Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science | Assistance to applicants for higher education courses who are being refused higher education funding or a back to education allowance

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education; Research; Innovation and Science the steps being taken or the steps he proposes to take to assist applicants for higher education courses who are being refused higher education funding or a back to education allowance on the grounds that they have previously studied or completed a course at a similar level on the NFQ, despite the fact that their existing qualification is deemed to be insufficient to meet the requirements of the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

To satisfy the terms and conditions of the Student Grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course, having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course.

Generally speaking, a grant will not be paid to a student for a repeat period of study on the same course, or for a different course at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously.  The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study.

However, once a student progresses to a course at a higher level or completes the equivalent period of study on a new course, the student may be eligible for student grant assistance for the remainder of the course.  Article 15(7) of the Student Grant Scheme 2024 refers.

SUSI treats each application for repeat funding on a case-by-case basis and it is a matter for the individual student to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the awarding authority that there were exceptional circumstances. Any student who believes that their student grant application has been assessed incorrectly may also avail of the opportunities to appeal to SUSI and subsequently to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board. Such appeals can be made by the appellant on-line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie

Back to Education allowance is not administered by my Department so I would advise the Deputy to direct any specific queries on this payment to the Department of Social Protection who will be in a position to offer detailed advice.  

However, alternative options exist in Higher Education for students who wish to undertake courses without necessarily progressing to a higher NFQ level, these include Springboard+, Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1 and Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 3 Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy.

Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 complements the core State-funded education and training system and provides free and subsidised upskilling and reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills need, from Level 6 to Level 9 on the NFQ, to the employed, unemployed and returners to the workforce, under certain conditions. For further information, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions, please see Springboard+ website.

Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy was launched in March 2024, to subsidise fees for learners for micro-credential courses. These courses, ranging from 1 to 30 ECTS and spanning Levels 6-9 on the National Framework of Qualifications are small, accredited courses designed to meet the demands of learners, enterprise and society. For detailed information on approved micro-credential courses and application procedures, please see HEA website.