Grant Regulations for Masters Students from 2012/2013 onward

Annasopra · 22-06-2012 8:10am

uniqueusername wrote: »

Sooo... all very confusing!

Im just finishing my masters, and was going to do my phD, but from the sounds of it, I wont get anything for my fees, because I have a post graduate already?

Glad that its done online, but its still confusing!

You can get a fee grant towards a phd

longhalloween · 23-06-2012 6:02pm

(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.

I have a question about this. If I finished a course in 2009 (3 years ago) and I'm in 2nd year of a course now, am I eligible for a grant this year, since the 3 years has elapsed, or because I only took a 2 year break between courses am I not eligible?

Annasopra · 23-06-2012 6:28pm

longhalloween wrote: »

I have a question about this. If I finished a course in 2009 (3 years ago) and I'm in 2nd year of a course now, am I eligible for a grant this year, since the 3 years has elapsed, or because I only took a 2 year break between courses am I not eligible?

You probably wouldn't be eligible but maybe ring contact SUSI support and confirm

SUSI SUPPORT DESK

Available 9.00am - 10.00 Mon/Fri
Available 9.00am - 6.00pm Saturdays
Email: support@susi.cdvec.ie
Telephone 0761 08 7874

Viva La Gloria · 24-06-2012 12:04pm

The student/mature student dependent on parents is confusing me. I'm 24 so I would have assumed that I'm classed as a mature student because I'm now progressing into a new course (postgrad)? But what is this thing about re-entry and a gap of 3 years? I only completed my degree this year and was classed as a student then because I was only 21 starting it. But surely I am a mature student now? Confused.

Annasopra · 25-06-2012 10:52pm

Viva La Gloria wrote: »

The student/mature student dependent on parents is confusing me. I'm 24 so I would have assumed that I'm classed as a mature student because I'm now progressing into a new course (postgrad)? But what is this thing about re-entry and a gap of 3 years? I only completed my degree this year and was classed as a student then because I was only 21 starting it. But surely I am a mature student now? Confused.

You are considered an independent mature student if you are over 23 and live away from home

If you start your degree under the age of 23 or if you are still living at home you won't be considered an "independent mature student"

If you begin college a dependent student and graduate - you cannot change your class/status until there is a break of three years or more

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.

longhalloween · 26-06-2012 12:25am

mango salsa wrote: »

(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.

According to SUSI support you must also be progressing (eg completed Level 7, waited 3 years, applied for a level 8) for this to apply.

Viva La Gloria · 07-07-2012 10:00am

mango salsa wrote: »

If you begin college a dependent student and graduate - you cannot change your class/status until there is a break of three years or more

Really? So I am still considered a dependent student even though I am 24 and progressing to a masters, because there hasn't been a 3 year gap?

NewsMeQuick · 16-07-2012 11:09pm

Hi all,

I just started researching an MA and I'm very confused. I finished my B.A. a few weeks ago and was interested in doing an MA. OK from what I can see, maintenance post-grad is gone. What about fees? Do they pay any fees? I seen most of the fees in UCD are €10,000 for one year...who the hell has that?

Profile: 25 years old, living at home with parents, just finished B.A. and qualified for free fees and a tiny maintenance grant, claimed first jobseekers allowance last week.

Annasopra · 16-07-2012 11:21pm

NewsMeQuick wrote: »

Hi all,

I just started researching an MA and I'm very confused. I finished my B.A. a few weeks ago and was interested in doing an MA. OK from what I can see, maintenance post-grad is gone. What about fees? Do they pay any fees? I seen most of the fees in UCD are €10,000 for one year...who the hell has that?

Profile: 25 years old, living at home with parents, just finished B.A. and qualified for free fees and a tiny maintenance grant, claimed first jobseekers allowance last week.

You can get a grant of 2000 towards fees or possibly upto 6000. Because you live at home these are assessed on your parents income. You qualify for the 2000 if income is less than 31500. You qualify for the 6000 if income is less than 22000 and you are receiving a social welfare payment

NewsMeQuick · 16-07-2012 11:28pm

OK under those terms I am eligible for neither. So if I want an M.A. in something businessy I need 10k?

Okey dokey lol

spunkbass · 25-07-2012 8:41am

I decided to go ahead and try to apply anyway for the masters even though I we to work my arse off again earning enough money to pay for fees and maintenance. I guess that is what the government wants though. Students working full time and graduates on the dole.

Unfortunately I made a mistake on the application. I also misunderstood the part with mature dependent/independent. I thought I was classed as mature student, after reading this topic I realised that I was wrong. Do you know if SUSI allows in any way to re-open the application if I called them?

Annasopra · 25-07-2012 9:25am

spunkbass wrote: »

I decided to go ahead and try to apply anyway for the masters even though I we to work my arse off again earning enough money to pay for fees and maintenance. I guess that is what the government wants though. Students working full time and graduates on the dole.

Unfortunately I made a mistake on the application. I also misunderstood the part with mature dependent/independent. I thought I was classed as mature student, after reading this topic I realised that I was wrong. Do you know if SUSI allows in any way to re-open the application if I called them?

Not sure. Contact them.

Tel: 0761 08 7874
Email: support@susi.cdvec.ie

spunkbass · 25-07-2012 9:39am

Just sent the e-mail. Would be a bit silly if I would lose even the 2000 because of a mistake on the application - May be a downside to the on-line application.

Dannyg90 · 27-07-2012 1:45pm

I've been accpteed in a masters in DIT for september.
I should qualify to have all my fees paid as well as the contribution as my mother is well under the income limits. I'm just wondering if there are grants for trips that are mandatory in a masters?

spunkbass · 27-07-2012 3:54pm

I would call them, but my guess is that the field trip element is not in there.

I have another question though...

If now I am qualified as a dependent again - does both my mothers AND my own rec income come into count? If it was either one of them I would be under the special rate levy, if both then I will be over. Silly because I had to work last year to pay my fees.

Annasopra · 27-07-2012 7:41pm

Dannyg90 wrote: »

I've been accpteed in a masters in DIT for september.
I should qualify to have all my fees paid as well as the contribution as my mother is well under the income limits. I'm just wondering if there are grants for trips that are mandatory in a masters?

You may not get all fees paid. There are two types of fee grants - 2000 if your income is less than 31500 and 6270 if your income is less than 22000 and you receive a social welfare payment - check the DIT fees again - they break them down for masters and a lot of people don't realise they have to pay the 2250 registration fee.

I think masters grants don't cover field trips but ask SUSI

Annasopra · 27-07-2012 7:42pm

spunkbass wrote: »

I would call them, but my guess is that the field trip element is not in there.

I have another question though...

If now I am qualified as a dependent again - does both my mothers AND my own rec income come into count? If it was either one of them I would be under the special rate levy, if both then I will be over. Silly because I had to work last year to pay my fees.

I think both incomes are counted - check with SUSI though.

Dannyg90 · 30-07-2012 1:16am

mango salsa wrote: »

Dannyg90 wrote: »

I've been accpteed in a masters in DIT for september.
I should qualify to have all my fees paid as well as the contribution as my mother is well under the income limits. I'm just wondering if there are grants for trips that are mandatory in a masters?

You may not get all fees paid. There are two types of fee grants - 2000 if your income is less than 31500 and 6270 if your income is less than 22000 and you receive a social welfare payment - check the DIT fees again - they break them down for masters and a lot of people don't realise they have to pay the 2250 registration fee.

I think masters grants don't cover field trips but ask SUSI

I rang up and they said that they'll pay the registration if you qualify for the 6270 which I will

Annasopra · 01-08-2012 10:56am

Dannyg90 wrote: »

I rang up and they said that they'll pay the registration if you qualify for the 6270 which I will

I don't think that's correct! Who did you ring?

Dannyg90 · 01-08-2012 4:24pm

I rang SUSI and they said if i qualify to have fees paid theyll pay the registration too. Ill ring again to check

Annasopra · 01-08-2012 4:36pm

Dannyg90 wrote: »

I rang SUSI and they said if i qualify to have fees paid theyll pay the registration too. Ill ring again to check

How much are your masters fees?

Dannyg90 · 01-08-2012 5:00pm

just rang up youre right they don't pay it. I rang them two months ago and asked if they did and was told by the guy laughing that they defo pay it and im worrying over nothing when i asked him to double check. I'm now out of pocket 300e for the acceptance fees for the course and all of the jobseekers that I won't get as i haven't applied for it thinking i was going and now i can't. They said theyre gonna have to contact people who've made postgrad applications to make sure they haven't been given the wrong info as well

spunkbass · 02-08-2012 12:48pm

About the re-entry. I called the helpdesk again and turns out that I can be classified as independent mature student now....

I am dependent at the moment in bachelors and going to masters in september.
I was explained that re-entry is only if you do the same course again.
Wondering if those guys have any idea whats going on or what...

Annasopra · 02-08-2012 1:15pm

spunkbass wrote: »

About the re-entry. I called the helpdesk again and turns out that I can be classified as independent mature student now....

I am dependent at the moment in bachelors and going to masters in september.
I was explained that re-entry is only if you do the same course again.
Wondering if those guys have any idea whats going on or what...

No. I think the person you were talking to is wrong. You cannot change status from dependent to independent mature unless there is a 3 year gap.

spunkbass · 02-08-2012 1:34pm

mango salsa wrote: »

No. I think the person you were talking to is wrong. You cannot change status from dependent to independent mature unless there is a 3 year gap.

Thats what I thought. However, they already sent me the letter to forward the documents over. I really don't know now what the best thing to do is. I asked the guy 2-3 times if he is absolutely sure and even quoted the part in the scheme, and he said it only applies if you drop out and re-apply for the same level.

Annasopra · 02-08-2012 1:54pm

spunkbass wrote: »

Thats what I thought. However, they already sent me the letter to forward the documents over. I really don't know now what the best thing to do is. I asked the guy 2-3 times if he is absolutely sure and even quoted the part in the scheme, and he said it only applies if you drop out and re-apply for the same level.

I still think they got it wrong. He doesn't seem to know what he is talking about.

spunkbass · 02-08-2012 2:00pm

Weird. Called them again. Talked for 15-20 minutes. They said the same thing. If I have been living alone and am over 23 i will be regarded as a mature independent student. Hope the people assessing my application feel the same way : )

spunkbass · 02-08-2012 3:06pm

yay. my case is escalated to a supervisor. I will let you all know how it goes : )

CommanderC · 02-08-2012 3:39pm

mango salsa wrote: »

I still think they got it wrong. He doesn't seem to know what he is talking about.

That's definitely the impression I got when I was ringing them back in June. I was given the incorrect information about what postgrads were eligible for.

longhalloween · 02-08-2012 3:44pm

I called SUSI a few weeks back about my application and they said I wasn't eligible.

Got a call this morning saying they sent out the application pack but it was returned to them. So now they're sending it out again. I don't know if this means I'm eligible or what's going on?

Annasopra · 02-08-2012 5:08pm

longhalloween wrote: »

I called SUSI a few weeks back about my application and they said I wasn't eligible.

Got a call this morning saying they sent out the application pack but it was returned to them. So now they're sending it out again. I don't know if this means I'm eligible or what's going on?

Did you ask them?

longhalloween · 02-08-2012 5:41pm

mango salsa wrote: »

Did you ask them?

Course not. I don't want them to double check:D

spunkbass · 02-08-2012 5:59pm

longhalloween wrote: »

Course not. I don't want them to double check:D

Oh. Maybe I should have done that as well. Maybe honesty will go some way here.

Annasopra · 03-08-2012 8:05pm

longhalloween wrote: »

Course not. I don't want them to double check:D

That's a bit daft - not knowing where you stand.

longhalloween · 04-08-2012 2:10am

mango salsa wrote: »

That's a bit daft - not knowing where you stand.

Maybe, but since I get a different answer from different people when I call SUSI about my situation I'm just gonna go for it and see what happens come September.

If my circumstances didn't allow my to qualify for a grant, why would they have sent me a document pack?

spunkbass · 07-08-2012 5:14pm

Alright, I talked to someone from the escalations team now.

They are proceeding with my application as a mature student, regardless that I was in undergrad last year. They care more about how old you are it seems.

Annasopra · 07-08-2012 5:53pm

spunkbass wrote: »

Alright, I talked to someone from the escalations team now.

They are proceeding with my application as a mature student, regardless that I was in undergrad last year. They care more about how old you are it seems.

I still think they are wrong......

spunkbass · 07-08-2012 6:19pm

mango salsa wrote: »

I still think they are wrong......

If they are wrong then let them be. As much as I understand the escalations team is on the same level as people assessing the application (if not the same people). Would be stupid of me to contact them for the 4th time and say I don't want the grant...

thepoker5 · 18-09-2012 7:22pm

Hi,

I am aware that you can get all of your fees paid for postgraduate study if you are classed as a disadvantaged student..I am wondering does anyone know that if my parents are on disability allowance and carers allowance does this mean these social welfare payments would be disregarded when calculating reckonable income???

spunkbass · 18-09-2012 7:24pm

if you are classified as a dependent - yes

thepoker5 · 18-09-2012 7:29pm

Thanks you for replying,
yes, i am classified as dependant as i am under 23 when applying for the grant on SUSI....although I have been claiming social welfare as a qualified adult as i do not currently live with my parents and am cohabiting...

Will this income be added on along with my parents as it states that they only take the applicants income and parents income into account...there is nothing that says they take your cohabitants or partners income into account when being assessed as dependant....??/:)

spunkbass · 18-09-2012 7:39pm

If you will be classified as a dependant both incomes will be taken into consideration. If unclear, call SUSI

thepoker5 · 18-09-2012 10:30pm

Ok, i will call them tomorrow but have phoned before to clarify something and got 2 different answers....I think they would all need to be sat down and given a brief of what actually is going on.....

blahhh · 05-10-2012 8:47pm

Hi!

I was wondering if anyone can help me! Can't seem to figure it out myself

Started a hdip course this Sept, applied through springboard/bluebrick. I have been working part-time and have never drawn the dole/btea.

However I need to pack the job in as the course is getting intense. What are my options susi or btea?

I just sent an application to susi... but now I'm thinking since there was no fees attached to my course (Government funded) it's not where I should have applied!

Any help much appreciated

Annasopra · 05-10-2012 10:16pm

blahhh wrote: »

Hi!

I was wondering if anyone can help me! Can't seem to figure it out myself

Started a hdip course this Sept, applied through springboard/bluebrick. I have been working part-time and have never drawn the dole/btea.

However I need to pack the job in as the course is getting intense. What are my options susi or btea?

I just sent an application to susi... but now I'm thinking since there was no fees attached to my course (Government funded) it's not where I should have applied!

Any help much appreciated

You won't get BTEA because you were never on the dole
You won't get SUSI because they only give a fee grant for postgraduate courses

In short I don't think there are any other options

longhalloween · 05-10-2012 11:42pm

blahhh wrote: »

Hi!

I was wondering if anyone can help me! Can't seem to figure it out myself

Started a hdip course this Sept, applied through springboard/bluebrick. I have been working part-time and have never drawn the dole/btea.

However I need to pack the job in as the course is getting intense. What are my options susi or btea?

I just sent an application to susi... but now I'm thinking since there was no fees attached to my course (Government funded) it's not where I should have applied!

Any help much appreciated

Not sure but since Springboard courses are aimed at the unemployed, can you claim the dole?

whoopssinead · 07-10-2012 10:42pm

blahhh wrote: »

Started a hdip course this Sept, applied through springboard/bluebrick. I have been working part-time and have never drawn the dole/btea.

However I need to pack the job in as the course is getting intense. What are my options susi or btea?
)

I was working in 2011, made 12,000 and parents made 19,000 that year and i received the susi postgrad grant for my 2012/2013 course,
Hope this helps

Paully D · 08-10-2012 7:12pm

Hi all,

Just a quick question. I'm thinking of doing a masters next year. I've qualified for the special top up rate of grant over the last few years and would more than likely still qualify for it next year.

Would I get my registration fee paid for me and then no other form of financial assistance? From searching around I think that's what happens anyway.

Thanks

whoopssinead · 09-10-2012 9:36am

No unfortunately the make they will give is 2000 towards the fees and no maintenance grant at all any more

Byron85 · 09-10-2012 5:36pm

"Postgraduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit (€6,270)".

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

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

Comments

Grant Regulations for Masters Students from 2012/2013 onward