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Higher Education Grants 2011/12

The Higher Education Grant Scheme and Application Form for 2011/12 academic year are currently available to download.  Applications are now being accepted and the last date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 31st August 2011
You should apply to Galway County Council if you are attending a Full-time approved course in University/approved Institution.  Please note that your application form will not be accepted by Galway County Council without all the relevant supporting documentation - see HEG summary checklist below.
Qualifying distance criteria for non-adjacent rate of grant.
The Department of Education and Skills has announced changes in the qualifying distance criteria for entitlement to the higher non-adjacent rate of grant (distance from home to college).  In order to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant from 2011/12 academic year onwards the student's home address must be more than 45 kilometres from their college.  This has increased from 24 kilometres.
Also, mature students will no longer have automatic entitlement to the non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant.  They will only be entitled to the non-adjacent rate of maintenance if their address is more than 45 kilometres from their college.  Where their address is less than 45 kilometres from their college they will be entitled to the adjacent-rate of maintenance grant (if entitled to a maintenance grant).
NB  This new criteria will apply to all students (current and new students) from 2011/12 academic year onwards.
The Higher Education Grant Scheme and Application Form for 2011/12 academic year are currently available to download.  Applications are now being accepted and the last date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 31st August 2011.
You should apply to Galway County Council if you are attending a Full-time approved course in University/approved Institution.  Please note that your application form will not be accepted by Galway County Council without all the relevant supporting documentation - see HEG summary checklist below.
  
Qualifying distance criteria for non-adjacent rate of grant.

The Department of Education and Skills has announced changes in the qualifying distance criteria for entitlement to the higher non-adjacent rate of grant (distance from home to college).  In order to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant from 2011/12 academic year onwards the student's home address must be more than 45 kilometres from their college.  This has increased from 24 kilometres.
Also, mature students will no longer have automatic entitlement to the non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant.  They will only be entitled to the non-adjacent rate of maintenance if their address is more than 45 kilometres from their college.  Where their address is less than 45 kilometres from their college they will be entitled to the adjacent-rate of maintenance grant (if entitled to a maintenance grant).
To get an approximation of your location relative to the 45km distance from NUI Galway use the following link. Click on Student Grants Boundary on the side menu and enter your location in the search box at the bottom left corner of the map.  http://www.galway.ie/gis/gmaps/map.html   
 
NB  This new criteria will apply to all students (current and new students) from 2011/12 academic year onwards.

Student Grant Payments

re. NUIG Students only 

26th Oct. 2011:  To confirm if a Maintenance Grant payment has been issued for you please search using your PPSN 

Eligibility of Candidates

An Applicant  must fulfil conditions under the following headings to be deemed eligible for a grant:

 

How to apply for the grant

1.  Please refer to Student Grant Scheme, Student Support Act and Student Support Regulations below to ascertain your eligibility to apply for a grant.



Student Grant Scheme 2011
The statutory instrument (S.I.) showing the legal details of the scheme. (pdf, 200 kbs, Last Updated: Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:01:00 BST)

STUDENT GRANT SCHEME 2011 - Public Notice
(pdf, 62 kbs, Last Updated: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:52:00 BST)

Student Support Act 2011
Details of the legislation governing the grant and support schemes (pdf, 130 kbs, Last Updated: Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:06:00 BST)

Student Support Regulations 2011
Details of the student support regulations for 2011 (pdf, 114 kbs, Last Updated: Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:04:00 BST)

HEG Income Limits and Rates 2011-2012
Check the eligibility incomes for grant qualification (pdf, 384 kbs, Last Updated: Fri, 08 Jul 2011 22:12:00 BST)

 

2.  If you feel you are eligible to apply for a grant, download and print the following documents:



HEG Summary Check List 2011/12
Higher education grant application check list (pdf, 95 kbs, Last Updated: Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:34:00 BST)

HEG Application Form 2011/12
Higher education grant application form and guidance notes for the acedemic year 2011/12 (pdf, 3,111 kbs, Last Updated: Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:32:00 BST)

Proof of Residency Form
Higher education grant application proof of residency form (pdf, 81 kbs, Last Updated: Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:35:00 BST)

Statement of social welfare income
Must be completed by applicants/parents who are in receipt of social welfare payments. (pdf, 91 kbs, Last Updated: Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:09:00 BST)

Final Course Acceptance Form - FA1
Courses in Ireland: This form should be completed after you have made your final acceptance of a place on an approved full-time undergraduate or postgraduate course in Ireland and have applied for a student grant for 2011/12. (pdf, 110 kbs, Last Updated: Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:09:00 BST)

Final Course Acceptance Form - SA1
Courses in EU member states: This form should be completed after you have made your final acceptance of a place on an approved fulltime undergraduate course in an EU Member State (excluding Ireland) and have applied for a student grant for 2011/12. (pdf, 195 kbs, Last Updated: Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:11:00 BST)
 
 
3.  Complete the form fully in conjunction with the Guidance Notes and attach ALL relevant supporting documents (originals and one copy).  Please include a stamped addressed envelope so that we can return the original documents to you.  The copy will be retained by us.  If you do not submit a copy of your documents together with the originals we will assume that you do not require the original documents and therefore they will not be returned to you. 
 
Please note that Galway County Council cannot offer any photocopying services.
  
4.  Check all your supporting documentation against the summary checklist.
  
5.  Submit the completed application form as soon as possible together with all supporting documentation (originals and one copy) to:  Higher Education Grants Section, Galway County Council, County Hall, Prospect Hill, Galway.
    
Remember - early completed application means prompt grant payment!
 
Note: It is recommended that you commence compiling your necessary supporting documents and in this regard you may apply for your P21 on the following link : http://www.revenue.ie/en/personal/p21-balancing-statement.html
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you have a query on any aspect of the Scheme or application process please contact us directly at: