For the HEG, VEC and TLT schemes you must be 17 on January 1st of the year of application.
For the PLC scheme, you must be 16 on January 1st. You will need a copy of your Birth Certificate (Long Form) in order to prove age.
If you are an ‘Independent mature candidate’, you must be resident within the Awarding Body’s administrative area since October 1st of the year prior to your application. If you are in any other category of candidate, your parent(s)/ guardian(s) must be resident within the Awarding Body’s administrative area since October 1st of the year prior to your application.
Documentation such as utility bills, Official Government correspondence (i.e. P60s), Social Welfare letters and PRTB leasing agreements are accepted as proof of address.
To be eligible for the Maintenance Grant you must:
1: Hold EU nationality or
2: Be a national of Switzerland of a member-state of the European Economic Area (EEA) or
3: Have refugee status or
4: Have been granted Humanitarian Leave to remain in the State (foreign nationals granted leave under the Irish Born Child Scheme are not eligible) or
5: Have permission to remain in Ireland by virtue of being the child of an Irish national or
6: Have permission to remain in Ireland by virtue of being the child of an EU national who is living in Ireland or
7: Be a person in respect of whom the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has granted permission following a determination not to make a deportation order under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999
There are several categories of ‘student’ under the regulations for the Maintenance Grant.
Anyone who is sitting the Leaving Cert and who is under the age of 23 on January 1st of the year they apply falls into the category of“Other than mature candidate”. This means that you will be assessed on your parents’ residency and income.
If you are over 23 and live independently you are an “Independent mature candidate” while if you are over 23 and live with your parents you are a “Dependent mature candidate” and are assessed on their income.
The course you are applying for, as well as determining what scheme you should apply for (see Maintenance Grant Schemes), can also have an impact on your eligibility.
You must be starting an approved course for the first-time.
You are not entitled to a Maintenance Grant for any year you repeat though you will be eligible once you progress.
‘Approved courses’ cover full-time courses only; part-time courses are not eligible for the Maintenance Grant at present.
‘Approved institutions’ are, in general, State-funded institutions; courses in private, commercial colleges are not eligible for the Maintenance Grant at present.
There are specific regulations for each of the schemes:
1:HEG Scheme: Must be a full-time course that is (i) a Level 8 course of no less than two years duration or(ii) a course of a minimum of one year that represents progression from Level 7 to Level 8 or(iii) a full-time postgraduate course of no less than one year duration
2:VEC Scheme: Must be a full-time scheme that is (i) a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration or(ii) a course of a minimum of one year that represents progression from Level 7 to Level 8 or(iii) a full-time postgraduate course of no less than one year duration
3:TLT Scheme: Must be a full-time
(i) Middle Level Technician (MLT) course of one and two years duration leading to a Level 6 qualification or
(ii) a Higher Technical and Business Skills (HTBS) course of three years duration or
(iii) a one year “Add-on” leading to a Level 7 qualification.
4:PLC Scheme: Must be an approved full-time Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) course. The list of approved courses is available from your local Vocational Education Committee
Note: You will likely be asked to demonstrate that you are undertaking an eligible course by providing proof of your offer.
