Student Contibution Charge

Cravez

Hi folks

Just a query if anyone knows, I will be applying next year as a mature student (for Academic Year 2013-2014, not this year of 2012-2013). I will apply to the local authority for the maintenance grant to get the student contribution covered. But my main query is that is there a deadline the student charge has to be paid to the university?

I am only thinking that if I apply to the local authority, given that there are huge volumes of applications for the maintenance grant + student charge cover, does the applications for it usually get passed in fair time before a deadline has to be paid for the university?

I am thinking about this so I can prepare in terms of savings if I have to pay the student charge to the unversity before an application from the local authority gets accepted.

Thanks

Well I don't know how the new online applications will work when it's introduced this year, but previous to this it's always been a case of first come first served, so you've a far better chance if you apply as soon as the facility opens next year.

Every college is different. For example, I go to Trinity, and I don't have to worry about paying charges I've applied to get covered by my local council, as you can sign a form to say they should invoice the council and it gets dealt with between the local authority and the college. I'd never have to pay any fee upfront except for the student union charge and gym membership. My fees and registration charge are taken off my hands.

However I have a friend that goes to another college (who also tends to send her application in only a week or so before the due date) who signs her form for free fees but is liable for the registration fee at a date at the start of the year, chosen by the college, which she must pay, and then she is reimbursed by her local council when her grant comes through. So in her case it is between herself and her college, rather than between the council and the college.

So in short, every college is different, but the information is bound to be on their website somewhere.

Cravez

Cheers thanks. I checked the University Webpage there and found some information but not all. I might just get in contact with the fee's office and ask them about the query

Annasopra

The grant system is centralised from 2012/2013 onwards - It is run by Dublin VEC - no longer by 80 something county councils and vecs. You won't therefore be applying to your local authority at all.

http://www.studentfinance.ie/mp9540/new-grant-applications-for-2012-13/index.html

NBKHR1L

Hi Guys,
Does anyone know the income threshold for the amount earned in 2011 tax year. As I will be assessed on my wages in 2011 before I was made redundant on the 31/12/11. I know I've had a change in circumstances so will hope I get the fees paid. I will be applying as an independent mature student, just hoping for the fees to be covered.

Many Thanks

Annasopra

NBKHR1L wrote: »

Hi Guys,
Does anyone know the income threshold for the amount earned in 2011 tax year. As I will be assessed on my wages in 2011 before I was made redundant on the 31/12/11. I know I've had a change in circumstances so will hope I get the fees paid. I will be applying as an independent mature student, just hoping for the fees to be covered.

Many Thanks

Income limits are on page 36 of this document

http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1339418623/Student_Grant_Scheme_2012.pdf

NBKHR1L

Thank you very much for that :-) fingers crossed now I applied. Hope I will get it.

embee

This whole process is a bit of a joke, to be honest. I'm a 31 year old single parent, I'm going into the final year of my degree. I am on BTEA, but because I live with my parents, it is their incomes for 2011 which are being taken into account. It's a nonsense, as whilst I live under their roof, I pay weekly rent to them, and I pay all of my own food, college, childcare, travel and other expenses like car insurance and motor tax myself. My mother was made redundant in late 2011 and got a redundancy payment. On paper, their income will exclude me from having my student contribution charge covered. What really irritates me about the whole application procedure is that, whilst they want to know details of every single cent of income in the household, they ask absolutely no questions regarding outgoings/expenditure. If they did, they'd see that my parents have two mortgages, have gone into mortgage arrears, have spent all of the redundancy payment clearing credit card, credit union and car loans etc and are now a single income family, struggling to pay those two mortgages. I will no doubt be refused and I will be in the position of having to defer 4th year for at least a year, possibly more. I'm sure I'm not the only mature student in this situation, and it really stinks.

Annasopra

embee wrote: »

This whole process is a bit of a joke, to be honest. I'm a 31 year old single parent, I'm going into the final year of my degree. I am on BTEA, but because I live with my parents, it is their incomes for 2011 which are being taken into account. It's a nonsense, as whilst I live under their roof, I pay weekly rent to them, and I pay all of my own food, college, childcare, travel and other expenses like car insurance and motor tax myself. My mother was made redundant in late 2011 and got a redundancy payment. On paper, their income will exclude me from having my student contribution charge covered. What really irritates me about the whole application procedure is that, whilst they want to know details of every single cent of income in the household, they ask absolutely no questions regarding outgoings/expenditure. If they did, they'd see that my parents have two mortgages, have gone into mortgage arrears, have spent all of the redundancy payment clearing credit card, credit union and car loans etc and are now a single income family, struggling to pay those two mortgages. I will no doubt be refused and I will be in the position of having to defer 4th year for at least a year, possibly more. I'm sure I'm not the only mature student in this situation, and it really stinks.

If your mother was made redundant that's a change in circumstances and more likely to be of help.

embee

mango salsa wrote: »

If your mother was made redundant that's a change in circumstances and more likely to be of help.

Perhaps you're right, although from speaking to people in SUSI I am getting the general impression that I won't be successful. I resent the implication that living at home with your parents (through necessity rather than choice) means that they are bankrolling your way through college.

Annasopra

embee wrote: »

Perhaps you're right, although from speaking to people in SUSI I am getting the general impression that I won't be successful. I resent the implication that living at home with your parents (through necessity rather than choice) means that they are bankrolling your way through college.

Make sure that you notify them of the change in circumstances and you want this taken into account.