Financial Assistance
A very useful website is available for general information on financial support for further and higher education at http://www.studentfinance.ie/
The Senior Tutor's Office has available several financial assistance resources for undergraduate students who fit the support criteria.
If you are a postgraduate student you should contact the Graduate Studies Office to enquire about financial assistance. They are located in the Arts Building.
Qualifying criteria for financial assistance are approved annually by the Board of the College. The Financial Assistance Committee reserves the right to reduce the approved awards, should pressure on the funds require this course of action.
All applications are treated in confidence, and are considered anonymously by the Financial Assistance Committee.
Traditional Undergraduate Students and Mature Students complete the exact same form (see download forms)
One application is made on the basis of which the Financial Assistance Committee approves the disbursal of awards from the most appropriate fund or combination of funds.
Application forms with the required signatures and supporting documentation should be submitted to:
Student Support Officer,
House 27,
College.
ESF Student Assistance Fund
The student assistance fund is available to students experiencing particular or unexpected hardship during their course of study and is allocated on a per capita basis to each higher education institution. Funding amounts available to each higher education institution have varied each year and are dependent on the level of demand for student support through the ‘top up’ grant. All students in financial difficulty are entitled to apply. Applications are means-tested, and must be accompanied by supporting income-related documentation. Most recent P21, most recent payslip, proof of Social Welfare payments, proof of local authority Higher Education grant should be provided with the completed application form.
There is no support for tuition fees. Receipts totalling the amount awarded must be provided.
Benefactions
College benefactions (Calendar Section T) (link) supports first degree students of standing who find themselves in financial difficulty. Applications are means-tested, and must be accompanied by supporting income-related documentation. Most recent P21, most recent payslip, proof of Social Welfare payments, proof of local authority Higher Education grant should be provided with the completed application form. In some cases a letter of recommendation from the College tutor for a specific fund is required.
Student Hardship Fund
A College-assigned fund from which the Financial Assistance Committee can assist any student having a financial crisis. Applications are means-tested, and must be accompanied by supporting income-related documentation. Most recent P21 and P60, 3 most recent payslips and bank statements, proof of Social Welfare payments, proof of local authority Higher Education grant should be provided with the completed application form.
The Financial Assistance Committee approves the strategic management of awards from the above funds, based on criteria approved annually by Board.
Trinity Trust
Trinity Trust provides support annually for compulsory and non-compulsory field trips in particular for Geology, Geography, Botany and Zoology: (c) assistance to needy students to meet expenses for compulsory field courses or for periods spent abroad which are required or deemed highly desirable by the head of school of department concerned; (Calendar T1-2 – further information from trip co-ordinator) Trinity Trust Field Trip forms with the required signatures and supporting documentation should be submitted to:
Student Support Officer,
House 27,
College.
Student Sports Centre Charge Waiver
TCD students voted by referendum in May 2007 in favour of the introduction of a mandatory Student Sports Centre Charge of €77, that would be reviewed annually, for sports centre usage for all students, with the provision that ‘Students with financial hardship would be exempt from the charge, as moderated by the Senior Tutor’s Office.’
All applications for a waiver of the €77 on the grounds of financial hardship, must be submitted on the official form which you can download from this link:
http://www.tcd.ie/Senior_Tutor/Documents/sports_waiver_update.pdf
If your (or your family) sole income is from Lone Parents Allowance, Back to Education Allowance or any similar form of Social Welfare Assistance or income, you will qualify for a waiver of the mandatory charge of €77.
A waiver may be granted in cases of financial hardship due to low family income.
All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Application forms that have not been completed in full and signed, and applications not accompanied by the required documentation, will not be considered.
On the basis of your application you may be called for interview from October 1st onwards.
Students deemed exempt from the Sport Centre charge will still have full access to the sports centre facilities.
Undergraduate Application forms and accompanying documents should be returned to:
Student Sports Centre Charge Waiver,
Senior Tutor’s Office,
House 27,
Trinity College,
Dublin 2.