Susi Grant - 23/lone parent and not entitled apparently!!!!

Tash12345

Hi everyone!

I would gratefully appreciate any help regarding my circumstances.

Basically I am 23 since last December! I started a masters in 2012 but had to take a leave of absence as I was pregnant and had my daughter. Since then I have been on lone parents, live on my own with my daughter and pay my own bills.

I applied for the grant as I hope to return to college to finish my masters in sept. I however get a letter stating that my application was cancelled as I am still dependent under my parents even though I'm over 23 and we have no communication.

I am desperate as I will not afford my fees of 6000 and want to make a better life for us but it's looking like it isn't going to be possible!

Any help will be much appreciated or anyone who has had similar situation please comment...

maki

Unfortunately they're correct:

From here:

An applicant's class is defined at their first point of entry to an approved
post leaving certificate course or an approved higher education course or at
their point of re-entry to such an approved course and will continue to apply
for the duration of their studies.

Re-entry in this case means you've had a break in studies of 3 years. So if you can manage to wait it out, you'll be able to be reclassified as an independent mature student.

jonny_bravo

Maki, does everyone applying have to have a break in studies? Was this the case last year as well?

maki

jonny_bravo wrote: »

Maki, does everyone applying have to have a break in studies? Was this the case last year as well?

Not everyone. Just people who want to reclassify. If you've started a course as a certain type of student (dependent in this case), you must be three years out of studies in order to be reclassified as any other type of student.

For example, if you complete a level 7 degree as a dependent student, then take a year long break and live alone away from your parents, then decide to get a level 8 add-on degree, you'll still be classified as dependent because three years have not passed.

This has been the case for at least the past 5 years anyway.

Annasopra

Maki is correct

If you want to change from dependent student to independent mature student there needs to be a break of three years in your studies.