Things have changed very much for the better since the days, not so long ago, when people lost their social welfare benefits when they went back to full-time education. However, there are still many obstacles for mature students accessing education, with women in the home, and part-time undergraduates being left pretty much out of the loop for financial assistance. However, there are no undergraduate fees for all students studying full-time, although there are registration fees of several hundred pounds. And part-time mature students can claim their education expenses against tax.

What is available?

A Back to Education Allowance for unemployed/lone parents, non-means-tested, more or less the same as social welfare benefits, available through the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, tel 01-874-8444.

Means tested maintenance grant available through your local authority or VEC. (The VEC administers grants for people pursuing certificate and diploma courses, the local authority grants for people studying for a degree). The means of the parents of a mature student living at home will be assessed before he/she is deemed eligible for a grant.

Mature students studying for a diploma to be a middle-level technician, or for higher technical and business skills, at an institute of technology may be eligible for free tuition and a maintenance allowance under ESF-aided programmes. More details available from the Department of Education's student support unit, see telephone number above.

You should also ask your company about whether they will provide you with time and/or financial assistance to pursue a course - or consider looking for work with one of the US multinationals which, like US companies generally, actively encourage their workers to improve their skills. (The IT companies are particularly good at this).

You should also ask your credit union, or bank, for assistance with education loans - most financial institutions are likely to look positively on applications for funds for education.