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Q. I’m hoping to go to college this year. Can I get a
maintenance grant?
24.07.11
Student grants are divided into two classes – maintenance grants
and fee grants. A maintenance grant is a contribution towards the
student’s living costs. To qualify, you must fulfil the conditions
of the scheme as regards nationality, residence and means.
Disadvantaged students can qualify for a special rate of maintenance
grant.
A fee grant can cover all or part of the tuition fee (if any), the
student contribution and the cost of essential field trips. If you
qualify for a maintenance grant you qualify for a fee grant. If you
do not qualify for a maintenance grant due to the residence
condition, you may still qualify for a fee grant. The means test is
based on your family's income for the previous full tax year (2010).
Some social welfare payments are excluded from 'reckonable income'
for the purposes of the means test.
Changes in grant rates become effective in January at the beginning
of the financial year. If you live 45 kilometres (24 under previous
schemes) or less from the college you will attend, you will be paid
an adjacent rate of maintenance grant. Otherwise a higher
non-adjacent rate will apply. If you plan to attend a PLC or
institute of technology course, apply to your VEC. Otherwise apply
to your local authority. The closing date for applications is 31
August 2011. You can download the application form at
www.studentfinance.ie .
Forms are also available from your local authority, VEC or Citizens
Information centre.
Citizens Information: Buncrana 074 9363496; Carndonagh 074 9373741
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