, and i was told because im going into a different level, i loose my grant.

However, i checked all the Q and A, and cant find any situation that i fit into to no longer be elligable for it.

If i stay in lyit, i can have both, but i have an extra year to do in order to get my level 8.

If i move to waterford, i finish my honours in 2 years, but i loose my grant.

Its a complete bollocks of a loop hole, and they wont give me any information on what to do.

I spoke to my local TD, and student union, but they want me to get it in writing...

However, when i asked them for it in writing, they said...

you need to fill in a complete application form.
We will then respond saying you did not recieve it.
I then need to write back to them asking for it to be re-viewed.
They will then review it and reject it again.
Then i can finally write to them and ask for it in writing.
They will then send me a letter stating why i was refused the grant.

I asked for a time frame, and they said my initial application will be looked at maybe start of october.

anyone else in this situation? Its a complete sham, and im so pissed off over it.

wuzzik

You will only get the BTEA and grant if you are continuing with the course that you were doing last year. i.e if you did year one of a two year course last year you will get both provided your BTEA was approved for the duration of the course. I did year one of a 2 year diploma course last year and had both and they have been approved for this year but if I continue on to a degree course next year I will not get both.

RoyalMarine

wuzzik wrote: »

You will only get the BTEA and grant if you are continuing with the course that you were doing last year. i.e if you did year one of a two year course last year you will get both provided your BTEA was approved for the duration of the course. I did year one of a 2 year diploma course last year and had both and they have been approved for this year but if I continue on to a degree course next year I will not get both.

the point i was trying to make was that if i stay in letterkenny, finish 2 more years of a 3 year level 7 degree, and then go and do a 1 year add on course to level 8, it will take me 3 years to get my honours degree.

they said i can have both the btea and the grant for the 3 years.

but if i move to waterford, and finish the 2 years and get my level 8 that way, i dont get the grant.

so they are willing to give it to me for 3 years, but not for 2.

wuzzik

Yip but if you move college you loose it. You have to realise that LOGIC does not enter the decision. There are so many people who no longer qualify for grants because suddenly a number of social welfare benefits are added to the income and as a result a lot of kids are going to end up not going to college - Figure it out 100 a week for the dole of 350 a month to educate people - not difficult really but our government seems unable to do the maths!!!!

Helbon

Every time the election comes, the studentS and young people always forget to vote only for those popliticians that promise a good program for students and education.

Why cant we young people stand up and tell any politician that they cant get our VOTES only if the have a good agenda for Education for the young one.

We should not forget this in Next election.
I wonder what the Student union are doing, when poor students are victimised by politician and blocked poor student from education while they spent much to finance their own children in BEST University.