Reference Guide Briefing:
Financial support for students The Student Grant Scheme In autumn 2011 a single Student Grant Scheme replaced the 4 main support schemes for students (The Higher Education Grants scheme, The VEC Scholarship scheme, the TLT scheme and the PLC scheme). The student grant is the main source of financial help available from the Irish State for students in full-time Post Leaving Certificate Courses (PLCs) and full-time higher education undergraduate courses. Support is available to eligible students in most colleges in Ireland as well as eligible Irish students in many colleges in Northern Ireland, the UK and other EU States. For eligible students, the grant is there to help with the various costs of participating in further or higher education. Students on part-time courses, access or foundation courses (in higher education institutions) and short courses are not eligible to apply for a student grant. Family and/or personal income is a key factor that will be assessed when you apply for a student grant but there are also some other conditions. Studentfinance. ie can help you to assess whether you are eligible and guide you in starting the process. In all cases, the official decision on eligibility is of course made by the grant-awarding bodies. Student who may be eligible for the student grant should apply for it as soon as possible. Students do not have to wait until you receive an offer of a place or enroll in college. Only when the application has been completed in full and submitted to the grant-awarding authority can eligibility be determined. Details of the scheme together with the application form and guidance notes are available in the grants section of the www.studentfinance.ie website.
Meet Susi
Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) is the new single awarding authority for all new grant applications for the 2012/13 academic year. If you are a new student or changing course you should apply to SUSI through this website. The student grant application system is an online application system and is accessed at studentfinance.ie. To assist all applicants there is a SUSI Support Desk which will provide extended opening hours for email queries and telephone queries. Contact details are on studentfinance.ie. SUSI has a Nationwide Mentoring Network in place to assist applicants who might have access issues using the online system. You should contact the SUSI Support Desk for additional information on this network. Remember you do not have to have confirmed your final choice of college or course to apply for a student grant
Income limits for Maintenance and Fee grants Maintenance: Maintenance: Maintenance: Maintenance: Maintenance: Maintenance: Maintenance: Maintenance: Special Rate 100% 75% 50% 25% Not payable Not payable Not payable Standard Rate Standard Rate Standard Rate Standard Rate Fee elements: Fee elements: Fee elements: Fee elements: Fee elements: Fee elements: Fee elements: Fee elements: To qualify for: 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 50% Tuition Fees Tuition Fees Tuition Fees Tuition Fees Tuition Fees Tuition Fees Tuition Fees Tuition Fees Not payable Not payable 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 50% 50% Student Student Student Student Student Student Student Student Contribution Contribution Contribution Contribution Contribution Contribution Contribution Contribution Not payable Field Trip Field Trip Field Trip Field Trip Field Trip Field Trip Field Trip Field Trip Not payable Not payable Not payable Postgraduate Fee No. of Contribution dependent Payable children: Less than 4 4 — 7 8 or more
€22,703 €22,703 €22,703
€41,110 €45,165 €49,045
€42,235 €46,415 €50,400
€44,720 €49,145 €53,360
€47,205 €51,880 €56,320
€51,380 €56,460 €61,295
€55,920 €61,440 €66,700
€31,500 €34,615 €37,580
Notes: The period 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011 is the reference period for the academic year 2012/13. The income limits that apply to tuition students relate to the fee elements only. A tuition student does not qualify for any maintenance grant.
Additional increments that may be applied to the income limits for Maintenance & Fee Grants Increment for each additional relevant person in full time education (Check criteria)
€ 0
+ € 4,980
+ € 4,815
+ € 4,815
+ € 4,815
+ € 4,980
+ € 4,980
+ € 4,980
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