Student Fees and Grants

This section is a summary of the rules with regard to fees and grants and it should not be taken as a formal expression of the regulations, as schemes may be changed by agencies other than WIT. The value of grants and fees are subject to change.

For further information on grants, eligibility and how to apply please refer to www.studentfinance.ie.

Grant and scholarship payments may be made to help full-time students to meet certain expenses including cost of living, travel and institute-related costs. Honours Degree Students are paid in three equal installments by cheque (please check with local authority for their payment methods). Higher Certificate and Ordinary Degree Students are paid in nine monthly instalments directly to their bank account.

Grant Schemes available

Third Level Training Grant Scheme (formerly the ESF Scheme)
The Higher Education Grant Scheme
The Vocational Education Committee Scholarship Scheme

TLT - Third Level Training Grant Scheme

The TLT Scheme (formerly ESF Scheme) is applicable to two-year Higher Certificate and three-year Ordinary Degree courses pursued in the Institutes of Technology paid in nine monthly instalments directly to their bank account.

Upon receipt of Grant Award, students must present their award letter* from their local authority and their bank details** to the WIT Grants Office in order for payment to be made. The grant is paid in a 4-week cycle; the student will receive their grant and any arrears upon the next payment date (i.e. if they receive their verification on November 20th and pay date is November 13th they will be paid on the next payment date in December and will receive any back-pay that they have missed).

* The Award Letter is the letter issued to the student from the Local Authority stating that they are entitled to grant and the amount of the award.

**In order to receive grant maintenance payments, students must submit their bank details at the College Reception. Please click here to print out the Bank Mandate Form, complete and submit to reception at your earliest convenience. Alternatively blank forms may be obtained from reception.

NB: Failure to provide either or both of the above will result in late payment of grants

Payment Dates for Third Level Maintenance Grants 2011/2012

15th October 2011	7th January 2012	31st March 2012
12th November 2011	4th February 2012	28th April 2012
10th December 2011	3rd March 2012	26th May 2012

Payment Dates for Higher Education / Scholarship Grant 2011/2012

The payments come in 3 times per year, approx Oct/Nov for 1st instalment, Dec/Jan for 2nd instalment and Mar/Apr for 3rd instalment (please check with local authority for their payment methods).

Changing courses or progressing to an Honours Degree

TLT recipients moving from an ordinary degree to an honours degree should apply for the Higher Education Grants Scheme (HEG) or the the Vocational Education Committee (VEC) Scholarship Scheme.

HEG and VEC Scholarship Schemes are applicable to honours degree courses. Students are paid in three equal instalments by cheque. Upon receipt of grant award students must present their award letter* from their local authority.

* The Award Letter is the letter issued to the student from the Local Authority stating that they are entitled to a grant and the amount of the award.

Top-Up Award

The top-up award is made to students from low-income families with no other means of support. Information on eligibility is available from local authorities.

Which students are eligible?

Your eligibility will depend on four main factors:

Residence: Your home address will determine the maximum amount of grant to which you are entitled.
Age: You must be at least 17 on the first day of January in the year following your admission to college - that is, if you are admitted in September 2011, you must be 17 by January 1st, 2012.
Means: This is explained under the heading 'Amount of Grant' below.
Attainment: If you are admitted to a third-level course, you will be entitled to a grant, subject to your meeting a means test.

Second-Chance Cases

Students are eligible to apply for grants for second-chance courses after a period of five years has elapsed since they undertook their original course. This provision applies only to HEG and VEC Schemes. It does not apply to TLT Maintenance Grants. Maintenance awards under all three schemes are means tested.

Amount of Grant

The maximum amount awarded depends on the distance of the students' family homes from the Institute to which they have been admitted (amounts subject to change):

	Adjacent	Non Adjacent
Full Maintenance	€1,300	€3,250
Top-Up Full Maintenance	€2,545	€6,355

Student Services Charge/Registration Fee

Students who are not entitled to receive a maintenance grant must pay a Student Contribution Charge to the Institute. In 2011/2012 this fee is €2,000. The Student Contribution Charge is used to provide funding for student services which includes personal accident insurance cover, funding for clubs and societies, student union, development programmes, etc.

Students may apply directly to the relevant grant awarding authority for payment of the maintenance grant and standard Student Contribution Charge. If a student is awarded a grant and has paid the Student Contribution Charge, upon receipt of award letter approving a grant from a local authority a refund will be made in due course by electronic transfer. Please click here to download Bank Mandate Form. Completed forms should be submitted to the college reception. Failure to do this will result in non-payment of Student Contribution Charge refund.

From September 2010, students entering a new course who are in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) will no longer be eligible for a maintenance grant. Such student can, however, apply under the relevant student grant scheme to have the Student Contribution Charge and any Tuition Fees payable for the course paid on their behalf. Please refer to www.studentfinance.ie for further information.

Tuition Fees

There are specific circumstances where tuition fees do not apply:

First-time undergraduate students in Ireland entitled to avail of the free fees initiative at third level are as follows:

Those who hold an Irish passport and have been resident in Ireland/EU for three of the last five years ending 1st September in the year of admission.
Those who hold an EU passport and have been resident in Ireland/EU for three of the last five years ending 1st September in the year of admission.
Those who hold full refugee status and have been resident in Ireland/EU for three of the last five years ending 1st September in the year of admission.

Students born outside the EU may be liable for full tuition fees for the duration of their studies in an Irish third level college.

ESF Student Assistance Fund

Students who find themselves in severe financial difficulties during the academic year may apply for financial assistance to the Student Life and Learning Office. Students will be requested to fill out an application form and may subsequently meet two members of the ESF Committee to discuss their case. This will be done in the strictest confidence. Further enquiries contact Student Life and Learning Office at 051-845513 or saf@wit.ie