Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the assistance available from his Department to an Irish student (details supplied) studying in the UK; and if his attention has been drawn to any assistance that may be available from the UK authorities towards the cost of third level education there. [13958/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means.

Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less

Students who are attending undergraduate courses in an EU Member State, can apply for a maintenance grant in respect of an approved course which is being pursued in an approved institution. The student grant scheme does not extend to postgraduate courses pursued outside of Ireland.

The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application in relation means, residency, nationality and previous academic attainment, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant. To determine eligibility, a student may submit a fully completed online grant application to SUSI, via studentfinance.ie, once the application process for the 2013/14 academic year opens.

In addition the student in question can contact the university's Welfare and Financial Guidance Service before they apply for the course at email:

firstpoint@worc.ac.uk if they would like confidential, one-to-one financial advice.