College Choice/ The third-level students grants system:The closing date for grant applications this year is August 31st; however, the awarding bodies have discretion to accept late applications, writes Brian Mooney
It is crucial that properly completed application forms are submitted as well as all necessary stipulated documentation, otherwise the form will be sent back and will not be considered until returned properly filled in.
Depending on the course a student is pursuing, they may be eligible for a grant under one of the following schemes:
(a) the higher education grants scheme, which generally applies to university degree courses;
(b) third-level maintenance grants scheme for trainees, which applies to most certificate and diploma courses in the institutes of technology;
(c)the vocational education committees scholarship scheme, which generally applies to add- on degrees where students have already pursued certificate/ diploma level courses, or
(d) the maintenance grants scheme for students attending post-Leaving Certificate courses
The local authorities (local councils) administer the higher education grants scheme while the other three schemes are administered by the vocational education committees.
Grant applications should be made to these bodies as appropriate. An application must meet the essential condition relating to means. There are other conditions, including those relating to age, residence, nationality and previous academic attainment.
How does the means test work?
When you apply for a grant, the income that is assessed must be at or below a certain amount (the "reckonable income"). For the 2007/2008 academic year, the reckonable income limit (based on gross income for the tax year 2006) is as follows: if your family has fewer than four dependent children and parental income is less than €38,675, a year, you will be able to qualify for a full maintenance grant.
There are different thresholds for larger families, ranging from €42,490 for those with four to seven children, to €46,140 for those with eight or more dependent children.
Higher income limits apply in respect of lower rates of maintenance grants.
The full student service charge is paid where families have (a) fewer than four dependent children and incomes of under €48,335; (b), between four and seven dependent children and incomes of under €53,120 or (c), eight or more dependent children and incomes under €57,665.
In the 2007/2008 academic year, where two or more children (or the candidate's parent) are pursuing a course of study listed below, the reckonable income limits may be increased by €4,685 where there are two such children, €9,370 where there are three such children and so on, by increments of €4,685.
You can get the grant if you are:
(i) attending full-time third-level education;
(ii) attending a recognised PLC course, student nurse training or student Garda training;
(iii) participating in a Fáilte Ireland (formerly Cert) course of at least one year's duration;
(iv) attending a full-time Teagasc course in an agricultural college;
(v) attending a recognised full- time further education course of at least one year in Northern Ireland.
What is the rate of grant?
Grants are paid at either of two rates: non-adjacent, where the grant-holder's residence is more than 24 km from the college, and adjacent, where the grant-holder's residence is 24 km or less from the college.
For 2007/08, the highest non- adjacent rate of grant is €3,420 and the highest adjacent rate of grant is €1,370. Lower rates of grant are payable, depending on the reckonable income.
Grant-holders who satisfy certain conditions may be eligible for what is known as the special rate of maintenance grant, an amount additional to the ordinary rate of grant.
For 2007/2008, the non- adjacent ordinary grant plus the special rate of maintenance grant has been increased to €6,690 and the adjacent rate to €2,680, i.e. the special rate of maintenance grant of €3,270 and €1,310 respectively.
The reckonable income limit for the special rate of maintenance grant for the 2007/2008 academic year is €18,055, all or part of which must be a social welfare or analogous payment. You can get details of the grant schemes outlined above from the local authorities and vocational education committees. Details on the grants schemes are also available on the Department of Education and Science's website, www.education.ie
Other supports
The Millennium Partnership Fund: this supports students from disadvantaged areas attending further or higher education courses. Partnership companies and community groups manage the fund locally. Information on partnership/ community groups can be obtained at Area Development Management Ltd, 01-240 0700 (website: www.adm.ie).
The Student Assistance Fund (for approved third-level institutions): this assists students who, having commenced a third-level course, experience financial hardship and therefore may be unable to continue their studies. Applications for funding should be made by the individual student to the access officer in their institution.
Students with disabilities - what supports are out there?
The first person whom a student with a disability should contact is the disability or access officer in their college, or in the case of PLC students, the principal of the PLC centre.
Each university and institute of technology now has a disability or access officer whose role is to support students through college. Further general information on accessing third-level education is available to students with disabilities from Ahead, PO Box 30, East Hall, UCD, Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Phone: 01-716 4396 (website: www.ahead.ie).
The main source of funding for the supports that students with disabilities need while they are in college is the fund for students with disabilities.
Through this, they can be provided with assistance such as learning support. This service can include support with study skills, reading techniques, memory techniques, essay writing, time management and examination preparation.
• Tomorrow:In his final column, Brian Mooneyexamines the options for those who have not applied for or received a CAO offer.