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FINALLY, THE MOMENT has arrived. It’s spelled out on a screen, and all of a sudden my face is wet with hot tears. “Congratulations”. I’ve been accepted into my dream master’s.
Like many applications, it was a systematic labour of love. With a full-time job to cater to, I had to find time to squeeze in opportunities to transition to the dream career of journalism. Streams of SEO articles kept the ball rolling while I took my hand to switching my writing style from literary and academic to report and opinion.
I pursued an online diploma in Radio Journalism. I interviewed notable figures and felt my love of all things current affairs become a reality. My efforts vindicated when I saw that word across my computer screen.
But my tears of joy soon became tears of pain, and anger. The issue that had inhibited the application for so long sprung to mind: money.
I’ve always been careful with money
I have always been pretty great with money. My mum used to have me search the couches in the hopes of gathering coins for bread and milk. In her desperate bid to educate me on the importance of money in life, I became as frugal as could be. When we became homeless in 2007, such economic blessings came in handy. When I worked full-time during a full-time undergraduate degree, I felt privileged to see my education grow as a result of my earned wages.
Now, that’s all changed.
Here’s my situation.
I earned €17,000 in the year ending 2014, working an average of 38.5 hours a week. My mother is a single parent who receives a jobseeker’s allowance a week of €188 and is on an emergency housing scheme as she was homeless during the time January -June 2014 (longer than that, but preceding these dates do not apply when going through SUSI’s process).
I’ve lived independently since 2009 and I’m 23 next month. I moved to a cheaper part of the country in 2013 when I graduated, partially due to my partner’s presence there, but more specifically because of the significant savings I could make by paying a whopping 66% less on rent and bills and living costs.
My education dream
I spent one year saving and could not afford to apply for a master’s.
I spent another year saving and still could not afford to apply for a master’s.
I talked to SUSI for a good hour on the phone, after sending them a multitude of back-and-forth emails. To my surprise, I discovered that I do not qualify for anything – perhaps €2,000 out of my €8,210 fees if the incredibly confusing prerequisites are fulfilled. Why?
Because I am 22, and am therefore considered a dependent. My modest wage, coupled with my mother’s meagre allowance combined throws me out of the bracket to get full fees covered. Oh, and because my mother was homeless for the first six months of 2014, she was legally not entitled to jobseeker’s as she had no legal address – hence because neither she nor myself were on the register for a whole year, I do not apply to ANY fee contribution. Period.
I decided to look into a student loan. The maximum loan I can take out is around €7,500, and so will in no way close cover my living expenses during my duration in college, even with decent part-time work hours, which I expect to work.
Working full-time during a master’s degree would be counterproductive
I’m left pondering. I spent four years in college studying full-time hours, sitting in a lecture hall in a McDonald’s uniform so I could leave ten minutes early to earn a wage, five days a week, to pay my way through my undergraduate years to sustain myself and my family, on top of an undergraduate maintenance allowance. I currently work two full-time jobs and study a diploma in radio journalism. I know that if I were to repeat the habit of full-time work after college hours, there is not a hope I would pass my master’s course. Even if I did, I wouldn’t be given the opportunity to pursue my degree to the best of my abilities.
I have learned a few things. If I had acquired 391 days of the dole, I’d be entitled a grant to cover fees. If I wait until 2017, and reject the course I’ve been offered, I’ve a slightly higher chance of acquiring tuition cover… but may not again be accepted to this dream opportunity.
What I’ve learned about the system
So, even if you’re on the breadline of a full-time job earning just above minimum wage for two years, you’ll be lucky to afford anything. If you and your parent(s) have stayed on the dole, you’ll get something. If you’ve waited until the age of three years after you graduated , and you’ve stayed on minimum wage full-time, you’ll get something.
But if you’ve just graduated, moved elsewhere to save money, spent almost two years working full-time on a basic wage to try and jump back into the education zone to keep that career dream alive, then no can do.
I have until Sunday to accept my course. I wonder how much time Ireland’s youth have to prosper in education given the current circumstances they face?
Niamh Cullen is a freelance journalist. Visit her website here to read more of her work or follow her on Twitter @niavc.
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That is an absolute disgrace. Someone trying their best and turned down at every juncture. But is typical of this country. Do you know any government politicians -there is an election coming up don’t give up.
SUSI are unreal. I genuinely believe that they are this government’s HSE for education; essentially a barrier in terms of accountability between the public and the government.
They turned down my girlfriend on every possible, tiny avenue of possibility that they could find. She dislocated her knee nearly a decade ago while in college, underwent several surgeries and a slow and painful series of physiotherapy to recover which forced her to drop out. SUSI day she isn’t entitled to a grant because she dropped out before. My other half claims that this is obviously exceptional circumstances, complete with letters from physicians and consultants who advised her that undertaking such a demanding course would slow her recovery greatly. A supervisor for SUSI, and I quote, told her that “exceptional circumstances as laid down by the Minister for Education would mean you’d have to have cancer or leukaemia or something”. Then, we emailed Jan O’ Sullivan, seemingly responsible for the definition of exceptional circumstances, whose lovely secretary emails us back saying that the Minister does not deal with or engage with SUSI.
The system’s a joke. All she wants is to unskill, to improve her lot through education. If you won’t invest in your future taxbase, tell me, what the hell will you invest it?!
Hi Vin,
SUSI is really an unfair crony system. I feel for your girlfriend. I was also in a similar situation and initially I was rejected. I decided to get in touch with the Ombudsman and stated my case. It was a very time consuming process but in the end my case was won. Instead of being bounced around from one SUSI operator to another they got in contact at the top tier. Your girlfriends health circumstances sound much worse than mine so I would advise you to get in contact with them. My time scale of when I initially dropped out of uni was also less than what you mentioned. If 5 years passes and there are exceptional circumstances then the SUSI grant should be accredited.
Good luck
https://www.ombudsman.gov.ie/en/news/media-releases/2013-media-releases/ombudsman-statement-on-susi.html
Cheers Sio, I’ll defo pass that on to her.
Aw, they’re unreal. In the meantime between her original dropout and the present, she also did a couple of pointless FAS Level 5 courses at the behest of social welfare. SUSI claimed that she received funding for this, i.e. her social welfare payment plus whatever you get for doing a FAS course, and that would put her out of the five year category for grant reception. Basically, she complied with the Social Welfare system while unable to work and that’s being used against her, even though if she had refused to do the FAS course her payment would have been slashed.
Then, quick as a flash, SUSI change tack and go after the “exceptional circumstances” angle. “If you had cancer, or leukemia or something”, how glib can you get?! But then again, when you’re only a number and dealing with a faceless voice over the phone it’s easy to be glib, I guess. They also said that if she had tried to go to college with her dislocated knee, against doctor’s order, and found it impossible to complete the course, she’d have her grant now. Basically, they’re saying that they don’t have enough evidence that she was significantly injured enough to warrant exceptional circumstances in spite of letters from the HSE, doctors and consultants. We’ve had local TD’s, even an MEP try to help us with this and we’re basically being told that she’ll have to suck it up. She’s already in debt to cover fees for this term, she will only get a grant for half a year next year as well. The whole thing is a joke. Ruairi Quinn should be ashamed of himself but I’d say he sleeps well at night.
I faced a similar issue when applying for my undergraduate in UCC. I didn’t meet the criteria of being on the dole for the given period of time required (Almost suggesting that getting off the dole to go to work had been a bad idea).
A politician who values education helped me by pulling strings and got me funding even though the bureaucratic process was decided on rejecting me. If I were you I would at least try to get a politician behind you because in these cases they can actually over ride the system.
Thanks, Michael. We already have a couple of politicians involved. I actually omitted a major aspect of her case as well; she did not receive a grant when she was in college the first time around.
Niamh made a critical error, trying to improve herself, become an independent and productive member of society. Rest easy however Niamh, knowing that the 2 kids for a free house brigade, who will never pay a single cent of tax their entire lives, will be well looked after with their Johnny Blue’s and Dutch Gold.
Thisnwas the exact same back in 2001 when I was applying for college. A dependent until 23 yet if your parents get welfare for any reason you supposedly have to fend for yourself from 18.
Start a gofundme page and I’ll forego a few pints this weekend and throw you the few bob. I’m sure others would too.
Jay, that’s the nicest response I’ve seen on The Journal in a long time! And a great idea too :)
Jay that’s incredibly sweet of you- I feel like I should get you pints just as a thanks for even suggesting that! To be honest I’ve had a lot of people suggest a gofundme and I just can’t bring myself to do it. It’s not that I want free fees, and especially not so people’s money- I just want to see a realistic system in place where say, a realistic loan value can be taken and deferred for a year and repaid over time. Currently maximum deferral in all Irish vanks is 3months. Credit Union is fantastic but does not defer at all. I can’t bring myself to take money from friends and the public because it’s their hard earned money AND they are taxpayers too- therefore I don’t feel that they should have to pay for the atrocious system in place. I do however dearly appreciate the suggestion, it is more warming than any big cuppa tea could ever be :)
When you’re in a better financial situation, pay it forward. That’s the beauty of sites like GoFundMe. You have until Sunday to accept the course. You won’t be able to change the system by then. You will be able to gather together the funds though.
Changing the system will take time. Focus on getting on that course first!
I agree with Jay, you won’t change the system by Sunday but maybe when you’re done you will help change the system & that way will pay forward whatever help you get now.
Set up your GoFundMe page, stating clearly that by using the system fairly you are now a victim of that system. If like you say, you’d gone on the dole earlier (something I too was brought up to avoid unless as a very last resource) you wouldn’t be in the predicament you are now in.
Your GoFundMe page will not only help you but will also highlight a very important issue that generally goes unnoticed when people complain about welfare – That those who use it fairly are the first to fall foul of it, yet those who abuse it rarely do.
Set it up and ill throw you a score!! Working full time and doing a masters is indeed counter productive! Every little helps…….
Incredibly well written. I too have seen the defeating aspects of the system. It isn’t designed to help you, it’s designed to categorise you. The fact that welfare only go on what a person earned 2 years ago is bizarre. If you’re unemployed today then 2 years ago is meaningless but they set these odd rules to hide the real level of need out there. This is why this country will fall. People have no hope when the goal posts are so far removed from the actual field.
I’m self employed as a photographer. Business is awful due to the glut of new photographers in the market so
I applied for and got onto a masters program last year in digital media in nuig.
I have a self employed wife and three kids a grant would have been lovely but not a chance in hell,
Last year was incredibly tough financially and personally BUT
It was totally worth it.
You have many options grants, loans and even financial aid
My point is your education is vital and you can make it work
Go for it you really won’t regret it
Personally I don’t belief that post grad education should necessarily be free, but it should certainly be subsidized for Irish students. However, this is an excellent example of how the system, including social welfare and health punishes you for working and contributing to society. If you sit on the dole for a year or so you’ll be rewarded with free or heavily subsidized tuition. Don’t bother trying to get the life experience which will ensure you get the maximum from the masters.
Failing that you could always try and get a postgraduate qualification via Springboard but they are often in areas where people don’t want to go or not good enough still to get sustainable jobs.
I just think this government has pushed a lot of people away from their hopes and dreams.
Sorry Fine Gael/ Labour it looks like I am setting out to bash you all the time but in fairness this is a topic where you guys have let down the youth of today/ adults and taxpayers of tommorrow!!
Well done for everything you have achieved so far. It’s truly amazing. You should contact the students union in whatever college you have applied to. They are usually great and sometimes in colleges there’s (some) funding for postgrads to help with fees and living expenses. For example in NUIG there’s the financial aid fund where you can get up to 1200 euro (I think it’s still this) to help. Also st. Vincent de paul have a grant for college students. Enquire everywhere. You shouldn’t have to go looking everywhere when you clearly deserve it, but unfortunately that’s the mess our government has us in. Best of luck
It used to be even more absurd, the undergrad grant used to test you on your parents income from the first year of college…even if you’re in 4th year and have moved out and become totally independent, even if your income has all taken a steep nosedive…doesn’t matter.
I often wonder at the people making these rules…do they’ve no real life experience of their own to draw on, or common sense?
Who ever said masters degrees were given free?
She doesn’t want it for free, but she does want a fair chance at getting it, without been penalised. Clearly, she is a hardworking intelligent girl – I wish all our youth were as intelligent and hardworking as her.
Who said she wanted it for free? She is clearly a hardworking, thoughtful and intelligent person, she deserves a little help – she’ll pay it back many times once she gets in, as she’ll easy get a great paying job with her attitude, intelligence and work ethic. Free stuff? We’ve plenty of wasters and free loaders in Ireland, she clearly isn’t one.
Derek typical response. You see Ruarí Quinn took more or less anything off people that helped grads go for further study.
The government pawned us all off on Bank of Ireland with costly loans for those lucky enough to be able to afford them, and those that can’t tough poo.
I feel for ya Niamh. I couldnt get the Susi either. I took a chance and went ahead with study. Im midway through a fulltime masters, but also had to recently start working fulltime as Dublin rents burned up my savings fairly quick. I manage to get one or two lectures in the evening in, but have to do a hell of a lot of work every weekend. Cannot wait for the year to be over.
I hope things work out for you Niamh. Best of luck.
In the Uk if you start an undergraduate course in GB/ NI like Dentistry, Architecture, Medicine, Engineering etc you can get the funding to do your masters to finish the thing once you do it within three years after you graduate from teh first course. You can get this even if you are an Eu student like I was.
For those outside of that sphere students can get postgraduate career loans once they are UK students.
However in Ireland in the land of cretins like Ruarí Quinn he completely destroyed the postgrauate options for students as there is very little in terms of help and very little opportunity for bank loans.
Good point Niamh. I have experienced this myself and you are bang on the money.
Those who try the hardest should be helped to succeed! It makes me sick to see the system fail so epically in this task.
Penalised for your effort, would get more help if you had sat at home and not tried. Sad state of affairs. But you have to accept Niamh, don’t let this dream opportunity pass! Some banks offer loans to postgraduate students to defer payment for a year. Don’t let go of your dream.
While thankfully I didn’t have to face the same obstacles that the author did, I did find myself ineligible for a postgrad grant despite a limited income. In my opinion this has to be tackled in four main ways.
First we need to get rid of “Free Education”. By this I do not mean that students with the ability should be barred from third level due to lack of income. Rather, I think limited resources should be used to aid students that lack the ability to pay, and students with the ability to pay, should. The idealism of “education as a right” for all, in effect means that education (particular postgrad) is out of reach of many students as money is wasted by funding the undergrad tuition for students who are in a position to pay.
Secondly, we need to look at a specialist student loan system, which could in part be guaranteed by the exchequer, but still being based on the idea of students paying back these loans when they are in a position to pay.
Thirdly, 3rd Level should be harder to get into, or at the very least make it a more comprehensive selection process. Firstly it would weed out those who go to college because “its something to do”, how much money is wasted on 1 term students?. And perhaps more importantly can go to making a degree mean something again.
Finally, companies and organisations could be given tax breaks to offer more grants and scholarships to students. Not only is it an alternative funding model, it also encourages companies and organisation to “protect their investment” and hire more students directly from University (certainly more useful than jobsbridge)
Tony we do need a self sustaining model like Britain that actually helps students. For example they have more bursaries, scholarshis, hardship funds etc that they can trap into vs the pitiful way SUSI is ran where it is like the Gustapo for everyone and helps absolutely no one when they need it.
SUSI/ the government have everyone jumping through hoops like dogs.
bursaries, scholarships and hardship funds of a few thousand mean nothing when fees are over 12k a year
For those receiving them though Joe, they mean getting their masters or PhD or generally educated. So they do have meaning.
If the government charged everyone 12k here (no exemptions)and gave 1000 bursary to the poorest would you be happy? Taking parts of one system that you like and ignoring the rest of that system is a pointless exercise.
They charge e6500k in a lot of cases Joe per year. Some courses are more than one year and cost that e12k total that you speak of.
I agree with you but it is a reality right now minus the state aid for all but the poorest in society/ or families that never worked a day in their lives or rich people. Everybody in between is scundered!
The government will pay for you to be idle but will not provide any payment for mature students who have never received social welfare. I made the HUGE mistake of not going on the dole before starting my undergraduate degree. Am struggling through working nights as my grant entitles me to less than €40 a week! Not entitled to ANY social welfare … There’s “no scheme available” Completely backwards system!
Number 1. Can the commenters stop making grand political extrapolations about this in the first place. This is nothing to do with Ruari Q, FG/LB or anything
2. This is about an individual getting gamed by the system because she didn’t know how to game the system. I have worked in Designated disadvantaged areas and dated people from these regions. People from unemployment dynasties, i.e. familes who have had consecutive generations unemployed. These dynasties know the system inside out and know precisely how to get what they need. This girl came from a family that had a work ethic and that is what condemned her.
In the end, however, she will be successful and not get anything for free, but will rise in the world. These other generational unemployed will, if they stick to the system, continue to get their little free treats, and free homes, but they’ll never become anything and never rise in the world
(1)It has everything to do with labour and FG they abolished the maintenance part of the postgraduate grant for everyone and reduced the level and amounts for the fees part to only 2000 and 6000 for the most disadvantaged.
(2)What do you mean game the system, if your family are long term unemployed(unemployment dynasties as you put it) there is nothing to be gamed your entitled to the grant no ifs or buts about it. Do you not think the intelligent children of social welfare dependent parents don’t a leg up? 3k grant for an entire year is a pityful amount for the most disadvantaged.
(3)I don’t understand your comment about free houses/treats, do you begrudge the young girls mother a home FFS.
It’s really sad when I see someone who begrudges the education of the poorest in society, because your parents are poor/unemployed you somehow don’t deserve anything attitude coming from someone who perhaps had parents who had professional jobs and relatively speaking an abundance of money.
Honestly what’s your plan to break down the unemployment dynasties?
The knowledge economy what a joke! This Government have decimated higher education with its ruthless cuts! This case is such an inditement of ridiculous policies that assist no one, just puts up pointless barriers to frustrate the progression of our young !
Honestly the system isn’t that bad, the majority of second level students go to third level. Grants for children of parents with income of 50k-60k. A Masters is a luxury and in most cases only an expensive piece of paper.
Free Money and a Free Masters isn’t the basis of a knowledge economy either. At postgraduate level it’s hard to justify using taxpayers money for random courses. There’s a limited pot of money and if it’s between an extra nurse/doctor or paying for an MA in geography course which do you choose?
Niamh!! Your an amazing person with an amazing talent I cant wait to see more of your stuff! I have to say I agree with jay hun u should set up a page! People will give away loads throughoit the year to a charity just by seeing buckets or being confronted on the street or in a shop. I would love to give that money to you and see the benefits of what I am giving towards.
have your say