BTEA if repeating only one semester?

LegacyUser

Hello, just wondering if somebody could help me with this query please?

If you were receiving BTEA for your first year and passed all of semester one, but failed semester two and had to go back in the next year to repeat JUST semester two, can you receive BTEA for just the second semester?
You would be attending as a full time time student for semester two only.

If that was not possible, would they pay you your BTEA if you said you would also redo your semester one exams externally (even though you already passed them)?

tittle mouse

As far as i know no you cannot recieve BTEA for repeating a semester. i.e they will not pay you twice to do the same semester.

LegacyUser

Thanks for reply Tittle Mouse.

I am very confused about this.
I have read online that BTEA WILL pay you for a repeat year, but only if you are repeating as a full time student.
If you are repeating just one semester, and are attending lectures etc every day for this semester, and sitting all of the second semester exams again, does this class as being a full time student for this semester, or do you have to be repeating the entire year to be classed as a full time student to receive the BTEA?

cee_jay

From the guidelines:
BTEA participants who have to repeat a year of their course will continue to be paid the allowance for the repeat year. This is provided that the BTEA participant is registered and attending as a FULL-TIME student for the repeat year. Repeat students who register as external students, exam only students or part-time students for their repeat year are not eligible for the allowance. A person will only be allowed to repeat one academic year of their course of study on the basis of exam failure and/or exceptional circumstances,evidence of such to be provided. eg due to illness, pregnancy, force majeure reasons.

If you are repeating just one semester you won't be entitled to BTEA for that semester - BTEA can only be paid for the full academic year.
If you are just sitting semester one exams externally that won't help your case - you need to be a registered student for the full year.

LovelyHurling

My reading of that is that a 'Full Time' student is one who is sitting a minimum number of hours per week, not one who is sitting a minimum number of semesters.

For example, when I was in UCD I had friends who repeated a semester but were still classified as FT students because they were full time in the sense that their course was a full time course for the duration of a single semester.

Speak to your local facilitator OP, and they might look into your circumstances.

It seems illogical that one would be given money for failing an entire year but not if they managed to pass half of it.

IMC042

Yeah I agree with LovelyHurling. The way I understand that paragraph is that it is not a part time evening course and you are attending the course in its entirety (all modules).

I completed my first semester in 2010 and then deferred my second semester until now. I wasn't on the BTEA before but I have applied for it now for when I go back into semester two next week. I got a letter from the college stating that I am registered as a full time day student. So I too would like someone who knows for sure to clarify whether I will be entitled to it or not? Thanks

cee_jay

LovelyHurling wrote: »

My reading of that is that a 'Full Time' student is one who is sitting a minimum number of hours per week, not one who is sitting a minimum number of semesters.

For example, when I was in UCD I had friends who repeated a semester but were still classified as FT students because they were full time in the sense that their course was a full time course for the duration of a single semester.

Speak to your local facilitator OP, and they might look into your circumstances.

It seems illogical that one would be given money for failing an entire year but not if they managed to pass half of it.

The full-time stress was not mine - that was taken directly from the guidelines. I agree with your definition of what full time is.
That expert says you have to be a repeat student for the year (my emphasis now) - if you are repeating one semester only, then you would be a registered full time student for that semester, not the academic year. Therefore, not entitled to BTEA.

IMC042

Looks like you were right cee_jay. They refused me because I am not starting my course at the beginning of the first year. But in the BTEA guidelines it also says that:

In general, to qualify for participation in the BTEA scheme an applicant must be commencing the first year of an approved course of study. Each case should be considered on its merits. The condition may be waived where there are mitigating circumstances that would make it unreasonable to expect a person to have continued the course

The woman who refused me encouraged me to appeal the decision when I told her that I left college first time because I was ill. So now I have written an appeal with letters from my doctor and the college saying I was sick and also have a TD helping me. Fingers crossed!!

I would encourage anyone else who gets refused to appeal also and to get the help of a TD as some of those guidelines are total crap. They'd rather I sat at home drawing the dole that be in college drawing the same money. At least if I'm in college they are getting tax back from all the diesel I gotta put in the car to drive there. Plus they'll get to rape me with tax later when I have a good job.