Q. When are the grant application forms available?

A. Application forms are normally received from the Department of Education & Science in July of each year. We always advertise in the local papers when they are available.
Areas : Third Level Grants

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Q. I was advised to try Clare VEC OR County Council for student grants. May I apply to both of them or not?

A. You can apply to both if you wish but you can only receive a grant from one. The VEC covers students attending full time PLC courses (FETAC Level 5 or 6), full time courses at HETAC Level 6 or 7 on the NFQ at the institutes of technology and courses at HETAC Level 8 in the institutes of technology, University of Limerick, Dublin City University, the Law Society of Ireland, the National College of Ireland, and the National College of Art and Design. We also cover Level 8 courses at the other universities (the N.U.I. colleges) if the person is progressing by virtue of having completed a Level 6 or 7 course. We cover HND courses in the UK and we also cover full time postgraduate courses in the Republic and Northern Ireland. We can also cover courses at a university or third level institution in another EU member state provided that the college is assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in another EU member state and the student is progressing to this course by virtue of having completed a level 6/ level 7 qualification. All other students for example first time entrants to one of the National University of Ireland colleges should apply for a grant through the County Council. If a person sends an application in error to the wrong office then it will be posted on however this may delay processing of the persons grant somewhat. If in doubt it is best to contact a member of staff at the grants office in the V.E.C. or County Council with your course details to hand and they will be able to advise you who you should apply to.
Areas : Third Level Grants

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Q. when will the grant cheques be issued to students this year?

A. See answer to Brian Murphy above. Cheques are only issued in the case of VEC students and these are sent to the college that the student attends for collection by the student. The first cheques are issued at the end of the October and there are three instalments in all (normally paid in October, January and April). Inevitably not all applicants will be paid in the first instalment in October. This is mainly due to students sending in incomplete applications which then delays processing of their grant. In this case other payment runs are put on (e.g. in November or December) to facilitate students who are offered a grant after October.
Areas : Third Level Grants

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Q. im 30 and have been umployed since november. i have a degree but im thinking of going back to college and doing a 2 year course run by failte ireland. would i be eligible for a maintainance grant? thanks?

A. Up until the 2009/2010 academic year students attending FAILTE Ireland funded courses were not eligible to apply to the VEC for a maintenance grant as they were instead paid a training allowance by FAILTE Ireland. This may be changing this year and we are currently awaiting further clarification from the Department of Education & Science on this matter. Even if a decision is taken to allow students on FAILTE Ireland courses to apply for a grant it is unlikely that you will qualify for a grant if you already hold a degree (unless the FAILTE Ireland course represents progression i.e. is at a higher level than the degree you already hold)
Areas : Third Level Grants

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Q. I am just wondering if i was to get accepted for the grant at this time of year how would it be paid out?Also what level of attendance do i need?Thanks for your help.?

A. Applications for the 2009/2010 academic year are not being taken yet so it is not possible to get accepted for a grant for next academic year at this time of year. For those who were very late applying for the 2008/2009 year and whose applications are only now complete the last payment run is done in June and a person could be paid arrears for 08/09 in this run if they were entitled to a grant. Anybody later than this would have to wait til next October to be paid. It should be borne in mind that the closing date for applications for the 08/09 year was last August and late applications are only accepted at the V.E.C.’s discretion. The VEC operates 3 different maintenance grant schemes. The PLC, TLT and VEC schemes. The PLC grant (for those attending colleges of further education at FETAC Level 5 or 6) is paid monthly by the VEC in which the school the student is attending is located. This grant is paid a month in arrears in 9 monthly instalments starting in October. The TLT scheme (for students attending HETAC Level 6 or 7 courses) is paid by the college that the student is attending in 9 montly instalments starting in October. The VEC sheme is paid in 3 instalments by the VEC for the City/County in which the student is resident. The first instalment is paid in October. Re attendance the PLC and TLT schemes are attendance based. The school or college that the student attends indicates whether their monthly attendance has been satisfactory or not and they are paid on this basis. The VEC scheme is not attendance based although obviously the student must be registered as a full time student on an undergraduate/ postgraduate course with the college concerned.
Areas : Third Level Grants

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Q. Im studying a full time undergraduate course in the uk doing performing arts vocational level 6 recieving a national diploma after finished would i still be eligable to apply?

A. Yes learners attending full time courses at publicly funded colleges at higher national diploma level in the UK can apply to the V.E.C. for a grant. The course must be at a publicly funded college not a private college and learners must also satisfy all the other conditions of the schemes in order to qualify.
Areas : Third Level Grants

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