Grants

SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO STUDENT GRANTS AS A RESULT OF BUDGET 2011

Three measures were announced in Budget 2011 relating to the student grant schemes:

A: Reduction in overall rates of grant

• A reduction of 4% is to be applied to the rates of all student grants.
• This reduction applies to all existing grant holders and to new grant holders alike.
• The implementation date is January 2011.

B: Qualifying distance criterion for non-adjacent rate of grant

The qualifying distance criterion for entitlement to the higher non-adjacent rate of grant (distance from home to the higher education institution) has been changed from 24 kilometres to 45 kilometres.   

• This measure applies to all students.
• The implementation date is the start of the 2011-2012 academic year.

C: Automatic entitlement of mature students to non-adjacent rate of grant.

• The automatic entitlement of mature students to the higher non-adjacent rate of payment has been removed.
• The implementation date is the start of the 2011-2012 academic year. 

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What kind of grants are there, and which one should I apply for?

For full-time third level study, there are three different kinds of grant:

1. The Higher Education Grant, administered by City/County Councils
2. The Third Level Training (TLT) Maintenance Grant, administered by City/County VECs
3. The VEC Scholarship Grant, administered by City/County VECs

Generally, you should apply for the Higher Education Grant if you are studying:

1. A Level 8 qualification (honours degree ab initio)
2. A Level 8 qualification (honours degree – one year add-on)
3. A Level 9 qualification (postgraduate study, including postgraduate diplomas & master's degrees)
4. A Level 10 qualification (doctoral degree)

You should apply for the TLT Maintenance Grant if you are studying:

1. A Level 6 qualification (Higher Certificate)
2. A Level 7 qualification (Ordinary Degree)

Grants for Level 6 and Level 7 Programmes

If your course is a Higher Certificate (Level 6) or an Ordinary Bachelor Degree (Level 7), then your scheme is the Third Level Maintenance (TLT) Grant Scheme for Trainees.

The grant application form is available from your local VEC.

Payment Schedule
Upon receipt of grant award, students must present their award letter from their local authority and their bank details** to the Grants Office in order for payment to be made.

** Bank account form 2011-12  Print this Bank Mandate Form, complete and submit to the Grants Office at your earliest convenience.  Alternatively blank forms may be obtained from the Student Enquiry Desk (Registration Department).

The grant payments will be paid directly into the student’s bank account on the following dates:

ALL PAYMENTS ARE MADE SUBJECT TO YOUR ATTENDANCE AT CLASS

VEC/HEG Education Grant

Grants for Level 8 and Level 9 Programmes

Level  8 and 9 programmes are paid in three instalments throughout the academic year. Payment is issued by either EFT or cheque. AIT will notify students via their AIT student email for cheque collection. 

Those awarding bodies that pay by EFT are:

• Clare VEC
• Donegal VEC
• City of Dublin VEC
• Limerick VEC
• Roscommon VEC
• Dublin County Council
• Wexford County Council

(Additional VEC/County Councils may be added during the academic year)

BACK TO EDUCATION ALLOWANCE (BTEA)

The BTEA allows people in receipt of certain social protection payments to retain those payments whilst participating in approved full-time courses in further and higher education.  Approved programmes range from foundation courses to a limited number of postgraduate courses.  Participants are paid a weekly allowance equivalent to the maximum standard rate of the social welfare payment they were receiving prior to starting an approved course of study.  In addition to the weekly payment, participants are entitled to an annual cost of education allowance of €500.

Further information is available from the following websites:

www.studentfinance.ie

www.citizensinformation.ie

www.welfare.ie