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 in your studies and not repeating any part of your course, except in exceptional circumstances.
You are not eligible for a grant if you are repeating, except in exceptional circumstances.
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 full-time level 7 course. You are now applying for a grant for a different full-time level 7 course. Provided you meet all eligibility criteria, you will only be eligible for 6 maintenance payments instead of the full 9 maintenance payments and will need to complete an equivalent period of study of 3 months before you can receive your first maintenance payment.
You may be considered eligible for funding as a second chance student where you are a mature student and:
- have previously attended but not completed a course,
- have had a three year break in studies since leaving that course and
- are returning to attend an approved course at PLC, undergraduate or postgraduate 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.
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 postgraduate level All previous attendance and attainment at postgraduate level are considered regardless of whether a 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 |
The maximum periods of grant funding available to you at each level of study are outlined in the table below.
|
Level |
Qualification |
Maximum Periods of Grant Funding |
|
UG Level 6 |
Higher Certificate |
Maximum 4 years or 120 credits whichever is reached first at undergraduate level 6
|
|
UG Level 7 |
Ordinary Bachelor Degree |
Maximum 6 years or 180 credits whichever is reached first at undergraduate level 7
|
|
UG Level 6 & 7 Combined |
Ordinary Bachelor Degree |
Maximum 8 years or 240 credits whichever is reached first in total at undergraduate level 6 & 7 |
|
UG Level 8 |
Honours Bachelor Degree |
Maximum 8 years or 240 credits whichever is reached first at undergraduate level 8 (except where normal duration of course is longer) |
