College tuition fees to be paid in addition to registration fee

I want to change career, and I have applied through the CAO for a 3-year ordinary level full time degree course. The course is at a public Institute of Technology.

I already hold an undergraduate degree (1995) and postgraduate degree from an Irish university in a difference discipline. This was in the days before free fees, where I paid full fees and I never received a grant or any state aid.

At the moment I am in full-time employment, so I'd imagine I would not be covered by any back to education schemes if I leave the job to do the course. Though I may be able to avail of a tax break?

My big question is whether I will have to pay full tuition fees for the course I want to do, in addition to the standard registration fees charged by the college (in 2010 this was 1,500 euro per year)? I've searched the internet and asked the college, but I haven't found the answer yet and I need to budget accordingly.

Thanks.

From what I recall and it may have changed in very recent years, but you only got a fees paid if you were studying in a progresive manner, ie diploma after a cert., degree after diploma, masters after a degree. If you have an undergraduate degree done you will not be eligable and thus will have to pay fees.

Thanks niceoneted.

It's proving very hard to find out this information officially, even the colleges only quote the registration fees and don't mention tuition fees, even in the context of mature students.

Your feedback is not music to my ears of course! I know I should be grateful to be working and have a career, but it's not an industry I am willing to continue working in for my own reasons. I have worked everyday since the mid-90's and paid every tax going. Paying tuition and registration fees will prove very expensive, so I'm going to have to start saving very hard!

I suspect your query isn't reaching the correct person in the college - I would try them again, maybe in writing / by email. you could try calling the admissions departments of some other colleges / ITs to get a consensus view

Is there a possibility that you could undertake the course you wish to do by night - even if it takes a bit longer. It means you can continue to work. Although it will also mean you have to pay fees there is a tax rebate on them. This is what I did myself even though I looked at taking a career break and going full time into college.
Also means you don't have to revert to the beans on toast days!!;-)

Excellent suggestion on contacting the admissions offices of a few colleges. If I can get an answer I'll post it back here.
Fair play to you niceoneted to work by day, and study at night. For what I want to study it's not feasible. I do love baked beans though

Its irrelevant when you did the undergraduate degree, If you have an undergraduate qualification then you are not eligible for free fees.

This site has some info:
http://www.educationireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=52

The registration fee for 2011 will be 2000 (increased from 1500 in the Budget).
The tuition fee that you have to pay because you are not eligible for free fees is set by the HEA for fulltime undergraduate programmes. Its usually set by discipline (e.g engineering courses are more expensive than business ones).

If you look on the relevant college's page you should find the fees.
Examples from a google search:
Letterkenny IT:
http://www.lyit.ie/admissions/internationalapplicants/fees/
DIT:
[broken link removed]

Information on tax relief & grants can be found here: