Third-Level Grants Available for Students in Ireland
- Nov 24, 2016
- 2 min read
Some of the views from the students we interviewed on the DCU Glasnevin campus, spoke about access to third-level grants. At present around 40 percent of third-level students receive grants, but, the system and threshold that the government uses to determine who receives a grant comes under heavy criticism; none more so than from the students themselves.
One student, Nicole, whom we interviewed, spoke about how she believes the system to be unfair as she and her mother would have to pay their fees while many others would not.
"I feel like college is an investment for the country… because we are going to be the ones running it someday. Some people out there are so smart but haven’t got the resources." Nicole, International Relations, DCU.
The student grant scheme was put in place after the government introduced legislation under the Student Support Act 2011. This Act encompasses maintenance grants, fee grants and the postgraduate contribution.
To qualify for a student grant you must pass three criteria:
Nationality and immigration status
Residence
Means
Now the means criteria is the most controversial of them as this affects most people. The means test is based on your family’s gross income for the previous full tax year. This is taken into account to see if you will be rewarded a full maintaince and fees grant or just a partial-fees grant. You be covered 50 percent of your tuition fee and 100 percent of your student contribution fee, or simply, 50 percent of your student contribution only.
One other student who we interviewed, Elsa, spoke about what she thought on the matter.
"It’s still, for Irish families, feels like a lot of money… And I am grateful for the government have [sic] the grant system because it makes college more affordable… but I would hate to have a loan system." Elsa, Journalism, DCU.
Many students are happy with the availability of the grant scheme and would not like to see it go while also seeing some improvements on the threshold for it.
What are your thoughts on the matter?
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