Tuition Fees for Mature Student (previously in Level 8 Course)

pprendeville

I'm in 1st year in DIT doing Chinese with Business. I got a fees only grant from CDVEC for 1st year after initially being deemed ineligible having been on a Level 8 course 5 years ago. Luckily, having read through the Student Grants Form 2011 it stipulates that anyone out of education for 5 years or more is considered a 2nd chance student. I appealed the original decision and was awarded the grant

So I assumed that I wouldn't have to worry about anymore fees as I'm Irish, have resided here for at least 3 out of the last 5 years and am a mature student so the tuition fees wouldn't apply. Before Christmas I got an email from the college requesting me to fill in a form in relation to previous education so I duly obliged and wrote down that I had been on a Level 8 course for 1 year back in 2003/2004 but didn't complete it having dropped out at the end of 2004. From here I had a gap year and returned for a Level 7 course in 2005/2006. Got a phone call on Thursday from DIT saying as I'd previously been on a Level 8 course that I would have to pay tuition fees. Needless to say I was disappointed. Called them up again yesterday asking them do they have any document with regulations as to who has to pay tuition fees and as I was passed from one department from the next I doubted one existed. Eventually, I was referred to studentfinance.ie and told to read up on guidelines there. So I did and I am still unsure as to what the regulatuions are.

Can anyone offer me any advice on this or is anyone else in the same situation?

Annasopra

NUIG

other colleges allow free fees for "Second chance students"

www.nuigalway.ie/student_fees/fees/ffees_entitlement.html

www.ucd.ie/registry/adminservices/fees/free_tuition.htm

www.fees.nuim.ie/freefees.shtml


www.tcd.ie/Treasurers_Office/fees/fees_freefees.php