We hope to provide a first step towards a comprehensive online resource for student parents
Covering most issues and FAQ that current and prospective students with children might face:
Information for Students with Children
The College seeks to promote an inclusive environment for students and welcomes student parents.
Here you will find information on the range of resources available in College.
Academic Matters
Childcare
Financial Support
Support services
Student parent project
Useful links
Academic Matters:
If you have concerns about the impact of your pregnancy or caring responsibilities on your academic performance you can discuss this with your Tutor or the Postgraduate Advisory Service.
See College regulations in relation to pregnancy and maternity and paternity leave in the College Calendar
For undergraduate students: College Calendar Part II (General Regulations, Academic Progress, section 16) http://www.tcd.ie/calendar/1415-2/part-2-undergraduate-courses-and-other-general-information/general-regulations-and-information/academic-progress/ For postgraduate students : College Calendar Part III (General Regulations, section 1.26, maternity, paternity and adoptive leave) http://www.tcd.ie/calendar/1415-2/part-3/general-academic-regulations-for-graduate-studies-and-higher-degrees/attendance-and-off-books/ Childcare
There is a day nursery on campus for staff and students with subsidized rates. The Nursery caters for children aged 3 months to 4.5 years. Places are limited so you need to apply early and there might be a waiting list. For more information:
http://www.tcd.ie/about/services/daynursery/
Financial Support:
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate Students can apply for financial support once they are registered students through the Senior Tutor’s office: http://www.tcd.ie/Senior_Tutor/tutors/financial-assistance/. All financial assistance applications are means tested. Backup documentation is required.
You can obtain further information on the Student Assistance Fund and other forms of financial assistance from the Student Support Officer located in the Senior Tutor’s Office, your College Tutor or on the Senior Tutor’s Office website (http://www.tcd.ie/senior_tutor).
TAP/HEAR students
Financial assistance and support is offered through the Trinity Access Programme. Further information available on their website: http://www.tcd.ie/Trinity_Access/current/financial.php
There are other forms of financial support available through the college under the links above which apply to undergraduate students in particular circumstances or studying for certain degrees.
The application forms become available at the beginning of the academic year and needs to be signed by your personal Tutor. You can download these forms from the Senior Tutor’s Office website http://www.tcd.ie/senior_tutor/forms
You will need to provide supporting documentation such as: 3 months most recent bank statements, welfare payments, P60’s, payslips, and proof of bills. The application form outlines all supporting documentation required and these forms cannot be accepted without being fully completed.
Postgraduate Students
Postgraduate Students can apply for financial assistance through the Graduate Studies Office located in the Arts Building. Other funding opportunties are detailed on the following link for postgraduate students https://www.tcd.ie/Graduate_Studies/currentstudents/funding/index.php (check with Graduate Studies Office/Gillian Roddie regarding this)
Other sources of financial support:
Funding Programmes a parent might qualify for:
- ECCE – early childhood care & education scheme. Aka the free preschool year. The parent is entitled to 38 weeks of part-time childcare for free, usually 3.5 hours a day. In the Day Nursery as it is generally a full time service we apply a €62.50 reduction in fees for 38 pre-approved weeks. This results in the student paying €82.50 per week for 38 weeks and €145 per week for the remaining. For staff this is €160.50 for 38 weeks, for the remaining weeks the fee is €223 per week. For more information follow this link http://www.dcya.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=%2Fdocuments%2FECCE-Scheme%2Fintro.htm&mn=chit&nID=2
- CCS – community childcare subvention scheme. This funding is based on the social welfare benefits that the parent / parents are in receipt of. Depending on the band they fall under a parent can receive €50 reduction in the weekly fee over the space of 51 weeks OR parents can received €95 reduction in their childcare fees over the space of 51 week. Normally student parents are the main benefactor to this funding as staff parents do not receive enough of the social welfare benefits. http://www.dcya.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=%2Fdocuments%2Fchildcare%2FCCSDocsJune2012%2FCCSMainPage.htm&mn=chit&nID=3
- CETS – childcare education and training support. This scheme is available to those who are engaged in FAS of VEC training programmes. Parents who qualify for this funding are eligible to a reduction of €145 per week. Further information is available at the following link http://www.dcya.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/ecce-scheme/20140903guidetoTECProg.htm#6
SU Welfare officer:
There is the option to apply for help with childcare costs for parents in financial difficulties through the Student Union Welfare officer at the beginning of the Academic Year. The childcare (crèche, minder, etc.) must be registered and the support is limited to one academic year.
Here is the link to the SU welfare website with the contact details of the welfare officer-
https://www.tcdsu.org/welfare
The student union can also give out short term loans and you will find additional information about the SU and college support services on the website.
St. Vincent De Paul:
It might also be worth considering contacting your local Parish group of Vincent de Paul to get some support with bills or books. They usually don’t provide monthly support with childcare.
http://www.svp.ie/Home.aspx
College Supports:
Peer to Peer support:
Student 2 student is a peer support programme where you can sign up to and trained student will help and support you with specific issues you might have during time in college. There are matures student supporters and other parents among them.
You can also sign up to volunteer as a peer supporter yourself. Please follow the link for more information:
http://student2student.tcd.ie/
SU Welfare Officer, Student's Union, House 6, College
https://www.tcdsu.org/welfare
GSU Vice-President
http://www.tcdgsu.ie/
Student Parent Project:
We are student parents working for student parents and are in the process of setting up a society for student parents and all people, students and staff, who support us.We are planning family friendly events, working on policy issues related to student parents in college and want to provide a space for student parents to mingle and network and to make us and our families more visible and included in college life.No matter what age your children are, if you are a biological or a bonus parent, if you live full time with your children or not, if you are just looking for information, or if you would like to get actively involved, we would like to hear from you.
Please contact Nicole on jaguschn@tcd.ie or ask to join our Facebook group TCD student parents:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/354502184592775/
Useful Links:
http://www.childcareonline.ie/
College's Supports for Student Parents, Student Carers and Students Experiencing Pregnancy Policy:http://www.tcd.ie/about/policies/assets/pdf/student-parent-carer-and-pregnancy-policy.pdf
College’s Equality Policy: http://www.tcd.ie/about/policies/equality-policy.php
Higher Education grants, etc.: http://www.studentfinance.ie/
BTEA, Child Benefit, One Parent Family Payment, Carers allowance, etc.:
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/
ECCE scheme (free early childcare scheme for 3- 4 year olds), childcare options, subventions for community childcare, etc.:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/
http://www.dcya.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=120
Official childcare directory Dublin City Council: http://www.dublin.ie/childcare/home.htm
Online resource for parents and teachers Schooldays.ie: http://www.schooldays.ie/
Helplines and support agencies:
http://www.childline.ie/
http://www.parentline.ie/
http://www.onefamily.ie/
http://www.oneparent.ie/
http://www.barnardos.ie/
http://www.womensaid.ie/