Financial Support

Financial Support
It is no secret that going to college is expensive, but here you will find helpful advice to assist you in managing your financial wellbeing. 

If you cannot find what you’re looking for or want to discuss your circumstances in more detail, please get in touch and the Student Advisors for support. You can email the Advice and Advocacy team at advice@tudublinsu.ie, available Monday to Friday: 9am-5pm.

Back to Education Allowance

The Back to Education Allowance is awarded to those who have left education and are returning to further/complete their education. 

The criteria are that you must be unemployed, parenting alone or have a disability and getting certain payments from the Department of Social Protection. To be eligible, you must be progressing in your education, meaning the NFQ level of the course you wish to apply to must be higher than the NFQ level of the last course you completed. 

You cannot receive the maintenance allowance of the SUSI grant with the BTEA, but you may receive the tuition payment. The exception is if you are in receipt of One Parent Family payment you may be entitled to maintenance also. 

For more information on how to apply see Citizens Information. 

Fees

Withdrawal FAQ

Full-time students who withdraw before the 31st of October will receive their fees for the current academic year back in full.

Full-time students who withdraw between the 1st of November and the 31st of January will receive 50% of the Student Contribution fee and 50% Tuition Fee (if applicable) back.

Full-time students who withdraw after the 31st of January are liable for 100% Student Contribution fee and 100% Tuition fee if applicable. This means they will receive no fees back for the academic year.

Part-time students who withdraw before the 31st of October receive all fees back except the Programme Acceptance Fee.

Part-time students who withdraw between the 1st of November and the 31st of January will receive 50% of the Programme Fee back.

Part-time students who withdraw after the 31st of January are liable for 100% of the Programme Fee. This means they will receive no fees back for the academic year.

You should inform any funding agencies/sponsors that you may have availed of that you have withdrawn, an example of this would be SUSI if you are in receipt of the SUSI grant. Please note, the date of withdrawal may impact the level of a SUSI grant in the future.

You will need to complete an online Withdrawal Form for your relevant campus. You should also inform any funding agencies/sponsors, that you may have availed of, that you have withdrawn, an example of this would be SUSI if you are in receipt of the SUSI grant. Please note, the date of withdrawal may impact the level of a SUSI grant in the future. Before completing and submitting this form, we encourage students to contact their Course Co-Ordinator/Year Tutor to discuss their options. If you get stuck at any stage filling out the form, please do not hesitate to contact our Student Advice Team at advice@tudublinsu.ie. Additionally, you may find it worthwhile getting in contact with the TU Dublin Student Retention Officer, Heidi Kelly-Hogan, to discuss your options at: Heidi.KellyHogan@TUDublin.ie.

Generally, when you accept a place or progress into the next year of your course you will be sent an email invite to register, and you can pay your fees online. You can access all the information you need on TU Dublin course-related fees, how and when to pay them here:

Saving Money

Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS)

How to Save Money:

  1. Make a budget (and stick to it!). See how to start your budget.
  2. Don’t go supermarket shopping when you’re hungry.
  3. Buy second hand, swap and sell. You can swap and buy schoolbooks and use sites like Depop and Facebook Marketplace to swap, sell and buy clothes and materials.
  4. Use public transport to get around and be sure to register for a student or young adult Leapcard. These cards will give you cheaper fares and lower weekly caps.
  5. Make your own meals instead of eating out. Use microwaves on campus to heat your lunches from home.
  6. Know your discounts. See what money you can get off with the discounts especially for students.
  7. Ditch the unnecessary subscriptions or share accounts with your friends to spread the cost.
  8. Be creative with your activities and check out the free events running in the Union, in the University, and in Dublin with websites like EventBrite or dublineventguide.com.

Scholarships

Certain scholarships are available, but you must meet certain criteria to be eligible. Some scholarships are funded directly by the HEA (Higher Education Authority) while others come through the University. 

Scholarships can also be incentives for particular areas of study, research or sports. The Palestine Scholarship Programme is a masters-level scholarship for those living in occupied territory, and the International Protection Application Scholarship is for non-EU undergraduates who are IPAs, refugees, eligible for subsidiary protection or who have been granted permission to remain in Ireland. See the links below to discover what scholarships are available and whether you could be entitled to one!

Student Assistance Fund

If you are experiencing financial difficulties, various supports are available within TU Dublin. The Student Assistance Fund provides financial support to full-time or part-time students with either temporary or ongoing financial difficulties. 

To be eligible for the SAF you must meet certain criteria and funds can be used to help with books and class materials, rent, heating and lighting bills, food, essential travel related to your studies, childcare, social transition and medical costs. The SAF cannot be used to cover tuition fees. If you find yourself in a financial emergency, the SAF also covers an emergency assistance fund. 

Applications open in October, and details on the process and eligibility criteria are available here:

See Student Finance for more information.

The SUSI Grant

The national awarding authority for all higher and further education grants is SUSI. 

It offers funding to eligible students in approved full-time third-level education in Ireland and, in some cases, funding for students studying outside of Ireland. This is available for all students, from school leavers to mature students returning to education.

  • Grants are awarded to those applying to full-time courses in registered, public colleges and most TU Dublin courses are eligible.
  • Although postgraduate students are not eligible for a maintenance allowance, they may qualify for a grant for their tuition fees. Grants are only awarded to those who have legally lived in Ireland, EU, EEA, UK or Swiss Federation for 3 of the last 5 years.
  • If you weren't eligible for a grant in your first year, a change in you or your family's circumstances could mean you can apply in subsequent years.
  • If you have already applied for a SUSI grant, you can complete your programme registration without paying fees by adding your SUSI reference number when requested.

Have a look at the Eligibility Reckoner to calculate if you are eligible and check out the SUSI website for lots more useful details. The SUSI Helpdesk can be reached at support@susi.ie or call 0818 888 777 or +353-1-524 2257 if calling from abroad.

Other Supports

  • Credit Unions can provide educational funds, bursaries or student loans. Each credit union is different, so it’s important to reach out to your local one and see what options are available. 
  • The 1916 Bursary is an award for those coming from disadvantaged communities or areas typically underrepresented in higher education. TU Dublin is a participating university – click here for details on how to apply.
  • Student bank loans are another option, with many banks providing loans with lower interest rates. Banks such as Bank of Ireland and AIB offer student loans, as well as some credit unions.