Grants/Funding and other Financial Matters

It is important that you carefully plan your budget to ensure you have adequate finances to see you through the year. Budget for accommodation, meals, travel, textbooks and other  materials  and  entertainment. Remember, you will have to pay deposits initially, and, if on a third level training grant (TLT) , you will not receive your first payment until the end of October - or later, if your local VEC has not processed your  application.   Students  on  4  year  degree  (ab-initio)  programmes usually receive their first payment in December or January.

TUITION FEES
EU-Nationals attending full-time Higher Certificate, Ordinary Degree or Honours Degree courses  will  not  normally  be  required  to  pay  any  tuition  fees. EU-Nationals, who  are repeating a full year of study, must pay tuition fees. The rates of fees are determined by the Department of Education and Science each year. Students may also be liable for fees if they already hold full or part of a qualification for a course similar to the programme for which they are now studying.

Non-EU nationals attending full time undergraduate courses must pay fees. Fees for all undergraduate  courses  in  the  academic  year  2011/2012 amounts  to  €10,208.

Further details on all tuition fees applicable are available on request from the Academic Affairs Office.

STUDENT CONTRIBUTION CHARGE
Student Contribution Charge covers non-tuition student services (e.g., examination entry fees, student services, registration, etc.) is payable by each student. Those not in receipt of a maintenance grant are required to pay the full amount on registration. Students who bring with them confirmation (e.g. letter from their relevant grant agency) that they qualify for a maintenance grant will not be required to pay the charge as it is paid as part of their grant. New and returning students will be advised of the requirements for registration.

REFUND OF FEES
To find out if you can apply for a refund of fees (full or partial), please refer to the Rights and Responsibility Section B 1.5.

STUDENT GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
During  2010/2011  all  Higher  Certificate  and  Ordinary  Degree  courses  were  funded through the European Social Fund.

GRANTS
Students  on  Higher  Certificate  and  Ordinary Degree  courses  can  apply  for (TLT) grant funding  from  their  local  VEC.  Students  on  Honours  Degree  courses  can  apply  for Scholarship Scheme grant funding from their local authority or VEC. Eligibility for grants is dealt with solely by the applicant (student) and their local authority or VEC.

Grants to applicants are subject to a means test. If you are successful in your application for a grant the amount awarded is relative to your personal circumstances such as your family  income, number  of  children  in  the  family  and  the  number  of  children  in higher level education at the same time. Similarly, different amounts apply to students living at home or away from home.

INFORMING THE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS OFFICE OF YOUR GRANT APPROVAL
Students who are eligible for ESF grants will be paid at regular intervals throughout the academic year but must, in the first instance, complete all aspects of the registration process including the bank mandate form stamped by your bank indicating that your bank account number is correct, and a grant approval letter from your relevant grant agency, if appropriate.

Students in receipt of scholarship grants will be paid three times in the nine month academic year (Year 4) except for students on Year 5 of an undergraduate programme where two payments are made.

When will I receive my grant?
Payment of the Third Level Training (TLT) grant is subject to satisfactory attendance and performance. As a recipient of this grant, you are regarded as a trainee and expected to abide by the normal discipline of the workplace regarding timekeeping, absenteeism etc. Your school of study maintains records of attendance and the relevant lecturer/class tutor must approve any absence from class. Medical certificates should be submitted if you are ill. Unapproved absences will result in a deduction of your grant. There is a limit to the number of unapproved absences accepted per month.

MAKING CONTACT

Joan O Carroll
Finance Office, Student Grants and Scholarships
Extension: 5656
email: grants@ittralee.ie

(TLT) Grant Payments AY 12/13

SCHEDULE FOR ESF TLT MAINTENANCE GRANT PAYMENTS
The following schedule (provisional) of ESF TLT maintenance grant payments will apply for the 2011/2012 academic year:

Proposed Dates for TLT Grant Payments AY 12/13:

For students residing/living LESS THAN 28 miles from the Institute:

For students residing/living MORE THAN 45KM from the Institute:

*The automatic entitlement of mature students to the higher non-adjacent rate of payment has been removed.
*The implementation date is the start of the 2011/2012 academic year.

Expenses

The rates below may assist students in planning their finances:

Estimate weekly cost of living away from home as student:

OTHER EXPENSES
You should take into account that you will need supplies such as pens, folders, foolscaps, paper, books, etc. Some course books cost in the region of €50.00 or more each. A number of copies of the core textbooks are available in the Institute Library or may be available second- hand on student notice boards. 

The main objective when you are responsible for managing your own finances is to live within your means and to prioritise your expenditure as much as possible. The headings used in the table will give you an idea of the type of expenditure that you will encounter as a student. When budgeting take into account the following:

INCOME

• Do you get a grant?
• Have you your own savings?
• Can your family support you financially?
• Do you have a part-time job?

EXPENDITURE

• Make up your own list of expenses. Plan weekly expenditure and compare to income (if there is one).
• Get into the habit of recording incoming and outgoing finances.
• Write out a list of what you need before you go grocery shopping.
• If you are renting accommodation, and you have agreed with your landlord your weekly rent, take into account the hidden costs such as refuse, TV licence, electricity, heating, phone, etc. and budget for these also.
• If you are sharing your accommodation with others and if you all know each other well, sharing expenses (e.g. using a kitty) and agreeing a household budget can be an effective way of budgeting.

OTHER STUDENT FUNDING

Additional Financial Information for Access Students

Students experiencing financial hardship can seek a bursary from the ESF Student Assistance Fund or a short-term loan from the ITT Benevolent Fund. These funds are administered on a strictly confidential basis by the Chaplain  and  the Access  Office. It is possible to obtain financial support to help you overcome problems that may be causing academic or personal difficulties. If you are experiencing difficulty sourcing or managing finance you should contact the Access  Office or the Chaplain . You are further advised to think very carefully before taking up part-time work as a means of supplementing your funds, because this may affect your attendance or performance at lectures, study, continuous assessment and examinations.

The Student Assistance Fund is funded by the Irish Government and part funded by the European Social Fund under the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013

REMEMBER
Your Local Partnership company, financial institution, credit union or VEC may have a special bursary to support third level students. Contact them too!