***Grant Regulations for Masters Students from 2012/2013 onward***

CommanderC wrote: »

Yeah the number is 0761 08 7874

The guy basically said, just go to schedule 1 and the income limits there, are the ones you need to look at . I told him I was enquiring regarding postgad study, not undergrad study and he said that that fine and again, to look at the income limits to see what is applicable ie 100%, 75% etc.

He also said that there are no maintenance grants.

I guess I still find it confusing because of the inclusion of the postgrad fee contribution. I thought this was replacing all grants that were formerly available to postgrads but is that something you can get on top your fees if your income is below 31,500. (I should have asked that also- I might ring again.

1630 wrote: »

Yeah that's what seems to be confusing all of us, that postgraduate contribution. I will try ringing them at lunch and get back to yous here

spunkbass wrote: »

What if I earn less than 22,703 and I have never applied for social welfare? Then I am not eligible for the 6270?

(7) It is a condition of receiving a special rate of maintenance grant that an applicant’s reckonable income must include, on the specified date, one of the eligible payments as provided for in Schedule 2 .

Eligible payments for the special rate of maintenance grant for the
2012/13 academic year

As at 31 December 2011, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible payments listed in this Schedule net of—
(a) income disregards (as set out in article 22(4) of this Scheme); and
(b) Child Dependant Increase (C.D.I.), where paid by the Department of Social Protection.

Social Assistance Payments
1. Blind Pension
2. Carer’s Allowance
3. One Parent Family Payment
4. Deserted Wife’s Allowance
5. Disability Allowance
6. Farm Assist
7. Jobseeker’s Allowance (where held for 391 days or more)*
8. State Pension (Non-Contributory)
9. Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)
10. Pre-retirement allowance
11. Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partners (Non-Contributory) Pension

Social Insurance Payments
12. Carer’s Benefit
13. Deserted Wife’s Benefit
14. Invalidity pension
15. Incapacity Supplement
16. Occupational Injuries Death Benefit (Orphan’s pension)
17. Occupational Injuries Death Benefit (pension for a widow or widower)
18. State Pension (Contributory)
19. Guardian’s Payment (Contributory)
20. Jobseeker’s Benefit (continuous for at least 12 months)*
21. Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partners (Contributory) Pension
22. State Pension (Transition)

Designated Programmes
23. Back to Education Allowance (Second Level and Third Level Options)
24. Back to Work Allowance (Employees)
25. Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
26. Community Employment Scheme
27. Rural Social Scheme
28. Tús Initiative
29. FÁS Training Programmes, including Apprenticeships
30. Part time job incentive scheme
31. Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS)

Others
32. Foster Care Allowance where paid in respect of the applicant
33. Family Income Supplement (FIS)
34. In receipt of payments under the FIT (Fastrack to IT) initiative equivalent
to a social welfare payment;
35. Participants on a training course approved by a Government Department,
State Agency or Area Partnership and who were in receipt of an eligible
payment prior to progressing to the programme;
36. Grant aided employees in Community Services Programmes (formerly
social economy enterprises);
37. In receipt of payments under the Senior Traveller Training Centre programmes.

*Combine periods of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Jobseeker’s Benefit and other eligible payments for purposes of meeting 391 days.

The Department of Social Protection Illness Benefit can also be used to combine periods of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Jobseeker’s Benefit provided a period of Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit comes directly before and directly after the period of Illness Benefit.

mango salsa wrote: »

what about your parents - did they not receive any social welfare payment?

sarah88 wrote: »

I am still assuming that if you earn under 31500e you can recieve 2000e towards your fee's and do not have to be in reciept of social welfere. I know that still leave's a bill of over 4000e, it's a terrible system which is going to leave a lot of people either unable to progress to a masters, or land themselves with a huge bill at the end.

CommanderC wrote: »

This page is now available on the studentfinance.ie

http://www.studentfinance.ie/mp9543/postgraduate-students/index.html

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 2012.


I think they should have worded this differently. Its not just the maintenance payment that applicants are no longer entitled to, its fees as well............except in circumstances where you meet the special rate or the PFC of €2,000.

They have made it sound like the maintenance part is gone but fees are still a possibility

That's just my opinion though

SAMMY6269 wrote: »

Hi guys,
This may be a bit off topic but im hoping to start a Masters in septembe. I think I qualify for the special rate fees grant but i will still be really struggling financially if i accept the course.
Im just wondering if anyone knows any place i can apply for financial assistance for the course?
Id be heart broken to turn it down as ive been trying to get onto the course for the last three years since graduating!
Any ideas would be a great help!

mango salsa wrote: »

Some colleges list it separately but basically yes you would have to pay it.

mosi wrote: »

What is the situation regarding whether a student can be considered dependent or independent when progressing to a Masters.
In 2007, I started an undergrad course, as a mature student. I was considered to be a dependent mature student as I had been living with my parents prior to the course. This course did not work out, and I left after one month so as not to be liable for fees when doing a different course.
I moved out to do this first course, and have not lived with my parents since. I commenced another degree in September of that year (which I successfully completed last year). When I went to apply for the grant I was told that I would be considered a dependent still as I had been living with my parents prior to commencing the first course.
I hope to start a Masters this September. I have been living independently of my parents since 2007, but someone said to me I would probably still be considered a dependent. I can't work it out from the documentation available. As an independent student, I would qualify for the special rate. Any one know how this works?

Classes of applicant
13. (1) For the purposes of this Scheme there shall be two classes of applicant
as follows—
(a) independent student; and
(b) dependent student.
(2) 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.
(3) In this scheme an “independent student” means a mature student who did
not ordinarily reside with his or her parents, or either of them, from 1 October
of the year before the first point of entry to an approved post leaving certificate
course or an approved higher education course or re-entry to an approved
course.
(4) “Mature student” means a student who on 1 January—
(a) in the year of entry for the first time to an approved post leaving
certificate course;
(b) in the year of entry for the first time to an approved higher education
course (other than a course known for the time being as a post leaving
certificate course); or
(c) in the year of re-entry to an approved course,
is at least 23 years old.
(5) “Re-entry”, for the purposes of this Scheme, means a mature student
entering an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years,
having previously attended an approved course.