How much is all this going to cost me?

Colleges charge registration fees which all students must pay. Students eligible for grants may qualify for maintenance / fee grant. Students can check if they are eligible at www.studentfinance.ie

If eligible for a grant students will apply through the new SUSI Grant Application. SUSI stands for Student Universal Support Ireland. See a quick guide to how SUSI operates  

Private colleges charge the larger amount of full tuition fees. For exact figures check out college websites. If your son or daughter is likely to be living away from home, on-campus accommodation, student villages or halls of residence are often the choice for 1st year students, offering a comfortable bridge between home and the independence of living in a flat or apartment.

Once fees and accommodation are paid for, you will then need to budget for weekly living expenses, academic costs of books, laptop, course related travel & field trips, Erasmus year or internship abroad. Check this guide issued by NUIG student union by way of an example. For a more precise method, check the budget calculator from the National Consumer Agency. 

Parents that have been through the process suggest it’s a good idea to expect a few unexpected expenses along the way. Again talking through the finances as you judge appropriate for your family is helpful in working out a realistic budget for the coming months and years.

Some colleges are now offering student loan systems eg TCD which are designed to ease the burden of payment for the student contribution charge.

Part time job or not?

This is ultimately up to the individual young person. Many college courses involve intensive programmes of lectures, practicals, study and assignments, leaving just about enough time for sports & leisure activities and some socialising. The additional income from a part time job is always welcome in a student pocket but the longer term focus will be on achieving a good degree and drawing the maximum benefit from college life.

Developing a solid batch of employability skills while at college is important however and if the student can access relevant internship or paid work that directly links into their career plans or gives them the chance to put learning into practice, this can be a valuable asset in CV and job application terms further down the line.

How can we establish if our son / daughter is eligible for a grant?

Eligibility for a grant is calculated on the basis of family income. Several factors are taken into account and the system is designed to be as fair as possible. All the information you need is at www.studentfinance.ie Watch out for grant application deadlines and securing the correct documentation in time.

We are not eligible for a grant as we are just slightly over the income limit. What financial supports are there in this case?

Watch out for college scholarships, funding programmes and a range of additional financial supports in college. You will find information about these on college websites and at the section on 'Other Finances, Bursaries & Scholarships' at www.studentfinance.ie 

Bank of Ireland offer a 'College Finance Loan' to parents or guardians of students in all HEA institutions. Parents can borrow the cost of the Student Contribution Charge €2,250.00 for 2012, and repay at €100.00 low rate of 5.1 % rising to a rate of 9.7 % when study is complete. Students can apply to take over repayment of the loan when they graduate.

AIB also offers help with college fees.

Is it true that having to repeat a year at college will incur the full tuition fee for the repeated year?

Unfortunately if a student fails a year, they are liable for the cost of full tuition fees for the year they must repeat. Full tuition fees are significantly higher than the standard registration fee.

This is another reason why a part time job might be a false economy in some instances. In the final analysis, graduates with strong degrees earn significantly higher incomes over the course of their working lives.

What about Post-graduate fees?

Students are increasingly opting to continue into post-graduate education where there is a different fee structure. Again this is something to keep at the back of your mind and it may need discussion and planning further down the line. For now – enjoy the experience of having a college student in the family. It’s another rich and priceless perspective on life!

How do we apply for the Maintenance Grant?

There is a new single grant awarding authority for all Further Education (PLC) and Higher Education (Undergraduate) courses called Student Universal Support Ireland - also known as SUSI. You simply log onto www.studentfinance.ie and click on the Student Grant section (top left hand side of page). This will take you to the Application form and detailed instructions on how to complete the application.

Ten Top Tips for Grant Application

• Go through the Student Grant tutorial at www.studentfinance.ie beforehand and complete the grant application together if possible
• Have your PPS number and the student's PPS number to hand
• You will also need accurate information relating to your income for last year - P21 / P60
• Timing - Apply As soon as possible - the closing date for receipt of grant applications is 31st August. 2012. You will need to contact SUSI for any grant applications after that date
• It is possible to apply for the grant before final selection of course or college
• Set aside a suitable time to complete the form. It takes less than half an hour to complete 
• Once the form is submitted it will not be possible to make changes
• Establish the correct category of student (dependent students are assessed on parents' income) 
• Establish the correct family income band
• Remember there are two separate grant maintenance rates:
  • Adjacent rate for students living less than 45 kilometres from the college
  • Non-adjacent rate for students living more than 45 kilometres away from the college