Financially wise-should I wait until I'm a mature student?

AppleTartFace

To ask this question properly, I have to tell yous my life story :P

I went to UCD 2007/2008, studied Arts, didn't like it, failed my exams, decided that teaching English wasn't what I wanted to do! So, I took a year out, firstly to try and raise the money to repeat the year/change course, so I was working up until December, when I lost my job, so I started getting Jobseekers Allowance.

I didn't want to take another year out, so I applied to my local college, Cavan Institute where I studied Fetac Level 5 Youth Work. I received BTEA through that year and this year that I've just finished, Fetac Level 6 Community Development.

I applies though the CAO go to back to UCD so I can study Social Science, but now I'm really worried about how I'm going to finance myself. I hope to get the BTEA again (fingers crossed!) I have no savings whatsoever, can't apply for the grant even if I wanted to (because I got the first year grant in UCD.)

I'm 22, and now I have no idea what to do, I don't know whether to wait until I'm 23 and a mature student.

I'm at a sort of crossroads as to what to do... I just moved out of a house where I've lived in Cavan the last 2 years and temporarily living at home....I don't want to take the risk and move to Dublin now, (for cheaper student rent, you know?), or wait until I know for sure that I've got the course. By moving up to Dublin, I could also take a year out, and find myself a job, to pay for fees next year when I'm a mature student? Or I could move into Cavan town again, and hope to save a little bit of money towards fees, and maybe take out a loan, but I have no savings anywhere!

I just really need some help, I really don't want to take a year out again, but I don't know what to do! How will I fund myself for fees in UCD? I don't even know how much they will be like..? I know there are things like Student Assistant Fund, etc. but I'm finding it difficult to properly get information on any kind of funding assistance.

Any kind of advice would be thoroughly appreciated! Maybe I need a life coach, or just someone to make decisions for me! :P Thanks guys

Annasopra

Just had a look at UCD website

The tuition fee for 2010/2011 is 5780 euro

The student contribution is 2000

I am slightly confused myself as I think even though you could get BTEA that you would have to pay the tuition fees plus the student contribution. I think this needs to be clarified firstly - you should probably ring the fees office in UCD and check

At present you can wait for five years and then you can go back to claim free fees as a "second chance student" you are also eligible for a grant if you wait five years - so if you waited until 2012/2013 then you could become eligible again for free fees and a grant

When is your 23rd birthday? because that makes a difference as well

AppleTartFace

Nearly 8 grand............ Christ.

F***

Wow.

30/10/1988. Looks like I won't be going to college this year!

Annasopra

AppleTartFace wrote: »

Nearly 8 grand............ Christ.

F***

Wow.

30/10/1988. Looks like I won't be going to college this year!

Yes but you can try and save and you can be counted as a second chance student for 2012/13. If you are going to do this I really recommend moving out of home even if only for a month or 6 weeks and getting utility bills in October of this year - the grant forms are assessed based on where you lived at october of the previous year