Grants/Fees availiable for masters course?

1630

Hi

I was looking into going back to college in UCD to complete a full time masters course for one year. I recently completed a part time Honours Degree. I am currently working at the moment and was looking to start college next September.

I was just wondering would I be entitled to any fees or grants etc? I have checked the student finances website but it is a bit unclear. I heard postgraduate funding could be cut

Thanks

Tree

The full details of next years grant scheme havent been released yet. BUT during the budget it was announced that (unless you fall into a tiny group of people who were entitled to the top-up grant) you will not receive a maintenance grant and could apply for up to 2k towards your tuition fees (it used to be 6k but yay for forward thinking governments).

Sorry for the bad news.

Senor Frog

I thought all grants were cut for masters next year regardless of if you received the top up rate at under-grad level? I'm aware they will pay the fee's but the grants are completely gone, no?

Tree

That seems to be ambiguous, for the details we'll have to wait until they announce them for next year.

Senor Frog

Do you have any idea roughly when they will make a statement on it?

achmairt

The government have already announced the following:
No grant for postgrads. College Fees will be paid as follows:
€2000 of the fee is covered for people who are under the ordinary limit of income and people whose income are under the top up limit of income will get fees paid up to a limit of €6270. The top up limit of income last year was €22700 and the ordinary limit was €41,100. The top up limit must be mostly made up of long term social welfare.
The new rates should be out in mid May.

1630

achmairt wrote: »

The government have already announced the following:
No grant for postgrads. College Fees will be paid as follows:
€2000 of the fee is covered for people who are under the ordinary limit of income and people whose income are under the top up limit of income will get fees paid up to a limit of €6270. The top up limit of income last year was €22700 and the ordinary limit was €41,100. The top up limit must be mostly made up of long term social welfare.
The new rates should be out in mid May.

I earn under 22k per year after tax what would i be entitled to?

Thanks

Annasopra

1630 wrote: »

I earn under 22k per year after tax what would i be entitled to?

Thanks

It's not clear what the limits are yet

http://www.studentfinance.ie/mp7232/maintenance-grant/index.html

Fees and Maintenance Grants for new entrants to postgraduate studies

Students entering new postgraduate courses from the 2012-13 academic year onwards will not be entitled to any maintenance payment under the Student Grant scheme
However, students on the lowest level of income entering new postgraduate courses from the 2012-13 academic year who qualify for the special rate of grant will be eligible to qualify to have tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit under the Student Grant scheme
A limited number of other low-income students who would previously have qualified under the standard grant thresholds will qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the costs of their fees. However, there will be a new income threshold for this payment which will be lower than the standard grant threshold. The income threshold for this level of grant is currently being determined in the context of the formulation of the student grant scheme for the 2012-13 year.

Senor Frog

Hi mango salsa, you don't know if this applies to just master courses or also higher diplomas? I am currently doing a level eight degree and am wondering if there would be a chance of fee's being paid for a higher diploma( also level 8)?

Thanks.

Annasopra

Senor Frog wrote: »

Hi mango salsa, you don't know if this applies to just master courses or also higher diplomas? I am currently doing a level eight degree and am wondering if there would be a chance of fee's being paid for a higher diploma( also level 8)?

Thanks.

I think it applies to all postgrad courses

best bet is to ask SUSI

Where can I contact SUSI?

As part of SUSI’s support to students, there is a SUSI Support desk available in the lead up to and following the launch of the online application system for both email and telephone queries. You can email the SUSI Support Desk at support@susi.cdvec.ie

Or telephone us at 0761 08 7874

The Support Desk is available Office Hours Monday-Friday until the Launch of the Online Application System in May. From the launch date, the SUSI Support Desk will be available from 9.00am-10.00pm (Monday-Friday) and 9.00am-6.00pm (Saturdays)

honeydrophoney

oh dont get me started on this, when it came out first back in November it was said that this only applied to new postgrads - so I thought that I was ok as I am already a postgrad (this was even up on citizeninformation website) but then they came and said that no lets change that to anyone starting a new postgrad course which I am in Sept. So I rang my higher authority, they could not help me, I then rang the HEA themselves, again they could not help me. This was back in Feb. He only gave me that SUSI number. So I rang them, they could not help, the only info that I was given was that the guidelines would be released in May as to whats was happening and that you need to make a brand new application through the site. I then asked when do I know the outcome? To which they repiled oh Sept or so.... I was like but hey I need to pay a depo for my Masters and what happens if I get turned down funding then no college and no depo back, to which he turned around and said well take the chance.... lets just say I was livid and I then got pretty angry on the phone. So for my hours on the phone all I have been given is that you may get your fees paid if you fall into the certain category, but they will be no grant given like years before. Smart dont give people a grant so they have to work even longer hours which will effect their study, we will be the people in a few years paying the higher tax bracket. I already have worked all the way through college and still needed the grant for books, accomadation and bills so I have no idea how I will manage next year.... rant over