BTEA-previous study

JustLen

Hi all,
I had pressumed from reading online that come September I would meet requirements for the BTEA however decided to go speak to someone today in the social welfare office.

Does anybody know if the fact that I previously attended college exclude me from applying?

In 2008 I did a level 8 degree course in LIT however I did not pass all exams in 1st year and decided not to go back. The course was property related and I had no intertest in it.

The lady I spoke to today didn't seem to be too clued up on the BTEA which annoyed me. She informed me that I could only recieve it if I was progressing, therefore I would have to go back and do a level 9 course??
When I pointed out this was not possible I asked her to check with a colleague and she came back saying I could actually do a level 8

My question is whether I can apply for a level 6/7? its my understanding that as I have not recieved any previous qualifacations that there would be no problem?

From the student finance website..

If you already hold a third level undergraduate qualification, you can only apply for a BTEA to take an equivalent undergraduate course in very exceptional cases. You should contact your local social welfare office to discuss your eligibility before completing an application form.

You are not eligible to apply for the BTEA if you already hold a postgraduate qualification.

Is there anybody on here who would have the correct info, or who could point me in the right direction?

Any suggestions much appreciated thank you

jimmyd87

Believe it or not I got the exact same story today in the Limerick dole office.

It's an almost identical scenario, I also have no previous 3rd level qualifications and completed only one semister and have already applied to the cao for next september thinking I'd be entitled to something.

Is there any know method of appealling their decision to anyone or body etc??
I was told that whether it was lv 6,7 or 8 that I would be getting nada...period WTF? :mad: seems that theres conflicting information from them already?

Again, any suggested course of action or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Annasopra

I'm not sure if this is relevant

http://www.welfare.ie/en/operationalguidelines/pages/bte_all.aspx

1.14.9 Relaxation of the first year of an approved course of study:
The condition that applicants must be commencing the first year of an approved full-time course to access the BTEA has being relaxed from 19 July 2010, subject to fulfilling the other scheme conditions, to allow access after the first year of a course to:

Applicants who have been granted an exemption by the college/course provider based on a previous course or on life experience.
Applicants who had completed the earlier year(s) of the course on a part-time basis and are now unemployed.
Applicants who are permitted by the college/course provider to proceed to the second or subsequent year of a course after having previously dropped out.
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.

It is not considered that existing graduates should have an entitlement to BTEA to pursue a course at a similar qualification level.

JustLen

Its ridiculous, the woman i spoke with had a print out that she was reading from, she didnt have any knowledge of the BTEA or how third level works. (She told me I should find a level 9 Post Grad I 'liked' and apply for that)

She actually told me I wouldnt qualify as i would need to be on the dole 9 months, untill I pointed out to her that it was the 1st of febuary and September isnt for another 7 months

There is an Adult education centre here in Ennis I'm going to go tomorrow and see if they have any idea.

It does't state anywhere that I would be excluded yet they cannot confirm this either way.

JustLen

Just to add Jimmy,
Did the person in the limerick dole office hand you over a form to complete? as the woman here in Ennis gave me one as she said id be ok to apply for level 8 after all.

If you discover anything report back and I will do the same between us we may find a clear answer

jimmyd87

Me thinks that their just pulling answers out of thin air.

It looks like their reading between the lines when it suits them, what I was told this morning directly conflicts both of the highlighted pieces of text above.

And that was, NO WAY was I getting any benefits(btea) unless I was first time applicant who hadn't previously completed a course in any 3rd level institution as well as meeting the other requirments (234 days in reciept of dole as a mature etc etc.)

Which translates quite simply as: Because I have drawn down one semisters worth of btea payment I have now forfeited my the next few years payment for the want of a change of course and ultimately been denied my shot at 3rd lv education.

There has to be a way to sort this out somehow?

MikeyGorse

Damn bureaucracy...

jimmyd87

I didnt even get to the form stage!... I just got a flat out NO!
Just so we're all clear, the guy behind the counter was fairly sound, he just didn't give me an inch so now I'm on an information gathering mission because the consequences of this ain't pretty.

Pity you can't just go straight to the level 9 Masters that you 'liked'
Be grand!!
I'll let you know if I find anything out

MikeyGorse

Ask to speak to the local BTEA officer or make an appointment,they would know whether or not you are entitled or not. As far as i'm aware of,you can get the BTEA if you don't hold any third level qualifications. They should be delighted people want to further themselve's rather than stay on the dole,whole system doen't make any sense to be honest

cee_jay

jimmyd87 wrote: »

Me thinks that their just pulling answers out of thin air.

It looks like their reading between the lines when it suits them, what I was told this morning directly conflicts both of the highlighted pieces of text above.

And that was, NO WAY was I getting any benefits(btea) unless I was first time applicant who hadn't previously completed a course in any 3rd level institution as well as meeting the other requirments (234 days in reciept of dole as a mature etc etc.)

Which translates quite simply as: Because I have drawn down one semisters worth of btea payment I have now forfeited my the next few years payment for the want of a change of course and ultimately been denied my shot at 3rd lv education.

There has to be a way to sort this out somehow?

You haven't completed a course in a 3rd level institution, so that doesn't translate as a no?
He was advising on the rules of the scheme - if you had completed a course previously, and wanted to do the same level, then you wouldn't qualify for it.

However you say you have "drawn down one semesters worth of BTEA payment" - does this mean you got BTEA previously for a course and dropped out?
This is covered in the BTEA guidelines:
"A BTEA participant who fails to complete, or drops out of a course will not be permitted on to the scheme to pursue a different course unless the Department is satisfied that certain circumstances pertain. The condition may be waived where there are mitigating circumstances, for which evidence must be provided, that would make it unreasonable to expect a person to have continued the course. Recovery of amounts paid may be considered. "

dearg lady

similar (ish) question so I won't start a new thread. It says BTEA won't be paid out to anyone who has completed a post grad qualification, I'm not sure if my previous qualification counts...is there a definitive list, or would I just need to go and ask them?

cee_jay

The guidelines say " Under no circumstances will BTEA be awarded to a person who already holds a postgraduate qualification"
To me that would be any postgrad qualification. The framework is here: http://www.nfq.ie/nfq/en/FanDiagram/nqai_nfq_08.html

What is your postgraduate qualification?

dearg lady

cee_jay wrote: »

The guidelines say " Under no circumstances will BTEA be awarded to a person who already holds a postgraduate qualification"
To me that would be any postgrad qualification. The framework is here: http://www.nfq.ie/nfq/en/FanDiagram/nqai_nfq_08.html

What is your postgraduate qualification?

sorry, forgot to specify, it's ACCA. I'm fairly sure I wouldn't qualify. Just sorting things out in my own head at the moment.

cee_jay

From here:
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA): The learning outcomes associated with the professional qualification of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) have been aligned with level 9 of the Framework.

Because that qualification is aligned with level 9, and level 9 is classed as a post grad level, then you wouldn't qualify for BTEA.

dearg lady

cee_jay wrote: »

From here:
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA): The learning outcomes associated with the professional qualification of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) have been aligned with level 9 of the Framework.

Because that qualification is aligned with level 9, and level 9 is classed as a post grad level, then you wouldn't qualify for BTEA.

ah I figured as much, better up the ante on the job search and tighten the belt massively and start saving so!