What are the Previous Education and Progression Criteria?
To be eligible for a grant, you must be progressing in your education. This means that you must be attending an approved course:
- that leads to a higher level of qualification than any you may already hold. For example, if you hold a level 6 qualification, you must be progressing to a level 7 course or higher;
- that is at a higher level than any course you may have previously attended;
- in which you are progressing from one year to the next and not repeating a year except in exceptional circumstances.
You may be considered eligible for funding as a second chance student where you:
- have previously attended but not completed a course,
- have had a three year break in studies at since leaving that course and
- are returning to attend an approved course at the same level.
Studying at a level below undergraduate level, within the three year period, does not affect a student’s eligibility to be considered as a second chance student.
Maximum Periods of Grant Funding
The maximum periods of grant funding available to you at each level of study are outlined in the table below.
|
Further/Higher Education |
Level |
Qualification |
Maximum Periods of Grant Funding |
|
Further Education |
PLC Level 5 |
Certificate |
- Maximum 3 years funding total at PLC level |
|
Further Education |
PLC Level 6 |
Advanced Certificate |
|
|
Higher Education |
UG Level 6 |
Higher Certificate |
- Maximum 2 years funding at undergraduate level 6 - Maximum 3 years funding at undergraduate level 7 - Maximum 4 years funding in total at undergraduate level 6 & 7
- Maximum 4 years funding at undergraduate level 8 (except where normal duration of course exceeds 4 years) |
|
Higher Education |
UG Level 7 |
Ordinary Bachelor Degree |
|
|
Higher Education |
UG Level 8 |
Honours Bachelor Degree |
|
|
Higher Education |
PG Level 8 |
Higher Diploma |
- Maximum 4 years funding in total at Postgrad All previous attendance and attainment at postgraduate level are considered regardless of whether grant was received previously or not |
|
Higher Education |
PG Level 9 |
Diploma |
|
|
Higher Education |
PG Level 9 |
Masters Degree |
|
|
Higher Education |
PG Level 10 |
PHD |
Repeat Period of Study
You are not eligible for a grant if you are repeating a year on the same course.
However, if you previously attended a further or higher education course but left prior to finishing, you may be eligible for a portion of a student grant once you have completed an equivalent period of study.
Example: You previously completed 3 months of a level 7 course. You are now applying for a grant for a different level 7 course. Provided you meet all eligibility criteria, you will only be eligible for 6 payments instead of the full 9 payments and will need to complete an equivalent period of study of 3 months before you can receive your first payment.
