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Mum returning to college. Need advice

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  • 23-01-2012 2:01pm
    #1
    girlonfire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 337 ✭✭


    Hey,

    My Mum wants to return to college in September of this year. The course she wants to do is an MA as she's already qualified
    She's unemployed at the moment and needs to know if she can avail of BTEA. She'll fit the criteria for being unemployed for a specific amount of time. I cannot find information as to whether MA students are entitled to BTEA or the county council grant.
    Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks:)


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    #2
    Miguel_Sanchez
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,417 ✭✭✭Miguel_Sanchez


    I got the BTEA five years ago and then as far as I know it was only given for undergrad qualifications. I got it because I was progressing from a Diploma to a Degree. I don't think you can get it for an MA however.


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    #3
    paperclip2
    Registered Users Posts: 2,280 ✭✭✭paperclip2


    Hi OP,

    The BTEA is only available for courses up to level 8 on the national framework of qualifications and unfortunately an MA is usually at level 9.
    Info on BTEA here: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/back_to_education_allowance.html


    In the recent budget there were significant changes to the grant for postgrad students and very little of it positive I'm afraid:
    Maintenance grants


    Postgraduate students: It was announced in Budget 2012 that no maintenance grants will be paid for new entrants on postgraduate courses from the 2012/13 academic year. Fee grants (described below) will continue to be paid for those postgraduate students who would previously have qualified for the special rate of grant (see 'Special rates of grants for disadvantaged students' below). In addition, based on their means, a further 4,000 postgraduate students will get a €2,000 fee contribution grant.

    Taken from CIC info http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/third_level_education/fees_and_supports_for_third_level_education/maintenance_grant_schemes_for_students_on_third_level_courses.html


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    #4
    girlonfire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 337 ✭✭girlonfire


    Thank you for your replies. They're much appreciated.
    I've had a look around and can see that there's some scholarships she could apply for. Apart from the County Council Grant or the BTEA, is anyone aware of any other possible avenues she could go down for funding?
    She's progressing from a diploma to an MA.


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    #5
    Digitaljunkie
    Registered Users Posts: 349 ✭✭Digitaljunkie


    girlonfire wrote: »
    Thank you for your replies. They're much appreciated.
    I've had a look around and can see that there's some scholarships she could apply for. Apart from the County Council Grant or the BTEA, is anyone aware of any other possible avenues she could go down for funding?
    She's progressing from a diploma to an MA.

    Apart from a scholarship I don't think their is i'm afraid ............


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