Did you know that 43 per cent of those who go to college each year do not pay the €3,000 registration charge? Most of these students also receive a maintenance grant to support themselves through college.
If paying your way is one of the main barriers to your going to college, grants can form a crucial support.
The first thing you should do is make your CAO application fee online before this Wednesday’s deadline, when the fees jump from €25 to €40.
Susi (Student Universal Support Ireland), the national student grant awarding authority, will open its online application system for the 2016/17 academic year in early April 2016. It provides maintenance grants and/or fees (or student contribution) for eligible students.
What
courses does Susi fund? Susi provides assistance for approved full-time
further education (post Leaving Certificate courses), higher education, postgraduate studies and also, in some cases, to students who wish to study outside the State.
It deals with applications on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, it is vital to apply as early as possible after the opening date. Students do not have to wait for an offer of a place before applying to Susi.
Those who do not tick the Susi option on their CAO application forms must submit an online Final Course Acceptance form. Students access these by logging into their online Susi accounts.
Self-employed/ farming/ rental income
Susi requires documentation from students in cases where self-employed/ farming/ rental income forms part of the income of those Susi will assess as part of the application process.
For the 2016/17 academic year, where such income exists, students will need to submit a full set of trading accounts for 2015 plus confirmation that the tax returns for 2015 have been made to the Revenue Commissioners (known as an acknowledgement of self-assessment).
How to apply
Students can apply through the Susi website at susi.ie. They can use the “eligibility reckoner” on the home page to get an idea of whether they may be eligible for a grant. This can be done before the application system opens for 2016/17.
As well as receiving the maintenance grant, eligible students attending higher education also have their fees/student contribution covered. The student contribution for 2016/17 is €3,000.
Mature students in receipt of a Back to Education allowance from the Department of Social Protection are not eligible for a Susi maintenance grant. Postgraduate students do not receive a maintenance grant, but can receive a contribution towards fees.
