Mature Student Advice Needed

MickShamrock

So, I've just completed first year in IT Carlow as a mature student. I thought I would get the grant but didn't as I'd previously been to college as a 17 year old and studied for 3 years.

I have to pay registration and tuition fees every year. Which last year was 1500 reg fee and 1494 tuition fee. Now, we all know that the reg fee went up to 2000 this year but it turns out Carlow have doubled their tuition fee! It's gone up to 2954 which I feel is very unfair.

Now, I am long term unemployed and only receive the BTEA. I have a student loan with an amount still outstanding from covering the fees for my first year of study. How am I expected to come up with close to 5000?!

I'm seriously considering trying applying for a course through Bluebricks Springboard program but my only concern is ending up in the same boat of having to pay all the fees myself on account of having studied before.

I'd really like to progress to 2nd year of my current course, but with these fee increases I don't see how I can.

Any one in the same situation or have any helpful advice? Thanks.

RoyalMarine

sorry mick, how old are you?

you were in college before at 17 for 3 years?

would you not be considered a second chance student with regards to tuition fee's?

BenMicheal

MickShamrock wrote: »

So, I've just completed first year in IT Carlow as a mature student. I thought I would get the grant but didn't as I'd previously been to college as a 17 year old and studied for 3 years.

I have to pay registration and tuition fees every year. Which last year was 1500 reg fee and 1494 tuition fee. Now, we all know that the reg fee went up to 2000 this year but it turns out Carlow have doubled their tuition fee! It's gone up to 2954 which I feel is very unfair.

Now, I am long term unemployed and only receive the BTEA. I have a student loan with an amount still outstanding from covering the fees for my first year of study. How am I expected to come up with close to 5000?!

I'm seriously considering trying applying for a course through Bluebricks Springboard program but my only concern is ending up in the same boat of having to pay all the fees myself on account of having studied before.

I'd really like to progress to 2nd year of my current course, but with these fee increases I don't see how I can.

Any one in the same situation or have any helpful advice? Thanks.

Will they restrict the grant for people applying for a masters because they have done a course already??

MickShamrock

RoyalMarine wrote: »

sorry mick, how old are you?

you were in college before at 17 for 3 years?

would you not be considered a second chance student with regards to tuition fee's?

I'm 27 now. It's been well over 5 years since I was in college but unfortunately I got a useless Certificate while I was studying before.

Ms Happy

MickShamrock wrote: »

So, I've just completed first year in IT Carlow as a mature student. I thought I would get the grant but didn't as I'd previously been to college as a 17 year old and studied for 3 years.

I have to pay registration and tuition fees every year. Which last year was 1500 reg fee and 1494 tuition fee. Now, we all know that the reg fee went up to 2000 this year but it turns out Carlow have doubled their tuition fee! It's gone up to 2954 which I feel is very unfair.

Now, I am long term unemployed and only receive the BTEA. I have a student loan with an amount still outstanding from covering the fees for my first year of study. How am I expected to come up with close to 5000?!

I'm seriously considering trying applying for a course through Bluebricks Springboard program but my only concern is ending up in the same boat of having to pay all the fees myself on account of having studied before.

I'd really like to progress to 2nd year of my current course, but with these fee increases I don't see how I can.

Any one in the same situation or have any helpful advice? Thanks.

Ehhh... you're kinda misinformed there....

The total for the year is 2954:
Registration - 2000
Tuition - 954

Carlow hasn't doubled anything. The fees are set by the Dept. of Education

The way the tuition fees were done this year are nearly all less €500 to "compensate" the rise in registration.

If you have any questions PM me

MickShamrock

Ms Happy wrote: »

Ehhh... you're kinda misinformed there....

The total for the year is 2954:
Registration - 2000
Tuition - 954

Carlow hasn't doubled anything. The fees are set by the Dept. of Education

The way the tuition fees were done this year are nearly all less €500 to "compensate" the rise in registration.

If you have any questions PM me

That's a relief. Thanks for that!

Now I just need to come up with 3000 same as last year.