Independant Mature Candidates must have graduated 3 years ago

Annasopra

Labour seem to be taking some action on this

http://www.labour.ie/press/listing/128429725164710760.html

so hang on......I finished my degree in May....was accepted onto a masters course and paid my 300 euro deposit and now Im gonna be rejected by the county council???

What then ? The dole?? This does not make sense!

panda100

I contacted a lot of Councillers and TD's about this and the only ones that got back back to me were Labour and the Socialist party. Its great to see Labour highlighting this unfair rule as its received absolutely no media attention. Its just another sneaky cutback by the goverment that they want to go unnotcied but has devestating affects for thousands of us.
I've had to defer for the year and its really,really disappointing for me. All these little knock backs and hurdles really do take their toll after a while

Icarian

I took out a loan... i maybe should have defferred, but i can't spend another year unemployed, i need to get back out there... Anyway, i could wait another year only for them to change the rules again...

thanks to Fianna Fail, I'm gonna have a 9000 Euro debt come next September, to go with my shiny new MSc... great work Mary Coughlan and co!

panda100

Theres a letter about this in the Times today : http://www.irishtimes.com/letters/

eefy

Question: If you received a grant as an "Independent Mature Candidate" for your undergraduate degree does this 3 year rule apply?

I assumed it didn't, but with so much talk on forums about this issue I am beginning to worry.

perfectisthe

eefy wrote: »

Question: If you received a grant as an "Independent Mature Candidate" for your undergraduate degree does this 3 year rule apply?

I assumed it didn't, but with so much talk on forums about this issue I am beginning to worry.

It doesn't. I graduated last year with an independent mature candidate grant, and I was approved for a grant this year for my hdip.

tatabubbly

So say if i was granted a grant on my mum's income for my undergrad finishing 2009.. I took a year out and i'm now going back. I worked since october 09' last year after 4 months of unemployment. Does that mean that i'm not going to qualify for a grant?? That is crap... they want a knowledge economy, feck that, they need it now.

What time do they base your application on for income on? The previous tax year, ie for me it would be 2009?

EI111

Is it possible to get a maintenance grant for a postgrad as a 25 year old if you didnt do your undergrad in the EU?

Graduated May 08...

sambuka41

Ok so having read this thread I am freaking out a little (actually a lot). I am in the process of completing a Higher Diploma which i have paid for myself, its part time so as far as i was aware it didnt qualify for a grant, ive never had a grant.

Im 29 and next year I was hoping to do my phd, does this 3 year thing apply to me now? Or will i not get a grant because of this HDip? The phd is a professional one, its 3 years long and about €13,000 a year. Theres no way i can do it without help

Help please,point me in the right direction cause the student finance website is making no sense to me

crazycouchy

Nearly started crying when I read this thread this morning as I saw my dream of doing a masters float down the drain.

I'm a mature student(25) have been living independently for 2 years now. However it has only been 2 years since I graduated so I was worried about 3 years rule.

I rang Cork County Council and asked about it SPECIFICALLY. The woman said the "3 year rule" does not apply to me as i am applying for the first time. (never would have qualified during my undergrad as my parents income was above the maximum level)

Pretty awesome news if she's got her info correct. Has this happened to anyone else?

sambuka41

crazycouchy wrote: »

Pretty awesome news if she's got her info correct. Has this happened to anyone else?

yeah after i read this thread i emailed my local place and was told something similar. I am finishing up a part time course so the 3 year thing doesnt count cause this course wouldn't have qualified for a grant.

I'm not doing mine till next year so I'll wait and see how it goes, they could change anything in the mean time.

Annasopra

crazycouchy wrote: »

Nearly started crying when I read this thread this morning as I saw my dream of doing a masters float down the drain.

I'm a mature student(25) have been living independently for 2 years now. However it has only been 2 years since I graduated so I was worried about 3 years rule.

I rang Cork County Council and asked about it SPECIFICALLY. The woman said the "3 year rule" does not apply to me as i am applying for the first time. (never would have qualified during my undergrad as my parents income was above the maximum level)

Pretty awesome news if she's got her info correct. Has this happened to anyone else?

I don't think she is correct

The scheme applies to:
3.1 Candidates who are entering an approved course for the first time in the 2010/11
academic year.
3.2 Mature candidates, who in the 2010/11 academic year, are: 5
a) re-entering in order to complete an approved course at undergraduate level for the
first time; or
b) re-entering in order to pursue or complete an approved course at postgraduate level
for the first time; or



"re-entering" means entering as a mature candidate following a break of at least three years,
having previously been a candidate dependent on parents or legal guardian, and having
previously attended a course approved for the purposes of the Higher Education Grants [HEG]
Scheme or the Vocational Education Committees [VEC] Scholarship Scheme

http://www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/he_heg_scheme.pdf?language=EN

However can I just point out - This is the 2010 rules - They could change the rules for 2011

crazycouchy

Probably just have to wait and see but I'm hoping she was well informed as I really quizzed her on the matter. She said that because I have never applied for a grant before that this 3 year rule will not apply to me. I am not re-entering as a mature candidate because i was never previously a "candidate" or grant recipient.

Anyway I guess patience is the main thing here...

seadnamac

crazycouchy wrote: »

Probably just have to wait and see but I'm hoping she was well informed as I really quizzed her on the matter. She said that because I have never applied for a grant before that this 3 year rule will not apply to me. I am not re-entering as a mature candidate because i was never previously a "candidate" or grant recipient.

Anyway I guess patience is the main thing here...

I hope this is correct but I have my doubts because I was turned down last year for this exact reason and I had never applied for a grant before.

Here's hoping..

Annasopra

seadnamac wrote: »

I hope this is correct but I have my doubts because I was turned down last year for this exact reason and I had never applied for a grant before.

Here's hoping..

Yeah me too

Hope that she will allow it but am thinking they probably won't

Benjamin123

I already applied for a grant and have just read this. I'm absolutely gutted. Theres no way I can afford a Masters. I don't know if my parents would qualify but this just seems totally unfair. I haven't lived at home for 4 years!!! Does anyone have any further updates?

Annasopra

Benjamin123 wrote: »

I already applied for a grant and have just read this. I'm absolutely gutted. Theres no way I can afford a Masters. I don't know if my parents would qualify but this just seems totally unfair. I haven't lived at home for 4 years!!! Does anyone have any further updates?

When did you graduate?

Il Trap

I've just become aware of this '3 year rule' from this tread so PLEASE, any advice is very much appreciated.

I've applied for the grant from DCC as an independent mature candidate and have documentation to show my independent living prior to Oct 1 2010, but no further back than that.

I have never received or applied for a grant before now.

I'm about to enter year two of a PhD course. I graduated from my undergrad in 07', graduated with a Postgrad Diploma in '08 and an MA in '09.

I worked full-time from Sept '09 - Aug '10 before reentering for the PhD that Sept.

If somebody can shed some light on my chances I'd be most grateful.

i-digress

I'm looking for advice too.

I'm 24, graduated from my primary degree in 2009. I graduated from my master's course in 2010. Didn't get a grant for either of those.

I'm living independently since May 2009, and got married in August 2009. My income along with my husband's is below the threshold and I was hoping to advance to a PhD next year. Will I still not qualify under this three year rule?

I'm completely gutted.

Annasopra

IL trap/ i digress I think that both of you will be affected by the three year rule. Im not 100% certain though. I think perhaps ring your county council - on the other hand though - you don't want to alert them unnecessarily

crazycouchy

Turns out, sadly, the woman was wrong and im not eligible for the grant. I have never applied before but as there has only been 2 years between by undergrad and the masters im starting in september the 3 year rule applies. Off to the bank to try get a loan. Balls.

i-digress

I'm wondering though, is it that three years have to pass before you can get a grant for postgrad, or that three years have to pass before you can be judged as an independent student? If it's the latter, can I really be judged on my parents income given that I'm married for two years? My husband is my legal next of kin, and our tax and entitlements are judged as a unit.

I really need the grant, there's no way we would get a loan on our income and things are tight enough as it is. If I qualify for the grant, I can study if I don't I can't. Same as lots of people here, I suppose. Studying abroad isn't an option for me as my husband has a job.

Annasopra

i-digress wrote: »

I'm wondering though, is it that three years have to pass before you can get a grant for postgrad, or that three years have to pass before you can be judged as an independent student? If it's the latter, can I really be judged on my parents income given that I'm married for two years? My husband is my legal next of kin, and our tax and entitlements are judged as a unit.

I really need the grant, there's no way we would get a loan on our income and things are tight enough as it is. If I qualify for the grant, I can study if I don't I can't. Same as lots of people here, I suppose. Studying abroad isn't an option for me as my husband has a job.

3 years before you can change your status from dependent to independent. The point being as I understand that you can still apply as a dependent on your parents.

Classes of applicant
12. (1) For the purposes of this Scheme there shall be two classes of applicant
as follows—
(a) independent student; and
(b) dependent student.

(2) An applicant’s class is defined at their first point of entry to an approved
post leaving certificate course or an approved higher education course or at
their point of re-entry to such an approved course and will continue to apply
for the duration of their studies.
(3) In this scheme an “independent student” means a mature student who did
not ordinarily reside with his or her parents, or either of them, from 1 October
of the year before the first point of entry to an approved post leaving certificate
course or an approved higher education course or re-entry to an approved
course.
(4) “Mature student” means a student who on 1 January—
(a) in the year of entry for the first time to an approved post leaving
certificate course;
(b) in the year of entry for the first time to an approved higher education
course (other than a course known for the time being as a post leaving
certificate course); or
(c) in the year of re-entry to an approved course,
is at least 23 years old.
(5) “Re-entry”, for the purposes of this Scheme, means a mature student
entering an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years,
having previously attended an approved course.

http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/Student%20Grant%20Scheme%202011.pdf

Benjamin123

This seems like an absolutely ridiculous rule

seadnamac

Quick question, when applying as a dependent you have to declare pensions other than a "social welfare state pension". What exactly is this? If someone was on their pension after a career as a National School teacher would their pension be included as a "social welfare state pension"?

Il Trap

Absolutely ridiculous rule. I mean, if a student has been financed all the way through their undergrad studies and they then had to take a break of three years before getting further funding, then MAYBE it would make some sort of sense from their point of view financially.

But to cut off postgraduate applicants who have never applied before under any 'class', as they put it, is cynical and underhand.

Even worse, this 'rule' is not highlighted anywhere in the guidence notes and you have to plod through pages of terms and conditions in order to find a very badly phrased and unclear section pertaining to this.

BTW, I spoke to somebody in DES yeasterday who confirmed this is the ruling and said he understood my frustration and agreed that it was a disgrace.

FFS, would have been better off going on the dole instead of working before I started my course and got the BTEA. No wonder this country is banjaxed. Harder you work the more you get screwed. :mad:

Annasopra

seadnamac wrote: »

Quick question, when applying as a dependent you have to declare pensions other than a "social welfare state pension". What exactly is this? If someone was on their pension after a career as a National School teacher would their pension be included as a "social welfare state pension"?

Not sure but this is what you need

Documentary evidence for income from pensions other than a Social Welfare State Pension:
• a letter from the relevant persons employer(s) or the body/bodies administering the
pension;
• P60(s) confirming the gross amount you received in 2010;
• P21 PAYE Balancing Statement or Notice of Assessment for 2010.

http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/Student%20Grant%20Scheme%202011.pdf