Going back to College? Check here for Mature/Disabled/Access/Grant & Fees information

[Jackass] · 20-02-2011 4:33am

Hi,

Just looking at grant information here: http://www.studentfinance.ie/mp7559/check-grant-levels/index.html, please correct me if I'm wrong on any of the below...

Now I wont qualify for BTEA as I wont have been on the dole long enough (short by a few months, assuming I can't get any work between now and then), but am currently on JSB, so I will have to rely on a local authority grant.

So, going back to college as a mature student, you have your fees paid and student services charge paid (where applicable) and then you need to pay registration, which is usually around EUR1,500 - EUR2,000 and as long as you live pretty much in the same city as your university (adjacient) your grant is EUR2,545, which after registration leaves approx EUR545 for books etc. which wouldn't stretch very far, and then is that it?

Is there no other source of income I can get for the year whilst I'm in college unless I can find a part-time job? All I can get is the local authority grant and the few bits paid for?

panda100 · 22-02-2011 3:05pm

In case anyone is interested, University of Limerick are having their mature students open evening tonight !

Mature Student Open Evening: Tuesday 22nd February 2011 from 4.30-7.30pm in the Atrium of the Foundation Building (Concert Hall building), University of Limerick

Dermighty · 02-03-2011 6:01pm

A lot of these links are outdated and don't work at all. Mygrant.ie, the link for rent allowance being two such examples.

Larianne · 08-03-2011 1:11am

Dermighty wrote: »

A lot of these links are outdated and don't work at all. Mygrant.ie, the link for rent allowance being two such examples.

Yes, thank you for pointing this out. I only looked at the links in this thread over a week ago but I was away. I hope to sort them out soon!

JohnMc1 · 28-03-2011 1:50am

Thanks. I applied for a course in DCU but I'm not sure if I'll be able to go now.

gina31 · 17-05-2011 8:42pm

hi i'm loooking for info on goin back to college i'm 30yrs old, i'm currently working full time, single parent to 1 child aged 7. i'm not happy in my job and want new career path so have decided to look in courses. dont know where to start? i've a mortgage which i'm payin on my own, if i give up my job, am i entitled to lone parents assitance or the dole?? would i get a grant, dont know if i could pay my mortgage (650 a month ) on lone parents and a grant?? anyone else out there give up job to go back to education? how did you get on? any advise really appreciated

Moon Indigo · 17-05-2011 9:38pm

Really need some advice. I am 28 and have been accepted into NUIM level 8 and have applied for BTEA. I know I can apply for the fees and student services charge to be paid. The problem is I don't have a clue what form I need. I downloaded one off student finance but I'm not sure if I need another one or a diffrent one if I am just applying for the fees as opposed to the full maintainance grant.

I know this is confusing but the basic question is this ... what form do I need for the fees/services charge? Who do I apply to? When is the form available? I am really confused over this and ANY help would be wonderfull. Thank You!

girlonfire · 29-05-2011 8:46pm

Moon Indigo wrote: »

I know this is confusing but the basic question is this ... what form do I need for the fees/services charge? Who do I apply to? When is the form available? I am really confused over this and ANY help would be wonderfull. Thank You!

You need to fill out the grant form which can be found on studentfinances.ie. It is the same body that determines whether your service fee will be charged. On that form, you can state whether you intend to opt for the maintenance grant or BTEA. You also state that you are applying to have the service charge covered. It'll all be there when you read through.

Annasopra · 30-05-2011 11:15am

girlonfire wrote: »

You need to fill out the grant form which can be found on studentfinances.ie. It is the same body that determines whether your service fee will be charged. On that form, you can state whether you intend to opt for the maintenance grant or BTEA. You also state that you are applying to have the service charge covered. It'll all be there when you read through.

The grant forms for 2011/2012 are not available yet

bobdole968 · 23-06-2011 10:35am

hope someone can help me as i have till the end of the month to apply for a 3rd level course.
my main concern is not being able to afford college. a few months ago i was made redundant so i guess i should be able to get the btea grant.
do you need to actually get a place in the college course before you can apply for the btea or should i head down to social welfare now.
also there is a fee for the start of the year in college i hear its around €1500 is there any grants to help pay that.
also does anybody know what the third Level Training Funding is because that was also mentioned on the course information sheet as well as btea allowance

jellybaby24 · 13-07-2011 10:21pm

Hi!
I was wondering if someone could give me some advice?
Im going back to college in September as a mature student and will be dependent on my mother, who is a single parent, I am 24 and my brother is 8, my mother gets a one-parent family allowance I was just wondering if i apply for a grant would it cause trouble for her with the social welfare? and would the one-parent family allowance be taken off her?
Thanks

Annasopra · 13-07-2011 10:25pm

jellybaby24 wrote: »

Hi!
I was wondering if someone could give me some advice?
Im going back to college in September as a mature student and will be dependent on my mother, who is a single parent, I am 24 and my brother is 8, my mother gets a one-parent family allowance I was just wondering if i apply for a grant would it cause trouble for her with the social welfare? and would the one-parent family allowance be taken off her?
Thanks

No - there is no reason it would be taken off her

jellybaby24 · 13-07-2011 10:30pm

Thanks for the reply!

i have only just moved back home from living with my ex-boyfriend (in his parents house) so would this effect the amount of the payment she recieves from the one- parent family allowance as i am currently working full time??

Annasopra · 13-07-2011 10:33pm

jellybaby24 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply!

i have only just moved back home from living with my ex-boyfriend (in his parents house) so would this effect the amount of the payment she recieves from the one- parent family allowance as i am currently working full time??

Im not really sure how the opfp works

SionnachOghma · 19-07-2011 10:55am

Can anyone tell me what the story is for fees and grants in relation to part-time evening study?

I'm 26, planning to apply to DBS for their Evening Arts Degree Course next year (hopefully), and I'm wondering what my options are. My impression is that full fees apply, and any mention of grants I've seen relate only to full-time students.

Annasopra · 19-07-2011 11:13am

SionnachOghma wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what the story is for fees and grants in relation to part-time evening study?

I'm 26, planning to apply to DBS for their Evening Arts Degree Course next year (hopefully), and I'm wondering what my options are. My impression is that full fees apply, and any mention of grants I've seen relate only to full-time students.

DBS is private - so no fees

Course is full time so no grants

You can get tax relief on the fees

questiontime · 21-07-2011 12:36pm

Had planned on returning to college in September to retrain, and hopefully get a full-time job upon graduation, but it doesn't appear realistic due to the financial side of things.
Had to laugh at our politicans slating young people, and their efforts to get work/retrain, my situation is I have a qualification at an equivalent level from a decade ago, so am eligible for full fees etc.
It means a return to college just isn't possible when other bills etc are factored in.
Is it really black and white in relation to having a qualification of a similar standard, and therefore being liable for fees?
Naively thought because I had been in reciept of a SW payment for a year, and prior to that had been fully fledged taxpayer, that I might be eligible for free fees.
But, no, because I have a qualification at the same level, I can't return with the fees. Do they really think people who are looking to retrain have the means to fund college with mortgage etc/unemployment thrown in?
Rant over.

Tulip11 · 21-07-2011 1:14pm

Hi Questiontime,

Do you not qualify for BTEA? Or is the fact you have already completed a 3rd level course making you ineligible?

I'm not advocating this btw but if you are already in receipt of SW, which I'm assuming is the JB/JA, then let's say hypothetically you don't sign off when you commence you're course? Maybe I'm a tad naive but how are they to know you have commenced full-time education? As I said I'm NOT advocating it but I have heard of this being done before, granted it's a good few year ago know and I guess the Dept of SW are clamping down considerably on this kind of thing.

questiontime · 21-07-2011 3:34pm

Hi Tuilip,
Thanks for your reply.
My issue isn't with the Social Welfare but rather the fact that I have to pay full fees because I have a degree, and the course I want to do is a degree course. (But a degree in an area where I can get a job).
Re the signing off thing, I prefer to sleep easy at night! But I would never criticise anyone who chose differently.
My gripe is the fact that I have to pay massive fees, which if I didn't already have a degree, would be paid.
I just don't understand the logic, it's like a case of 'sure, you've had your chance at college', as if the economy isn't allowed to change in a 10 year period.

Larianne · 21-07-2011 3:40pm

Mod note: Tulip11, please do not mention 'hypothetical' ways of illegally claiming social welfare payments. This is not what the forum is about.

Tulip11 · 22-07-2011 11:06am

Hi Larianne,

Apologies....I was only putting it out there as a question....certainly not advocating the activity as I pointed out twice in my post.

Thanks
Tulip11

meg3178 · 17-08-2011 9:36pm

I have a query and Mods please feel free to move it if its in the wrong area.
Ok, I would like to do a one year part time course in UL. Its part of the lifelong learning and I meet their educational requirements. However, I am working part time, have a full medical card and get F.I.S because I have two children. The fees are E2,500.00 for the year. Is there anywhere I can get help with funding? I don't qualify for BTEA as I'm not on the JSA/JSB and the course is less than two years. Can anyone please help?

Marvel80 · 18-08-2011 12:35pm

questiontime wrote: »

Hi Tuilip,
Thanks for your reply.
My issue isn't with the Social Welfare but rather the fact that I have to pay full fees because I have a degree, and the course I want to do is a degree course. (But a degree in an area where I can get a job).
Re the signing off thing, I prefer to sleep easy at night! But I would never criticise anyone who chose differently.
My gripe is the fact that I have to pay massive fees, which if I didn't already have a degree, would be paid.
I just don't understand the logic, it's like a case of 'sure, you've had your chance at college', as if the economy isn't allowed to change in a 10 year period.

I am in the same situation did a Degree equivalent to Arts of no use for a good career path, worked for 8 years with the same company but no job satisfaction or progression unless you kissed as to certain people. I am now returning to education I can understand why im not getting free fees as Im choosing to go back again, however I have never gotten a grant when in college before, never claimed dole, have no medical card, not one single payment from the system I have been paying into for 13 years and that is what frustrates me nothing for the honest people who are upfront but plenty for those who lie and cheat the system, say they are lone parents but living with their boyfriend and then removing their relationship status from FB when they hear the Social Welfare are doing checks, or moving out their 50 inch tv when they are calling to the house they got provided by the council! And heres me with my dodgy 10 year old tv with sound going as I cant afford a new one. :mad:

My BF works hard and is helping me out to go back and a family member is paying my fees, I will have to work part-time in addition to the full time nursing course ill be doing. But I plan on leaving this country once im qualified and spend my hard earned bucks somewhere else!:eek:

Snowie · 23-08-2011 1:24pm

Guys been on the phone to the education athority all morning great fun but some results.

Id you can't receaive the grant, there are a few... work around you can appeal it once. do so and photocopy it you can also appeal it a third time when that happens it, goes to a board at which point you go up to a board...

but just to let you know incase your having difficulty becasuse of bills in your name. etc and you are not a dependant mature...

clayre · 14-09-2011 8:33pm

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone would have some advice. I have a place on the access course at nuig, starting in the next couple weeks. Its 2 evenings a night and a saturday once a month, part of the course requires me going to lectures etc on the undergrad course which I am hoping to be doing the following year. Is there any assistance i can get to help with childcare and travel costs as i can't afford it as im on opf, i don't drive and the course finishes at 10 o clock at night ( the last bus home for me is 6:15 ) which would mean i would have to get a taxi home ... Hopefully someone has some much needed advice on where i can go. Today i felt like i was passed from pillar to post by the mature students office, student union, vec, fas ... i've looked into the beta and im not sure i would qualify due to the course bein an access one. Thanks Claire (i'm sorry if this is posted in the wrong area, i have only just joined! lol)

woodsie72 · 03-10-2011 4:28pm

great source of info..
great stuff

lowry505 · 06-10-2011 12:11am

hi,
i want to drop out of college in nuim and go to waterford.but if i do this will i have to pay another set of fees for waterford?

Larianne · 06-10-2011 10:05am

lowry505 wrote: »

hi,
i want to drop out of college in nuim and go to waterford.but if i do this will i have to pay another set of fees for waterford?

If you drop out now you may only have to pay the fees for the time spent in NUIM. The longer you leave it the more fees you'll have to pay so get in contact with the college straight away.

danbag1989 · 19-10-2011 7:01pm

Hey guys, came across this forum on a google search, some great info!
Im 22, working at the moment, but plan on repeating my Leaving next yr to get into medicine., which means id everything goes according to plan ill be starting at 24,

Am i mad to be doing this??

danbag1989 · 19-10-2011 7:01pm

Hey guys, came across this forum on a google search, some great info!
Im 22, working at the moment, but plan on repeating my Leaving next yr to get into medicine., which means id everything goes according to plan ill be starting at 24,

Am i mad to be doing this??

Tubsandtiles · 25-10-2011 7:28pm

Hey guys I think I'm in the right place

. I started college two years ago and decided after the first week to the take the year out any maybe head back the next year, with plans and other life stuff I never returned. I'm twenty now and wondered how I apply for college again, do I apply to the CAO etc, I'm right in thinking I'm too young to be classed as a mature student, thanks T

Moon Indigo · 25-10-2011 8:16pm

You have to be 23 to be classed as a mature student. You apply through the CAO system. Personally I think if your comfortable enough it is generally easier to do this online but try get used to the form first. Best of luck and if I can help at all let me know.

Phuckitt · 10-01-2012 8:33pm

Hi,

Just wondering, I have a CAO Number from a couple of years ago. Do I use this again or do I have to get a new one ?

paperclip2 · 10-01-2012 8:42pm

Phuckitt wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering, I have a CAO Number from a couple of years ago. Do I use this again or do I have to get a new one ?

You will need a new one

Your old one was only valid for the year you last applied.

ITS_A_BADGER · 07-02-2012 4:24pm

ive applied thorough the cao as a mature student this year and i was wondering when is the correct time to apply for a grant and the local co council to pay the fees? is it if i get offered a place then i apply? or do i apply ahead in advance and if i get offered something then they look after you ? im sorry im not great at these sort of things

Annasopra · 07-02-2012 4:33pm

ITS_A_BADGER wrote: »

ive applied thorough the cao as a mature student this year and i was wondering when is the correct time to apply for a grant and the local co council to pay the fees? is it if i get offered a place then i apply? or do i apply ahead in advance and if i get offered something then they look after you ? im sorry im not great at these sort of things

Apply ahead in advance - your county council won't be administering the grants - it will be done through Dublin VEC

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

paperclip2 · 07-02-2012 5:49pm

Applications for the 2012 grant will be open in May via the online system on MangoSalsas link.

You can apply for the grant without knowing if you have a college place.

Free fees are sorted out by the college and the Dept of Education, you don't have to do anything to get those.

EDIT: You will have to apply for the registration charge of €2250 but if you get the grant the charge will also be covered automatically.

MungBean · 07-02-2012 6:01pm

What about the back to education allowance ? I take it you have to wait until you get a place to apply for that and you cant if you have applied for a grant ?

Should I be applying for the grant instead of waiting to get the allowance ?

paperclip2 · 08-02-2012 10:36am

MungBean wrote: »

What about the back to education allowance ? I take it you have to wait until you get a place to apply for that and you cant if you have applied for a grant ?

Correct. If you get BTEA you cant get the Maintenance grant.

MungBean wrote: »

Should I be applying for the grant instead of waiting to get the allowance ?

To be honest it depends on how much you would get with the grant. The maximum rate of grant is €5915 paid in installments over the duration of your course. To be eligible for this amount you need to be living more than 45 km from the college and have an income of less than €22,300 including a DSP payment for the last tax year.

This grant amount still works out as less than the BTEA payment which is the standard €188 per week for a single person irregardless of age.

john 08 · 08-02-2012 9:10pm

if someone gets the full grant, how much would that leave them with each week??

i ve applied as a mature student and i have nt been working for a while, because there is simply no work out dere.

also how much will BTEA pay off the course??

Annasopra · 08-02-2012 10:23pm

john 08 wrote: »

if someone gets the full grant, how much would that leave them with each week??

i ve applied as a mature student and i have nt been working for a while, because there is simply no work out dere.

also how much will BTEA pay off the course??

If you get the full grant - the top rate - you get 5900 - approximately 150/160 euro per week plus a fee grant to cover your 2250 student contribution fee

If you get the BTEA you get 188 per week plus 300 to covers. As well as that you can apply for a fee grant to cover the 2250 student contribution

john 08 · 08-02-2012 11:51pm

mango salsa wrote: »

If you get the full grant - the top rate - you get 5900 - approximately 150/160 euro per week plus a fee grant to cover your 2250 student contribution fee

If you get the BTEA you get 188 per week plus 300 to covers. As well as that you can apply for a fee grant to cover the 2250 student contribution

2nd option looks a lot better. how do i apply for BTEA & free grant ??

sry bout silly questions, but i am not aware of how it all works.

Annasopra · 08-02-2012 11:58pm

john 08 wrote: »

2nd option looks a lot better. how do i apply for BTEA & free grant ??

sry bout silly questions, but i am not aware of how it all works.

You have to be receiving social welfare such as job seekers benefit to be eligible - drop into the social welfare office and ask them

john 08 · 09-02-2012 12:15am

no worries. thanks for the help mango !!

Pat D. Almighty · 15-02-2012 1:23am

I'm applying for the T.A.P. this year and it says I need to referees. I haven't been in full time education in 10 years, and it's unlikely that my former school teachers would be able to give me a relevant reference. Would my local TD suffice or even a family member/former boss?

DJW11 · 15-02-2012 7:05pm

mango salsa wrote: »

If you get the full grant - the top rate - you get 5900 - approximately 150/160 euro per week plus a fee grant to cover your 2250 student contribution fee

If you get the BTEA you get 188 per week plus 300 to covers. As well as that you can apply for a fee grant to cover the 2250 student contribution

Im in same situation, thanks for the input mango salsa, but what is the 300 for? is it standard when you get btea?

JohnMc1 · 15-02-2012 7:56pm

The €300 is supposed to be for book fees.

paperclip2 · 16-02-2012 11:10am

Pat D. Almighty wrote: »

I'm applying for the T.A.P. this year and it says I need to referees. I haven't been in full time education in 10 years, and it's unlikely that my former school teachers would be able to give me a relevant reference. Would my local TD suffice or even a family member/former boss?

A reference needs to be someone who knows you in a way that's relevant to what you are applying for in this case an education or work referee. Its not appropriate to get a reference from a family member. As for a TD it depends how well they know you and your abilitiy to do the course. You could ring the MS officer in Trinity, Clodagh Byrne, (01) 896 1386 and get some guidance on it.

kryogen · 07-03-2012 11:07pm

Bit of an odd question possibly, does your living circumstance affect your grant application, as in legally I am down as living with my parents, I am 26 and half a 2.5 year old daughter, for the last couple of months I have been spending more and more time with her mother in their house.

Would it be better for my grant application if I was to move in with my girlfriend and daughter again or will it not matter that much? I'm afraid that if they think I just live at home with mammy and daddy - I pay rent/bills and child payments for my daughter!- that I will not be approved for the grant?

paperclip2 · 08-03-2012 10:48am

kryogen wrote: »

Bit of an odd question possibly, does your living circumstance affect your grant application, as in legally I am down as living with my parents, I am 26 and half a 2.5 year old daughter, for the last couple of months I have been spending more and more time with her mother in their house.

Would it be better for my grant application if I was to move in with my girlfriend and daughter again or will it not matter that much? I'm afraid that if they think I just live at home with mammy and daddy - I pay rent/bills and child payments for my daughter!- that I will not be approved for the grant?

Hi OP,

Yes your living situation will affect a grant application as irregardless of your age if you live with parents their income will be taken into account in assessing your eligibility.

You need to look at what your address was on the 1st of October of the year prior to application. So if you are applying for a grant in 2012 then you will be assessed from the address you were living at on 1st Oct 2011.

Also, as far as I know, if your parents income is included in your firts application it will continue to be included for the following years of your course. Crazy rule but its there. You can get more info on this from the Dept of Ed student support unit. Tel: 057 9325317.

Going back to College? Check here for Mature/Disabled/Access/Grant & Fees information

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