Grants & Scholarships


Financial Support For Further & Higher Education

Co. Leitrim VEC operate three schemes of assistance for students who reside in County Leitrim and intend to pursue a PLC course or a course at a third-level Institution.

1. Post Leaving Certificate (PLC)
Covers approved PLC courses of at least one-year duration run in approved PLC centres throughout the country.

2. Third Level Trainees (TLT)
Covers two year Higher Certificate (Level 6) and three-year Ordinary Degree (Level 7) courses, pursued in the Institutes of Technology, NCAD and DLIADT.

3. VEC Scholarship (VEC)
This scheme applies to students pursuing:
- Approved Degree Courses at Institutes of Technology;
- Approved HND and some Degree courses at various Northern Ireland Colleges;
- Approved Degree Courses (Level 8) in:

• Dublin City University
• University of Limerick
• Crawford School of Art, Cork
• Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology
• National College of Ireland
• The Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place (for Professional Practice Course 1 & Professional Practice Course 2 only).

 

Also,Leitrim County Council operate the Higher Education Grant Scheme for students entering directly into first year of an Honours Degree (Level 8) Course.

THIS YEAR, THE APPLICATION FORM IS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD ON THE STUDENT FINANCE WEBSITE - www.studentfinance.ie

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM 2010/2011

Final Course Acceptance - Form FA1 - Undergraduate or Postgraduate course in Ireland

Final Course Acceptance - Form FA2 - Post Leaving Certificate Course in Ireland

Final Course Acceptance - Form SA1 - Undergraduate Course in E.U. Member States

                                                                      (excluding Ireland)

GUIDANCE NOTES FOR THE MAINTENANCE GRANT APPLICATION FORM 2010/2011
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ACCOMPANYING NOTES FOR 2010/2011

CHECK LIST OF INCOME DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

Applicants are means tested based on parents’ income or in the case of independent mature candidate, the applicant and applicant’s spouses income.

The following documentation will be required for submission along with the application form in respect of income for the tax year ended 31st December 2009:-

P.A.Y.E.
- Original P.60 for each employment for the tax year ended 31st December 2009.
- Original P.21 for the tax year ended 31st December 2009. This form is available on request from the tax office.

Self Employed
- Year-end accounts for the tax year ended 31st December 2009.
- Adjusted Profit Computation
- Original Notice of Assessment for the tax year ended 31st December 2009.

Farming
- Notice of Assessment for the tax year ended 31st December 2009
- Form 11 E or Accounts for the tax year ended 31st December 2009

Social Welfare
- Statement of total amount received (not taxable amount) from Department of Social Welfare for the tax year ended 31st December 2009.

Student's original Long Form Birth Certificate is required to be submitted by all applicants. (All original documentation will be copied and returned).

Please note that income details must cover the full tax year ended 31st December 2009. Therefore if parents or applicant were employed for one part of the year and unemployed for the remainder you must submit a combination of the relevant documents.

The income limits for the 2010/2011 academic year are set out below: -


INCOME LIMITS AND GRANT RATES FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2010/2011

Reckonable Income Limits for the ordinary rates of grant for the period 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009 (the tax year 2009)

** Full Student Service Charge is paid where income is at or below this level.

* In the 2010/2011 academic year where 2 or more children (or the candidate's parent) are pursuing a course of study, the reckonable income limits for Full Maintenance (100%) and Full Fees and Part Tuition Fee (50%) only categories may be increased by €4,980 where there are 2 such children, €9,960 where there are 3 such children and so on, by increments of €4,980.

For the Part Maintenance and Full Fees at 75%, 50% and 25%, the reckonable income limits may be increased by €4,815 where there are 2 such children, €9,630 where there are 3 such children and so on, by increments of €4,815.

The Full Fees element of the maintenance grant applies to TLT and VEC Schemes only.


Maintenance Grant Rates for 2010/2011

Special Rate of Maintenance Grant for 2010/2011

There is an additional payment of maintenance grant for applicants whose income is under €22,703 and are in receipt of a specific type of Social Welfare payment.

Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) Grants

The PLC Scheme covers approved Post Leaving Certificate courses of at least one-year duration run in approved PLC centres throughout the country.

Please click here to download Post Leaving Certificate Scheme 2010 to view all criteria and information with regard to assessment and eligibility of this grant.

Third Level Trainees (TLT)
The Third Level Trainees (TLT) grant covers two year Higher Certificate (Level 6) and three year Ordinary Degree (Level 7) courses, pursued in the Institutes of Technology, NCAD and DLIADT.
Eligibility is assessed by Co. Leitrim VEC or the VEC of the county in which you resided in October 2009.

Payment of the TLT grant is made through the College that the student is attending and is based on satisfactory attendance. Please contact you College's Fees and Grants Office for more information on payment of the TLT grant.
The TLT grant also covers the College Registration Fee (Approx. €1,500).

Grants are not paid in respect of attendance at part-time or evening courses.

Please click here to download Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees 2010 to view all criteria and information with regard to assessment and eligibility of this grant.

VEC Scholarships (VEC)
The VEC Scholarship caters for students who are pursuing an add-on Honours Degree (Level 8) or higher; students attending HETAC approved courses at NCIR and students studying in Northern Ireland and UK at Higher National Diploma Level or higher.

If you have just completed a Higher Certificate or Ordinary Degree and are now pursuing an Honours Degree you must apply for this grant through your local VEC even if you have previously received a TLT grant. Eligibility is assessed by Co. Leitrim VEC or the VEC of the county in which you resided in October 2009.

Payment of the VEC grant is made three times a year. Co Leitrim VEC forward the grant cheque to each College for distribution to the student. The cheques will be released to the student based on satisfactory attendance.

The VEC Scholarship also covers the College Registration Fee (Approx. €1,500).

Grants are not paid in respect of attendance at part-time or evening courses.

Please click here to download VEC Scholarship Scheme 2010 to view all criteria and information with regard to assessment and eligibility of this grant.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I apply for a third level maintenance grant?
Application forms for grant maintenance are available on this website or on www.studentfinance.ie or by contacting:
Third-Level Grants Section,
Co. Leitrim VEC
St. George's Terrace,
Carrick-on-Shannon,
Co. Leitrim.

Please note:  The Student Grant Application Form cannot be subitted by email.

Contact:
Mary Burke - 071-9620024.Extension: 201 Email - mburke@leitrimvec.ie

irene Duignan - 071-9620024.Extension: 200. Email - iduignan@leitrimvec.ie

2. How do I know where to apply for my grant?
If you are entering directly onto an Honours Degree (Level 8), Post-Graduate, Masters or PhD course you should apply to the Higher Education Grants Section in Leitrim County Council tel: 071-9650463.

Otherwise for Level 5, Level 6 or Level 7 Courses or if you have just completed a Higher Certificate or Ordinary Degree and are now pursuing an Honours Degree you must apply for this grant through Leitrim VEC.

3. How many forms do I need to fill out?
- Only one application form is to be completed for each student
- Form FA1 (course details) must be completed for students attending Institutes of Technology or Universities.
- Form FA2 (course details) must be completed for students attending PLC Courses.

4. When is the closing date for application forms?
The closing date for 2010/2011 application forms is 31st August 2010. We do not accept late applications however priority is given to those applications that are received on or before the closing date.

5. What age do I need to be assessed as a Mature Student?
A mature student means a candidate who is at least 23 years of age on the 1st January of the year of entry to an approved course. There are two categories of a mature student:
-

A mature candidate dependent on parents refers to a mature candidate who was ordinarily resident with his/her parents from 1st October 2009.

- An independent mature candidate refers to a mature candidate who was not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from 1st October 2009. Proof of independent residence will be required to be submitted along with your application form such as a utility bill in your own name.

6. What documentation do I need to submit with my 2010/2011 grant application form?
- Long form Birth Certificate (Original Documents copied and returned)
- Form FA1 or Form FA2 (Final Acceptance Form)
- Income details from tax year ended 31st December 2009 see below

P.A.Y.E.:
Original P.60 for each employment for the tax year ended 31st December 2009.
Original P.21for the tax year ended 31st December 2009.

Self-Employed:
Year end accounts for the tax year ended 31st December 2009.
Adjusted Profit Computation
Original Notice of Assessment for the tax year ended 31st December 2009.

Social Welfare:
Statement of total amount received (not taxable amount) from Department of Social Welfare for the tax year ended 31st December 2009.

Please note that income details must cover the full tax year ended 31st December 2009. Therefore if parents or applicant were employed for one part of the year and unemployed for the remainder you must submit a combination of the relevant documents.

7. Other than income what is the 2010/2011 maintenance grant assessed on?
Eligibility for the 2010 maintenance grant is assessed on the following:

Residency: Parents of Candidates must be resident in Co. Leitrim on 1st October 2009.

Age: VEC and TLT candidates must be 17 on 1st January 2011 and PLC Candidates 16 on commencement of their course.

Nationality: Candidates must be a national of :

1. An EU Member State
2. A State which is a contracting state to the EEA Agreement
3. The Swiss Confederation or

•  A Refugee or other person entitled for the time being to the rights and priviliges specified
•    in section 3 of the Refugee Act 1996 or
•  Be a person, pursuant to the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection Regulations
•    2006 (S.I. No. 518 of 2006)
• Who the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has determined is eligible for the time being for subsidiary protection pursuant to Regulation 4 of those Regulation, or
• To whom the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has granted permission for the time being in writing to enter and reside in the State pursuant to Regulation 16 of those Regulations or
• Have permission to remain in the state by virtue of marriage to an Irish national residing in the state, or be the dependent child of such person, not having EU nationality, or
• Have been granted Humanitarian Leave to remain in the State (prior to the Immigration Act 1999) or
• be a peson in respect of whom the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has granted permission to remain following a determination not to make a deportation order under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999.

Previous Qualifications: If you have previously attended a third level course or have been awarded a third level qualification it may affect your eligibility to receive grant maintenance.

8. My income has changed from the tax year ended 31st December 2009; can I be assessed under current income?
There is an option to be assessed on current 2009 income. You will still be required to submit financial documentation relating to 2009 income. Please contact this office for details.
For Further Information please contact:

Third-Level Grants Section,
Co. Leitrim VEC
St. George's Terrace,
Carrick-on-Shannon,
Co. Leitrim.

Contact:
Mary Burke - 071-9620024. Extension: 201 Email - mburke@leitrimvec.ie
Fiona Neenan- 071-9620024. Extension: 200 Email - fneenan@leitrimvec.ie

Please feel free to phone, email or drop in to us with any of your queries. The office opening hours are from 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 (Monday to Thursday) and from 09.00 to 13.00 and 14.00 to 16.30 (Friday).

The Department of Education and Science also offer a Student Support Service and can be contacted at the following:

Higher Education - Equity of Access
Department of Education and Science
Portlaoise Road
Tullamore Road
Co. Offaly
Tel: 057-9235317