Financial Aid Fund and Fee Consideration Guidelines 2015/2016
What is the Student Assistance Fund?
The Student Assistance Fund is intended to tackle disadvantaged students by providing financial
support to students experiencing financial difficulty or extenuating circumstances while attending
University?
Who can apply?
All registered full-time students (Subject to EU status) following a course of at least one year are
eligible to apply. Part-time, foundation and Erasmus students are not eligible to apply.
What do I need to do to apply?
Complete the online application form which has been emailed to you. Ensure all questions are
answered and that the information you provide us with is correct, as verification will be sought.
What if I have a query?
You can contact us at: financialaid@nuigalway.ie or call into us on 1st Floor, Aras Ui Chathail with any
queries. Our opening hours are 10.00 – 12.45 and 14.15 – 16.45.
How are applications assessed?
The Committee assesses applications, anonymously, based on household income and personal
circumstances.
When and how will I be notified if I have been successful?
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application via email. Please ensure you enter
your correct email address so that we can communicate with you.
What documentation do I need?
If you are deemed successful for funding, you will be asked to provide Student who are deemed
eligible for funding will be required to provide us with:
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Confirmation of parents/guardians income (P60, P21 or payslip) (if relevant)
Confirmation of applicants income (P60, P21 or payslip) (if relevant)
Confirmation of Social Welfare payment to parents/guardians (if relevant)
Confirmation of Social Welfare payment to applicants (if relevant)
Original Bank Statement showing a least 6 weeks of current transactions
Copy of Medical Card (if relevant)
Receipts
Tips on filling in the form correctly
Q.1 & Q.2; Category of Student
Enter the correct status, e.g. undergraduate student. One of the common mistakes is ticking the part-time box
when the full-time applies, or vice versa.
Q.3: Assessment of Exceptional Personal Circumstances
This section is limited to 100 words. Applicants should exercise care to use this section to fully describe the
severity of their circumstances e.g. serious illness, family breakdown, estrangement from family, bereavement.
Q.4 – Q.9: Questions of “fact”
Please ensure that you tick the correct box (Tick only one in each category.).
Q.10: Income
Please enter your annual income. To arrive at this sum: if paid weekly multiply the weekly income by 52 e.g.
€188 x 52 = €9,776; if paid monthly multiply by 12 e.g. €1,000 x 12 = €1,200. Where there is income from
casual work a best estimate over the 12 months period is acceptable.
Please take care when filling out this section as you will be asked to show proof of income e.g. P21, Payslip
or Social Welfare Receipt (as relevant)
Q.11: Parents/guardians, civil partner or cohabitant’s gross income.
Income includes funds from social welfare, work, pensions and any other source. Students who are under 23
and estranged from their family should include this under Q.3 in the application form (verification will be
sought). Students who are over 23 and single need only include their income (their parents income is not
relevant in this case). All other students need to include parents/guardians, civil partner of cohabitant’s gross
income.
Please take care when filling out this section as you will be asked to show proof of income e.g. P21, Payslip
or Social Welfare Receipt (as relevant)
Q.12-Q.14: Fee Consideration
These questions relate to requests for fee reduction, payment of fees by instalment, removal of penalties.
Information connected with fees status e.g. fees outstanding can be obtained by logging onto
www.nuigalway.ie/fees