Print PageWhat is the closing date to submit an application for a grant?
Applications must be received by 31st August 2011.
Can I submit my application without all required documentation ?
No, only complete applications will be accepted. All incomplete applications will be returned and this can further delay the assessment process.
Which Local Authority should I apply to?
The candidate should apply to the local authority in the area of where the candidate's parents or guardians, or, in the case of an independent mature candidate, the candidate herself/himself, have been ordinarily resident from 1 October 2010.
My parents are separated/divorced, should I submit details on the form for the parent who no longer resides with us ?
You must identify this parent/guardian by writing the word ‘separated/divorced’ in the column provided on pages 2 and 3, Q’s 5. and 6. and supply one of the following original pieces of documentation; 1) Current Deserted Wives Benefit book or Lone Parents Allowance book 2) Maintenance Agreement/Order/Divorce Decree 3) An affidavit sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths/ Peace Commissioner that he/she is separated. (An Affidavit is available on request from the Higher Education Grants Section, Corporate & Cultural Affairs Department, Kildare County Council, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas. Tel. (045) 980202) 4) An allowance for a Lone Parent in relation to tax relief is shown on form P.21 from the Revenue Commissioners, Tel. 1890 44 44 25.
I have forwarded my application form and was wondering when I would be contacted regarding award of grant?
You can assume that if your form is not returned to you as ‘incomplete’, that it has been forwarded to the relevant person to be assessed. You will be notified in due course of the outcome (i.e. if you are eligible/ineligible).
My income or that of my parents in the tax year ended 31st December 2010 was from a combination of the categories listed (i.e. employment, pensions, social welfare, maintenance agreement, savings, etc.). What documentation should I provide?
You must provide all documentation required under the listing provided on Page 8 of the application form for all categories, which applied to you (or your parents) income in the Tax Year ended 31st December 2010.
Can I apply retrospectively for a Higher Education Grant for previous academic year(s) ?
No.
I was awarded a Higher Education Grant in 2010/2011 and I was wondering do I need to supply any information in order for my grant to continue in 2011/2012?
All applicants who were awarded grants in 2010/2011 will be forwarded Renewal or Reassessment Forms for completion and return to Kildare County Council. Undergraduates must send their exam results with this form. Postgraduates must submit a letter from the relevant institution confirming entry into first/next year of college with this form. Otherwise, you are not required to supply any further information in order for your grant to be renewed for the Academic Session 2011/2012 unless one of the following applies to you; 1) You are contacted by this office and asked to provide details/information because you have been included in a test sample of previous grant holders to ensure that your reckonable income is still within the limits set for this year. 2) You have previously requested that you are allowed defer your grant (for a maximum of one year) and you now wish to request that your grant be re-awarded for the current Academic Year. 3) You were awarded a Grant in 2010/2011 for one year only. 4) You wish to advise this Authority of a permanent change in circumstances, which may make you ineligible/eligible for the award of a grant in 2011/2012. 5) You have changed your Course or College for Academic Session 2011/2012.
If I have applied for different courses covered by the Higher Education Grants Scheme and other Schemes (eg. VEC Scholarship Scheme, ESF Maintenance Grant Scheme or Post Leaving Certificate Grant Scheme (which are administered by Kildare VEC in Naas, Tel. 045- 988000), do I need to complete a form for each of these Schemes ?
It is not necessary to fill out an individual form for each Scheme. Fill out one form for the Scheme you think you are most likely to be applying for. When you have made your final acceptance of a place at College forward your ‘Final Course Acceptance Form’ (Form FA1), which you would have received in the Grants Application pack previously sent to you.
I got a Higher Education Grant for academic year 2010/2011 but didn’t pass the end of year exams and have to repeat the year, will I continue to receive grant aid for the repeat year ?
No, repeat years are not eligible for award of a grant, the only excepetion to this is if a student is repeating under " medical grounds" and the college has agreed to waive the tuition fees for the repaet year.
I will be pursuing a part-time course in a private college, do I qualify for a Higher Education Grant?
No, Only full-time courses in “approved” colleges are eligible for grant aid.
I am an E.U./ non E.U. applicant who has recently taken up residence in Ireland. Am I entitled to get a Higher Education Grant?
Applicants must satisfy the Nationality Clause of the Higher Education Grants Scheme, 2010/2011 i.e. Nationality Candidates must: : - hold E.U. Nationality; or - have Official Refugee Status; or - have been granted Humanitarian Leave to Remain in the State; or - have permission to remain in the State by virtue of marriage to an Irish national residing in the State, or be the child of such person, not having EU nationality; or - have permission to remain in the State by virtue of marriage to a national of another EU Member State who is residing in the State and who is or has been employed, or self-employed, in the State, or be the child of such a person, not having EU nationality; or - be nationals of a member country of the European Economic Area (EEA) (see Appendix V) or Switzerland. If you are not a mature student (i.e. under 23 years of age from 1st January 2010) you must apply to the Local Authority in the County where the College you will be attending is located. It will be necessary to provide all details for your parent’s income (translated into English) in order for you application to receive assessment.
What courses are approved under the scheme?
a) A full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration, or a full time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration, pursued in one of the approved institutions. b) A full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration pursued in a university or third-level institutions, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in another EU member state, with the exception of the following: • Courses in colleges of further and higher education (other than courses at Higher National Diploma level, or higher). • Courses that are offered in private commercial third-level colleges in the State, and that are validated by that college. • Courses in colleges akin to private commercial colleges in Ireland. c) A full-time undergraduate course of a minimum duration of one year in one of the approved institutions listed in Appendix 1 (A) which represents progression from a FETAC Level 5 (Formerly know as FETAC (NCVA) level 2 qualification), qualification and which leads to the award of a qualification of third-level standard, following a terminal examination. d) A full-time undergraduate course of a minimum duration of one year in one of the approved institutions listed in Appendix 1(A) which represents progression from a Level 7 (Ordinary Bachelor Degree or National Diploma) course to an ‘add-on’ Level 8 (Honours Bachelor Degree) course.
What makes me a mature student?
There are three 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 and on re-entry has taken at least a 3 year break from studies. • A mature candidate dependent on parents is a mature candidate who was ordinarily resident with his or her parents from 1st October, 2010. • An independent mature candidate is a mature candidate who was not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from 1st October, 2010
Independent mature candidates
Candidates who were ordinarily resident with their parents from 1st October 2010 are considered dependent on their parents and their income is assessed together with their parents income(s). Independent mature candidates are candidates over 23 who live separately from their parents from 1st October, 2010 are assessed on their own income however if an applicant is re-entering 3rd level education they must have had a 3 year break in studies to be assessed as an independent mature candidate.
What institutions are approved under the scheme?
To see a full list of the institutions and courses approved under the scheme, see Appendix 1(A) of the Scheme for 2011/2012 guideline document.
Are grants available if I change course, faculty or college?
Your grant may be transferred between two approved courses or faculties, or even between two approved colleges. Prior approval from Kildare County Council for the transfer is necessary. However, if you have completed first year of an approved course, then you are not eligible for a grant for the first year of any other approved course at any college, as this would be deemed to be a repeat year. Any change of course, faculty or college requires the prior approval of Kildare County Council.
Are grants available for part-time or evening courses?
No, part-time and evening courses are not grant aided, as they are not approved courses under the Higher Education Grants scheme.
How is my grant affected if I take a year out of college?
If you have a break in your studies, you must have your eligibility for a grant reassessed. Therefore, your income and other details will need to be re-submitted to Kildare County Council.
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.
Are grants available to pursue a second degree course, if I already hold an undergraduate degree?
No, grants will not be paid to candidates who already hold an undergraduate degree and are pursuing a second undergraduate degree, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously.
Can I apply as independent mature candidate even though I am not 23 years of age on the 1st of January of the year of entry to my course, and I am not living at home with my parents?
No, you must apply as an “other candidate” type and provide details of your parent’s income(s).
What are "dependent children"?
“Dependent Children” means children, including foster children, of a candidate's parent(s) or guardian(s) or children of an independent mature candidate, as the case may require, who, on 1st October 2009, were: 1) under 16 years of age, or 2) 16 years of age or over and a) are attending a full-time course of study at an educational institution and are dependent on their parents, or b) are medically certified as permanently unfit for work;
The scheme applies to you if you:
• are starting an approved course for the first time in the academic year in question. • are a mature student, who in the academic year in question is either entering in order to complete an approved course at undergraduate level for the first time or re-entering in order to pursue or complete an approved course at postgraduate level for the first time or already hold a postgraduate qualification and are re-entering to pursue a further postgraduate course which represents a progression.(In order to be considered a mature student, you need to be at least 23 years of age on 1st January of the year you enter your chosen course). • have attended but not successfully completed an approved course and are returning following a break of at least five years in order to pursue an approved course at the same level in the academic year in question. In this instance, you will be considered a "Second Chance Student" To be eligible for a grant under this scheme, you must also fulfill the following conditions as to residence, age, academic attainments, means and nationality.
Do i have to be a certain age to apply for the Higher Education Grant?
You must be at least 17 years of age on January 1 of the year following your application.