Free Tuition Fees

Free Tuition Fees (Applies to undergraduate full-time programmes only)

Students who qualify for the Free Fees Initiative (Level 08 programmes) or MLT/HTBS (Level 6 & 7 programmes) are only required to pay the Student Contribution Fee which is currently €2,000 for the academic year 2011-2012. 

Some programmes have additional material fees associated with them which all students are liable for as a third level maintenance grant does not cover a material fee.

  • Criteria For Entitlement to Free Tuition
  • Free Tuition: Fees to be paid for 2011-2012

 

Criteria for Entitlement to Free Tuition

Free Fees Initiative – Level 08 programmes

MLT/HTBS Scheme – Level 06 & 07 programmes

The Irish Exchequer pays tuition fees to the institute on behalf of students registered for full-time undergraduate higher certificate, ordinary and honours degree programmes (minimum of 2 years duration) and who have been an ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss Stage for at least 3 of the 5 years preceding their entry to their third-level course and who meet one of the following nationality criteria as outlined:

  • Student must hold EU nationality
  • Student must hold Official Refugee Status in Ireland
  • Student must have been granted leave to remain in the state under Family Reunification
  • Student must have been granted leave to remain in the state under Humanitarian Grounds

Leave to remain in the state under humanitarian grounds must be confirmed by an original letter from the Department of Justice confirming this. If this applies to you and you are studying on a Level 8 programme (Free Fees Initiative), then you would have to pay tuition fees at the EU rates listed above in addition to the €2,000 student contribution fee. EU fees do not apply if you are studying on a Level 6 or 7 programme (MLT/HTBS scheme).

Student must have been granted leave to remain in the state under EU Treaty Rights.

 

The Free Fees scheme does NOT apply to:

  • Asylum seekers, whose applications for refugee status are in course of being processed, are not eligible to benefit under the terms of the free fees scheme 
  • The non‐EU spouse of an Irish citizen 
  • The non‐EU spouse of EU migrant workers 
  • The non‐EU parent of an Irish born citizen child

 

Residency criteria:

The institute may request you to provide a letter from school confirming attendance for a minimum of three of the five years prior to entry, or other proof of residence as required.

For students aged under 23 on 1 September of year of entry, the following is required:

  • Original P21 tax certificates and/or Social Welfare documentation for parent(s) of student must be submitted for three of the previous five years
  • Parent(s)' work permit

For students aged 23 or over on 1 September of year of entry, the following is required:

  • Original P21 tax certificates and/or Social Welfare documentation for student must be submitted for at least three of the last five years. Any period of residence as a student, or as holder of a student visa, is not included in the assessment of years of residence.
  • GNIB (Garda National Immigration Bureau) Card

 

Students not eligible for free tuition:


(a) Degree graduates No graduate regardless of where or when their degree was obtained qualifies for free tuition.
(b) Repeat Year students In general students are liable for repeat year fees based on the number of subjects they are repeating*

(c) Students who have attended but have not completed a certificate, diploma or degree or a Level 6, 7 or 8 programme.

A student who has attended a third level course within the EU in the past five years, and has not completed the course, may be liable for all fees for the equivalent period that s/he was in attendance.

Students who fall into this category need to complete and return the Student Fee Declaration Form

 *Repeat year students must complete an AIT Repeat and Attend Application Form and return it along with their examination results transcript showing the subjects they wish to repeat to the Registration Department.

 

Students eligible for free tuition as exceptions to the criteria above:


(e) Students who have been in attendance and have not completed a certificate, diploma or degree or a Level 6, 7 or 8 programme and are returning to study after a break of at least five years.

These students are classified as ‘second chance’ students and, subject to the criteria within the relevant scheme, may be entitled to free tuition for their programme.

Students who fall into this category need to complete and return the Student Fee Declaration Form
(f) Students who are attending a repeat year in exceptional circumstances such as certified serious illness. Application must be made to the Fees and Grants Office enclosing detailed medical certificates and details of hospitalisation etc and/or other evidence where relevant.

Students born outside the EU may be liable for full tuition fees for the duration of their studies in an Irish third level college.