Grant/ masters

Luna2012

Hi, was looking for some advice... I'm starting a masters in sept and wondering will I get any assistance. I've been unemployed the last two years and I'm currently in the job bridge scheme. web sites are not very clear! thanks a mill

Annasopra

You can only get a grant towards fees -

You won't get a maintenance grant

ted1

Try the springboard program in DIT.

PixieDixie

you might also qualify for Back to Education Allowance which is worth more than the student maintenance grant and apply to SUSI (studentfinance.ie or facebook.com/susisupport) to have your fees paid.

Annasopra

PixieDixie wrote: »

you might also qualify for Back to Education Allowance which is worth more than the student maintenance grant and apply to SUSI (studentfinance.ie or facebook.com/susisupport) to have your fees paid.

Generally in most cases masters courses are not eligible for BTEA

http://www.welfare.ie/en/publications/sw70/pages/abacktoeducationallowancebtea.aspx

Note:
The postgraduate option of the BTEA scheme is only for people who wish to take:

a postgraduate course of study that leads to any Higher Diploma (H. Dip.) qualification in any discipline, or
a postgraduate Diploma in Education (Primary or Secondary teaching).
Other postgraduate qualifications including a Master's degree are not recognised for BTEA purposes.

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

Other types of postgraduate qualifications are not recognised for BTEA purposes. e.g. Masters, MA, MSc, M.Phil etc. However, there is an exception to the eligibility rule for Masters based on ‘life experience’ whereby a person is admitted to a Masters programme without a primary degree. The person needs confirmation from the college detailing the basis of their offer of a college place and confirming that it excludes the requirement to hold a primary degree. A small number of cases have arisen where a college has granted an exemption from the requirement to hold a primary degree and has admitted a person to a Master’s course on the basis of relevant life experience. In the context of the ongoing review of the operation of the scheme, it was decided to extend entitlement to back to education allowance in these instances on an exceptional basis. Under no circumstances will BTEA be awarded to a person who already holds a postgraduate qualification

Annasopra

Luna2012 wrote: »

Hi, was looking for some advice... I'm starting a masters in sept and wondering will I get any assistance. I've been unemployed the last two years and I'm currently in the job bridge scheme. web sites are not very clear! thanks a mill

Just to be clear about Masters from 2012/2013

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

B: 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.

Luna2012

thanks a mill for the replys --- gona be a tough year!