Financial Assistance @ LIT

Student Grant​​

The student grant is the main source of financial help available from the Irish State for students in full-time Post Leaving Certificate Courses (PLCs) and full-time higher education undergraduate/postgraduate courses. For eligible students, the grant is there to help with the various costs of participating in further or higher education. Students on part-time courses, access or foundation courses (in higher education institutions) and short courses are not eligible to apply for a student grant.

Family and/or personal income is a key factor that will be assessed when you apply for a student grant but there are also some other conditions. Studentfinance.ie can help you to assess whether you are eligible and guide you in starting the process. In all cases, the official decision on eligibility is of course made by the grant-awarding bodies.
If you think you are eligible for the student grant, you should apply for it by 31st August (online application for 2012-13 is now open). You do not have to wait until you receive an offer of a place or enrol in college.

This year for the first time application is made through a central system.The new single grant-awarding authority is Student Universal Support Ireland otherwise known as SUSI. It will handle all new grant applications for 2012-2013 through studentfinance.ie.   The following students should submit an online application to SUSI:

• a student who completed the Leaving Certificate in 2012;
• a student who never previously pursued a Post Leaving Certificate course (PLC), an approved undergraduate course or an approved postgraduate course;
• a student who completed an approved course in 2011-12, or a previous academic year, and hopes to pursue a further course in 2012-13, including those pursuing an “add-on” course in 2012-13;
• a student who attended but did not complete a course in 2011-12, or a previous academic year, and hopes to pursue an approved course in 2012-13

The existing 66 grant awarding bodies (VEC's and County Councils) will continue to deal with the renewal of applications for their existing grant-holders for the duration of their current courses.

Student Assistance Fund

The Student Assistance Fund is funded by the Irish Government and part funded by the European Social Fund under the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013. Administered by the Access Service the Fund provides limited support for whole-time LIT students who are in severe financial difficulties due to unforeseen circumstances, or who are disadvantaged and require additional financial support to enable them in so far as is possible to participate fully in their studies while at the Institute.

Students who apply to the fund are assessed on an individual and confidential basis. Students will be required to produce financial information to support their application for assistance. The areas that could be considered for funding include rent, food, personal household bills, medical expenses etc. Funding is not available under this fund for the cost of tuition fees or registration fees. Funding is approved by the Student Funding Advisory Committee.

For more information click here.

Child-minding Subsidy

The Limerick Institute of Technology child-minding subsidy administered by the Access Service provides limited support for whole-time LIT students who are in financial difficulty with childcare costs and therefore require additional financial support to enable them in so far as is possible to participate fully in their studies while at the Institute.

Students who apply to the fund are assessed on an individual and confidential basis. Students will be required to produce financial information to support their application for assistance. Funding is approved by the Student Funding Advisory Committee.

For more information click here.

Fund for Students with Disabilities

The Fund for Students with Disabilities allocates funding to further and higher education colleges for the provision of services and supports to full-time students with disabilities. The Fund aims to ensure that students can participate fully in their academic programmes and are not disadvantaged by reason of a disability.

For more information click here.

www.studentfinance.ie

For all information on these funds and all funding available to students in higher education see www.studentfinance.ie. Studentfinance.ie is a user friendly comprehensive website that will help students and their families navigate through financial support systems.