help/info needed mature student advice

i have just applied through the cao for several level 8 degree courses around the country.I am currently emplyod.i was under the impression that i would be able to recieve beifits as a mature student but as I have not been unemployed for 9 months or more i've basically been told that i can still risk it but my chances are very unlikely.
I need to know if i keep working right up untill i start college will i still be able to avail of the standard grants? not the BTEA or would there be any advantage of me even leaving my emploment now and going on the dole and trying to wing it that way?
I have been out school since 2201 and didn't recieve the right points then for what i wanted to do.

Any advice or help regardless if you don't think it's relevant would be greatly appriciated

If you were 9 months on the dole before you went to college, you would qualify for BTEA, rent allowance and would get the local authority grant as well as a top up grant because you are receiving social welfare payments. Think the grant works out about 15K in total for the year as well as BTEA.

If you stay working until you start college you will get the grant without the top up which is about 9k. When you apply for the grant you are means tested but mature students automatically qualify (most of the time) for the higher rate. The grant forms would be out around June if I remember correctly. Its a good idea to be getting your paperwork together (P60, balancing statement, proof of residence etc) for it in the mean time because the sooner you send it back, the better because then you wont have to pay for fees when you register for college and spend months waiting for them to be refunded.

Unless I am misinterpreting things, I think the information provided above is incorrect. For example, mature students certainly do not automatically qualify for the maintenance grant.


There are income limits around qualification for the maintenance grant (starting at €37k for the full grant, up to about €55k depending on family circumstances).

Level of grant payment are between roughly €5k (if you have income below €17.5k per annum) and €310.

Check out the oasis.gov.ie website for more info.

If you are living with your parents their income will be taking into consideration for your grant.