Postgrad Course

TokenWhite

Sorry if this has already been asked, but just a quick question.

Currently in the final year of a four year accountancy course, through all of which through I was entitled to BTEA and Grant payments. I'll do a bit of jobhunting over the summer months but I don't particularly fancy my prospects or the though of a winter stuck at home, so in light of that, I had intended on doing a post grad. Ideally I was looking to do the Masters in Accounting at the local IT but from reading posts on here I don't think I'q qualify for the fees so it's unlikely I'd be able to afford it.

I was also looking at a IT conversion 1 year Hdip course here, so my question is, would I be entitled to BTEA and/or the Grant for that Hdip? Or is it treated in the same way as a Masters?

Any help appreciated, thanks.

Annasopra

TokenWhite wrote: »

Sorry if this has already been asked, but just a quick question.

Currently in the final year of a four year accountancy course, through all of which through I was entitled to BTEA and Grant payments. I'll do a bit of jobhunting over the summer months but I don't particularly fancy my prospects or the though of a winter stuck at home, so in light of that, I had intended on doing a post grad. Ideally I was looking to do the Masters in Accounting at the local IT but from reading posts on here I don't think I'q qualify for the fees so it's unlikely I'd be able to afford it.

I was also looking at a IT conversion 1 year Hdip course here, so my question is, would I be entitled to BTEA and/or the Grant for that Hdip? Or is it treated in the same way as a Masters?

Any help appreciated, thanks.

I think this might answer your question?

http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Back-to-Education-Allowance-Scheme.aspx

1.8.1 Postgraduate Study

From 1 January 2003, the postgraduate option of the Back To Education Allowance is payable only to persons who wish to pursue a postgraduate course of study that leads to a Higher Diploma (H.Dip.) qualification in any discipline or to persons in pursuit of a Professional Diploma in Education hitherto known as a Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary & Secondary Teaching) [NVQ Level 8].

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