Independent Mature Candidate?

Bridgewater11

Hey guys,

Looking for a bit of advice on this one.

I've recently completed my BA, having taken the 'scenic route'. I received grants for 03/04, 04/05, and then 06/07. I went back for the year 10/11, financed myself, and finally completed it.

I've been accepted for a full-time MA next year, and submitted a grant application as an Independent Mature Candidate - as I'm 25, and haven't been living with my parents for years and years.

I've gotten a response stating that unless I've taken a break from my studies for 3 years, I can't be considered as 'independent', and have to apply under my parents.

I can't see anything to indicate this, and everywhere I've looked seems to show that as someone who is over 23, living away from home, and starting a new course, I should be able to apply independently.

Who's right? And more importantly... how do I challenge this?

augusta24

Unfortunately they brought that rule in last year. You can still apply but you must apply as being dependant. To apply as an independent you must be out of college 3 years I'm afraid.

nehemiah

This is kind of relevant to my question.

I got a grant for a PG Dip last year as an Independent Mature Student. Can I apply this year for a Masters grant under the same?

augusta24

nehemiah wrote: »

This is kind of relevant to my question.

I got a grant for a PG Dip last year as an Independent Mature Student. Can I apply this year for a Masters grant under the same?

Hmm I'm not sure but I would think you have to have had another break of 3 years

august12

augusta24 wrote: »

Hmm I'm not sure but I would think you have to have had another break of 3 years

No, you don't need a 3 year break if you were assessed as Independent Mature for your Post Grad, you only need the 3 year break if you were under 23 when you did the post grad and were assessed under your parents' income. As you have already completed the post grad course and continuing on to the masters, this condition does not apply to you but be aware that there is only grant funding for max of 4 years above level 8 and any previous study you have obtained regardless of whether you applied for grant or not will be counted e.g. if you have 2 years completed of post grad but did not apply for grant then the maximum grant aid you can get is 2 more years.

nehemiah

august12 wrote: »

No, you don't need a 3 year break if you were assessed as Independent Mature for your Post Grad, you only need the 3 year break if you were under 23 when you did the post grad and were assessed under your parents' income. As you have already completed the post grad course and continuing on to the masters, this condition does not apply to you but be aware that there is only grant funding for max of 4 years above level 8 and any previous study you have obtained regardless of whether you applied for grant or not will be counted e.g. if you have 2 years completed of post grad but did not apply for grant then the maximum grant aid you can get is 2 more years.

Thanks for the info.

I should be ok so. I've only had one year of study above Level 9 so I better get going with my application.

dub_25

augusta24 wrote: »

Unfortunately they brought that rule in last year. You can still apply but you must apply as being dependant. To apply as an independent you must be out of college 3 years I'm afraid.

Does anyone know when exactly this rule was brought in? The three year condition does not seem to be in the guidance notes for 2010, however I cannot find the previous legislation.

I am going into my second year back at college, and have been deemed inelgible to apply as independent a second time, despite the fact that I have provided evidence of living away from home for over a year at this stage. I accepted that I hadn't sufficient evidence last year, but had decided to continue on returning to study and to reapply this year. I had read through the notes thoroughly when applying in 2010, and do not remember reading any of this, and so was taken by surprise when my application was denied on this basis. I have now been told that I cannot apply as an independent mature student due to the fact that I was deemed dependent when I first started the course, and cannot change my status until I take a three year break from study. I intend to continue studying for another 3-4 years after this year. Putting this off for another 3 years is far from ideal.

I want to find out if this rule was in place when I made the decision to start the course, as having forseen my current situation I would have deferred a year as it would have made a huge financial difference.

If anyone knows when this rule was written in or has any advice on what my rights/options are I'd really appreciate it. I would also advise any prospective postgraduate/mature students in a similar situation to consider this before they return to study.

Rocksteadykk

Hi there,

Sorry to hijack this thread but if anyone can help me I would really appreciate it. I received a grant for 3 years of my undergraduate degree in Law in UCD. I also received a grant for a Masters degree in commercial law the following year which was 2008/2009. I recently started a Higher diploma degree in education and I was told by a friend in the know that I was ineligible for the grant beacause the higher diploma wasn't seen as progression from my previous degree. Can anyone confirm or deny this for me?

Also what is the 3 year break in study to do with, out of interest? I realise I wouldn't qualify for this as it has only been 2 years.

Finally, I would have applied for the previous grants as a dependable. Would it make any difference if I now applied as an independent mature student now that I'm 25 and living away from home?

If anyone has any information for me regarding the above I would really appreciate it. Thanks

dub_25

I think they are right, have a look at the legislation, it says in article (17)2(b):

a student or tuition student is ineligible for a grant if he or she already
holds a postgraduate higher education and training award at or above,

or equivalent to, Level 8 of the framework of qualifications

As I understand it if you hold an undergraduate degree at level 8 you can be eligible but as you hold a postgraduate degree of level 8 or above (level 9 for masters?) then you do not qualify under the section on progression - it applies regardless of whether you received a grant for the previous course or not.

In terms of the three year rule, your status (dependent/independent) is determined at your first point of entry/'re-entry' to a course, and will continue to apply for the duration of your studies (that includes all further courses you pursue). The only way that your status may change is after a three year break from study, which is defined as 're-entry'. See Article 12 for detail. It turns out this was included in the 2010 guidelines. Best to read the legislation for the full story (check the council website or google Student Grant Scheme 2011).

As you've only taken a break of two years you would not be able to apply as an independent, but based on your previous qualifications you would need to be pursuing a level 10 course (doctorate) to be eligible even if you were to have the three year break. (Applying as an independent may make a difference depending on the difference between your income alone and your parents' and your combined income, it may put you in a different bracket.)

Hope this makes sense.

Annasopra

Bridgewater11 wrote: »

Hey guys,

Looking for a bit of advice on this one.

I've recently completed my BA, having taken the 'scenic route'. I received grants for 03/04, 04/05, and then 06/07. I went back for the year 10/11, financed myself, and finally completed it.

I've been accepted for a full-time MA next year, and submitted a grant application as an Independent Mature Candidate - as I'm 25, and haven't been living with my parents for years and years.

I've gotten a response stating that unless I've taken a break from my studies for 3 years, I can't be considered as 'independent', and have to apply under my parents.

I can't see anything to indicate this, and everywhere I've looked seems to show that as someone who is over 23, living away from home, and starting a new course, I should be able to apply independently.

Who's right? And more importantly... how do I challenge this?

Yes they are correct
http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/Student%20Grant%20Scheme%202011.pdf

(2) An applicant’s class is defined at their first point of entry to an approved post leaving certificate course or an approved higher education course or at their point of re-entry to such an approved course and will continue to apply for the duration of their studies.
(3) In this scheme an “independent student” means a mature student who did
not ordinarily reside with his or her parents, or either of them, from 1 October
of the year before the first point of entry to an approved post leaving certificate course or an approved higher education course or re-entry to an approved course.
(4) “Mature student” means a student who on 1 January—
(a) in the year of entry for the first time to an approved post leaving certificate course;
(b) in the year of entry for the first time to an approved higher education
course (other than a course known for the time being as a post leaving
certificate course); or
(c) in the year of re-entry to an approved course,
is at least 23 years old.
(5) “Re-entry”, for the purposes of this Scheme, means a mature student
entering an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years, having previously attended an approved course.

Annasopra

dub_25 wrote: »

If anyone knows when this rule was written in or has any advice on what my rights/options are I'd really appreciate it. I would also advise any prospective postgraduate/mature students in a similar situation to consider this before they return to study.

I think it was introduced for the first time in 2010

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055984950