Law degree Non CAO - Social Welfare Entitlements

Mark27

Hi, i got accepted as a Mature student onto a Ordinary Degree Law course in DIT due to start at the end of September. Non CAO course applied directly to the college

The course is 2 years in duration and its in the evening with just over 6 hours a week of actual lectures.

ive been on the Jobseekers for just over a year having lost my job. I already have a degree in IT & Networking and was working in this area until i was laid off

I have to go in on Tuesday to register and pay my fee which comes to about 2,500 euro for 5 differant modules. What i want to know is do i have to pay all of this fee since i am on social welfare. I simply dont have it.

Am i entitled to a grant or will they leave me on Jobseekers? I am also in receipt of Mortgage relief and am currently everyday looking for a job and will continue to do so while i am studying. I tried looking at the BETA form but it seems to stress that you have to be a full time day student and this course is completly the opposite

Can anybody tell me what to do?

Annasopra

Mark27 wrote: »

Hi, i got accepted as a Mature student onto a Ordinary Degree Law course in DIT due to start at the end of September. Non CAO course applied directly to the college

The course is 2 years in duration and its in the evening with just over 6 hours a week of actual lectures.

ive been on the Jobseekers for just over a year having lost my job. I already have a degree in IT & Networking and was working in this area until i was laid off

I have to go in on Tuesday to register and pay my fee which comes to about 2,500 euro for 5 differant modules. What i want to know is do i have to pay all of this fee since i am on social welfare. I simply dont have it.

Am i entitled to a grant or will they leave me on Jobseekers? I am also in receipt of Mortgage relief and am currently everyday looking for a job and will continue to do so while i am studying. I tried looking at the BETA form but it seems to stress that you have to be a full time day student and this course is completly the opposite

Can anybody tell me what to do?

As this is a part time course you are not entitled to a Grant or BTEA - they are only for full time courses. However this does mean that you can stay on JSA and Mortgage allowance

Firstly the good news is that you can get a 20% tax refund of your tuition fees from the revenue commissioners - once you pay them - you should check this out because this refund is through tax so it would be paid to an employee - so if for example your parent paid the €2500 then they can claim the the €500 Eur back

Secondly in terms of financial options to actually pay the fees it's quite limited

The following suggestions may be of use

St Vincent dePaul - just ask them for help
Credit Union Loan
A small grant from a local partnership organisation (e.g. Bray Partnership or Fingal Leader Partnership - May or may not be a possibility)
Talk to your local Community Welfare Officer - see if there is any help he/she can provide given your ineligibility for BTEA - I don't know if they can do anything but it's worth a shot


Thirdly - Have you definitely decided that you want to do the DIT law course

There are other options of free courses offered under the labour market activation programme

http://www.qualifax.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=249&Itemid=164