Financial Supports

Means-tested student grants are available to students (school-leavers) who are progressing to a QQI Level 5/6 Award or equivalent, and who have not previously studied an award at similar or higher level on the National Framework of Qualifications. The amount of the grant depends on family income and on the distance a student travels from their place of residence to the college.

Applications: Student Grant applications can be made online only to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) through susi.ie. Applications can be made from May and should be made before starting a course. BTEA or VTOS recipients are not eligible for the student grant.

Information: Further definitive information is available on susi.ie and citizensinformation.ie.

All Social Welfare recipients are advised to contact their local Social Welfare Office before commencement of a course. This is to get permission to do a course while continuing on their benefits and also to ensure that they get full entitlements.

If you are in receipt of Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance you must transfer to VTOS or BTEA (others may be able choose to stay on their current benefits but in general people studying full-time are not eligible for Rent Allowance unless getting BTEA).

Applicants over 21 years of age and in receipt of Social Welfare payment for at least 156 days before commencement of course, may apply for VTOS funding. VTOS is aimed in particular at unemployed people who are early school-leavers.

Retain Social Welfare benefits, plus free books and materials at the start of the course, meal allowance, travel allowance, and a free childcare place for your child under the Childcare Employment and Training Support (CETS) scheme. Full-time work during the summer months does not affect your VTOS payment.

Applications: If you are eligible, fill in a VTOS Application Form and return it to the College Front Office. As VTOS places are limited it is advisable to submit an early application. Students who are eligible for VTOS, but who do not secure a VTOS place are advised to apply to their local Social Welfare Office for a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA).

Information: Further definitive information is available on studentfinance.ie or citizensinformation.ie.

The BTEA allows students in receipt of certain Social Welfare benefits to retain those payments while attending a full-time day course in the College. Students receive the maximum standard rate of payment and participants are not required to sign on.

Plus, if you have a dependent child, a Cost of Education Allowance of €500.

Applications: BTEA is a scheme administered by the Department of Social Welfare. Applicants over 21 years of age (with some exceptions) and in receipt of certain Social Welfare payments for at least 3 months may apply to their local Social Welfare Office for the Back to Education Allowance. Applications for BTEA must be made prior to starting an approved full-time course but late applications will be accepted up to 30 days after commencement of a course. Please contact your local Social Welfare Office to obtain the BTE1 application form and for full details and advice on eligibility. The BTE1 application form can also be found on welfare.ie and should be returned to your local Social Welfare Office.

Information: Further definitive information is available at gov.ie.

You can check online if you are eligible for a medical card at https://www.mymedicalcard.ie.

Information: Further definitive information is available at citizensinformation.ie.