Higher Education Grants

Depending on your financial situation, it may be that you are entitled to a maintenance grant. Always investigate this option first because the funding is there for all those who are eligible. Postgraduate students qualify for the local authority postgraduate grant in the same way as undergraduates. If you received a local authority grant at undergraduate level it may be extended to cover postgraduate studies as well.

However, the grants are only available to full-time postgraduate students enrolling in a (minimum) one-year course in a publically funded college in Ireland or Northern Ireland. The value of grants ranges from €345 to €6,690 (2009/10 figures) depends on your guardian’s income, how many dependents they have, and whether you live ‘adjacent’ (within 24kms) to the college. If you are over the age of 23 you can apply to be means-tested independently of your parents provided you are no longer living in the family home.

You should apply to your local county council (http://www.irlgov.ie/organisations/), or to your local VEC if they provided your undergraduate grant. Grant applications must be made on the official application form and are usually required to be returned by the end of August before the start of the academic year.
 
If you qualify for a maintenance grant, the providing body may also pay some or all of your course tuition fees. The maximum amount that can be paid out for tuition fees in this scenario is currently €6,270.