Frequently Asked Questions - Galway County Council

HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the residency requirements to apply for a Higher Education Grant?

I have submitted my application form and was wondering do I need to contact your office regarding same.
Do I need to wait until I have received my Leaving Cert Results/know where I am going to college before I submit my application?
Are grants available for part-time/evening/distance learning courses?
Are grants available for students pursuing a course in a private college?
Are grants available when repeating a year in college?
If I already hold an undergraduate degree can I get a grant to pursue a second undergraduate degree course,
Are grants available to students who wish to pursue a postgraduate course?
What makes me a mature student?
As I am living away from my parents, can I apply for a grant as an independent candidate (under my own income) even though I am under 23?
I am going straight from my undergraduate course to a postgraduate course and am now 23 years of age. Can I now apply as a mature student?
How are grants assessed?
How does the Means Test work?
If my/our income for 2009 Tax Year exceeds the income limits outlined above, but there has been a permanent change in my circumstances during 2009/in 2010 can I still apply for a grant?
What is the rate of grant?
Will my Fees be paid if I am approved for a grant?
Student Services, Registration and Examination
I have applied for a grant but have not received a decision on my application. Do I have to pay the Registration Fee to the college?
Special Rates of Maintenance Grant (Top Up Grant)
Do I need to make a separate application for the Special Rate Maintenance Grant?
What documents do I need to submit with my application?
If I do not attend college the year I am given a grant, must I re-apply for a grant the following year?

Who do I apply to for my grant?

Students who live in Galway City or County and whose first choice is a full-time course in a University (level 8, 9 or 10) should apply only to Galway County Council for a grant. If these students subsequently accept a PLC course (level 5/6), Higher Certificate (level 6) or Ordinary Degree (level 7), their grant application form is transferred to the VEC (City/County) for processing on receipt of your Final Course Acceptance Form (FA1 form).

What are the residency requirements to apply for a Higher Education Grant?

To be eligible for a grant you must prove residency in Ireland for 3 out of the last 5 years. In the case of "Independent Mature Candidates" this proof of residency must include proof of independent residence from October, 2009 onwards (see Page 7 of Accompanying Notes). If you have not been resident in the country for 3 out of the last 5 years please see page 9 of the Accompanying Notes regarding your eligibility for a grant.

I have submitted my application form and was wondering do I need to contact your office regarding same.

Application forms will be dealt with in strict date order. A letter requesting further information/confirming eligibility for grant (if applicable) will be sent to each student in due course. Therefore, it is not necessary to contact this office until you receive correspondence from us.

Please note that if you have indicated that further information is to follow e.g. P. 21/social welfare letter, you will not receive a letter requesting this information and your application will not be dealt with any further until this documentation has been received.

Do I need to wait until I have received my Leaving Cert Results/know where I am going to college before I submit my application?

No. You do not have to wait for your Leaving Cert Results/know where you are going to college to apply for a grant. You should make your application as soon as possible. Then when you receive your college offer forward us a copy of same together with the Final Course Acceptance Schedule (FA1 Form).

Are grants available for part-time/evening/distance learning courses?

No. These courses are not grant aided as only full-time courses are approved courses under the Higher Education Grants Scheme.

Are grants available for students pursuing a course in a private college?

No. Grants are not available for courses in private colleges.

Are grants available when repeating a year in college?

No. A grant will not be paid in respect of a second period of attendance at undergraduate/postgraduate level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. Galway County Council shall have discretion to waive this in exceptional circumstances, such as certified serious illness.

If I already hold an undergraduate degree can I get a grant to pursue a second undergraduate degree course,

No. Grants cannot be paid to candidates who already hold an undergraduate degree and are pursuing a second undergraduate degree (at the same level), irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously.

Are grants available to students who wish to pursue a postgraduate course?

Funding is available for postgraduate courses pursued in Ireland or Northern Ireland up to a maximum of 4 years. The course must be:

A full-time course of not less than 1 years duration

Pursued in Ireland or Northern Ireland
Pursued in an approved institution
At a level higher than any other qualification previously obtained.

What makes me a mature student?

There are two definitions of a mature student in the Scheme:

A mature candidate is a candidate who is at least 23 years of age on the 1st January of the year of entry or re-entry to an approved course. Re-entry means entering following a break in studies of at least 3 years.

A mature candidate dependent on parents is a mature candidate who was ordinarily resident with his/her parents from 1st October prior to them commencing the course. This category of student is assessed on both parents’ and student’s income.
An independent mature candidate is a mature candidate who was not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from 1 October prior to commencing their course (and can prove same). This category of student is assessed on their own income and spouse’s income (if applicable).

As I am living away from my parents, can I apply for a grant as an independent candidate (under my own income) even though I am under 23?

No, you must apply as an “other than a mature candidate” and provide details of your own and your parents’ income.

I am going straight from my undergraduate course to a postgraduate course and am now 23 years of age. Can I now apply as a mature student?

No. Students proceeding directly from undergraduate to postgraduate must continue to be assessed under the category of candidate that applied to them at the year of entry to their undergraduate course.

How are grants assessed?

The Higher Education Grants are means-tested based on the income of the previous year to which you apply. For student hoping to start college in September/October, 2010 the grants will be means-tested based on household income for the period 1st January, 2009 to 31st December, 2009. Income details for the full year must be submitted.

How does the Means Test work?

When you apply for a grant, the income that is assessed (reckonable income) must be at or below a certain amount. The reckonable income is gross income (income before tax deduction).

The reckonable income limits for 2010/11 academic year are listed on page 23 of the 2010 HEG Scheme which is available on this website.

If my/our income for 2009 Tax Year exceeds the income limits outlined in the Scheme, but there has been a permanent change in my circumstances during 2009/in 2010 can I still apply for a grant?

If there has been a permanent change in your circumstances during 2009/in 2010 please contact our office regarding applying for a grant.

What is the rate of grant?

Grants are paid at either of two rates:

The non-adjacent rate, where the grant-holder’s normal residence is more than 24 km (15 miles) from the college attended.
The adjacent rate, where the grant-holder’s normal residence is 24 km (15 miles) or less from the college attended.

Mature students (dependent and independent) who qualify for the maintenance grant receive the non-adjacent rate irrespective of distance from college.

Will my Fees be paid if I am approved for a grant?

Students who are approved for a grant are eligible to have their fees paid as follows:

Undergraduate course in Republic of Ireland Registration Fee

Undergraduate course in Northern Ireland/UK/Europe No fees payable by Local Authority (contact your college)

Postgraduate course on the Island of Ireland Tuition Fees up to a maximum of €6,270

Postgraduate course outside of Ireland No grant (fees or maintenance) payable by Local Authority

Student Services, Registration and Examination

For 2010/11 academic year the charge payable by undergraduate students for registration, examination and student services is €1,500. This fee is covered by the Higher Education Grants Scheme (for students awarded a grant). This fee is payable to the college but only on receipt of a Fees Invoice. It is a matter for the applicant to ensure that the College forward the Fees Invoice to Galway County Council.

I have applied for a grant but have not received a decision on my application. Do I have to pay the Registration Fee to the college?

You should contact the College regarding payment of your Registration Fee. They will be able to advise you if you are required to pay the fee immediately.

Special Rates of Maintenance Grant (Top Up Grant)

Special rates of maintenance grants are payable to disadvantaged grant-holders. This Special Rate Grant is additional to the ordinary grant. Grant-holders must satisfy certain conditions to be eligible for the Top Up Grant. These conditions are listed on Page 25 and 26 of the Higher Education Grants Scheme which is available on the council’s website www.galway.ie

Do I need to make a separate application for the Special Rate Maintenance Grant?

No. Your Higher Education Grant application will be assessed for both the normal and Special Rate Grant at the same time.

What documents do I need to submit with my application?

Application form fully completed…..any pages left blank will be returned to you for completion

Your original Birth Certificate and if born outside Ireland a certified copy of your passport
If you/your parents are P.A.Y.E. workers please submit P. 60 and P. 21 (balancing statement from tax office) for tax year ended 31st December, 2009. If you/your parents are in receipt of Social Welfare, statement from Department of Social Welfare outlining total payments made for the tax year ended 31st December, 2009. This social welfare form can be downloaded from this website.
If you/your parents are self-employed, please submit
(a)    A full set of accounts for each business for a year ending between 1st January, 2009 and 31st December, 2009.
(b)   Notice of Assessment for year ending 31st December, 2009.
(c)    Adjusted Profit Computation

THESE ARE SOME BROAD GUIDELINES OF ITEMS REQUIRED AND DO NOT CLAIM TO BE A FULL LIST.
YOU MUST READ THE APPLICATION FORM, NOTES AND SCHEME WHICH GIVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

If I do not attend college the year I am given a grant, must I re-apply for a grant the following year?

If you are offered a grant but do not attend college, your offer of a grant will no longer be valid, and it will be necessary for you to re-apply for grant assistance in any subsequent year.