Financial plan is key to keeping focus on studies
Although there have been many headlines in recent weeks and months about problems with the student grants system, many of the problems in the first year of the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) service should hopefully be overcome for the next college year.
As well as maintenance grants, which are available to a range of levels depending on family income and distance from home to college, numerous other supports are available.
The Student Assistance Fund, being increased for the current college year from €8m to €11m, is administered on campuses for any students having trouble meeting their costs. It can be accessed for help paying bills or rent, buying food, college books or materials, medical or some other personal expenses, and helped around 13,000 students last year.
Families who are receiving a welfare payment from the Department of Social Protection may also be eligible for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. As well as primary and post-primary students, it covers children in full-time education up to the age of 22, so the €200 available from that may be worth applying for after checking the criteria.
The biggest expense for most students is, of course, accommodation.
But for those having to move away from home to study, some early research on renting options near your colleges of choice can prove hugely beneficial.
Without counting your eggs — or, indeed, putting them all in one basket — a few inquiries over the coming months about accommodation around campuses on your CAO list might reap rewards next autumn. For example, knowing the residential areas that are within walking distance or on bus routes to college could save time — and, eventually, money — when the race for student digs kicks off after the Leaving Certificate results.
And don’t forget that, while you may need your college offer before proceeding to have a grant application processed in the autumn, you or your family should be able to make the initial application as early as June again this year.
Some changes might be made to the grant application process on foot of an upcoming review of SUSI’s work to date, but check for updates and information from the very helpful www.studentfinance.ie website.
The same site should be a good start too to find out about other financial support schemes, including those available to mature students and others returning to education.
The Department of Social Protection’s Back to Education Allowance is available to some people in further and higher education, allowing them to retain social welfare payments while studying.
Although recipients can not also get a maintenance grant, they can qualify to have their student contribution charge and any tuition fees paid through the grants system.
The student contribution, now standing at €2,500, is payable by most of those who do not get help through the grants system.
So those whose family income or other circumstances make them ineligible might want to find out about loans available to meet that cost, including those arranged through colleges themselves with certain financial institutions.
There are also a range of scholarships and bursaries available directly through some colleges, and from a range of public and private institutions.
Students with disabilities should also be aware of the existence of a Government-supported fund to help them get the right supports in college. Although applications are made by colleges rather than students themselves and only after they begin their courses, the Fund for Students with Disabilities is an important assistance to find out about when weighing up college options.
Much more detail on all these and other supports is available online from
www.studentfinance.ie
