Student Assistance Fund Information Evening

1. University College CorkStudent Assistance Fund 2011/12Information Evening Presented by: Cormac McSweeney Finance Office 4th October 2011

2. Presentation Agenda • Background to the Student Assistance Fund Scheme • Who can apply? • How to apply – Overview of the Application form • Documentation required to support application • Closing dates for applications • Collection of cheques if application is successful

3. Background to Student Assistance Fund Scheme • Funded from the European SocialFund under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 via the Department of Education & Skills • Designed to tackle Educational Disadvantage by providing financial assistance to students – not designed to support the payment of Fees • University College Cork is allocated an amount annually • The University Student Assistance Fund Committee oversees the allocation process locally • Committee meets every 2 weeks from 20th October onwards and reviews applications and determines level of award until all available funds have been dispersed

4. Who can apply? • As it is funded by the European Social Fund it is only available to EU students • Applicants should hold EU nationality or Official Refugee status and have been ordinarily resident in an EU Member State for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding their entry to an approved third level course • Applicants born outside the EU must submit documentation of EU naturalization/citizenship/refugee/asylum status • Applicants must be registered as full time Undergraduate or Postgraduate Students for the 2011/12 Academic Year

5. Who can apply (cont’d) • Students registered for Foundation courses or part time courses are not eligible to apply for funding under the Student Assistance Fund • Students pursuing a second Undergraduate Degree/second Masters Degree/second PhD are not eligible to apply • Students will be supported for 1 repeat year only • PhD applicants will be supported for Years 1-4 of their PhD degree • Funding is not allocated for duration of degree – students must reapply annually for funding

6. How to apply • Download application form from www.ucc.ie/en/financeoffice/fees/StudentAssistanceFund/ • Forms also available tonight after presentation • Complete form and attach supporting documentation – note incomplete forms/forms without supporting documents will not be considered by the Committee • Note Original documentation cannot be returned so retain photocopies of any documents you may require in the future • Completed application forms (with supporting documentation) should be forwarded to: Student Assistance Fund, Finance Office, North Wing, U.C.C.

7. Overview of Form • Pages 1 & 2 outline the terms & Conditions of the Fund and eligibility criteria • Page 3 Section A – Personal Information • Name • Date of Birth • Nationality – Attach documentation of EU citizenship/naturalisation where required • Home Address • Term Address (if different to Home address) • Mobile Phone No./Umail Address • Relationship Status – Single/Married/Living with Partner etc/Separated • Details of Children if any • UCC Student No/PPS No/Course Title/Year of Study • Repeating – Yes/No? • Medical Card – Yes/No?

8. Overview of Form (cont’d) • Page 4 – Section B – Details of Financial Support – Grants, Awards, Scholarships etc • Have you applied for a Local Authority Higher Education Grant –if yes and you have been awarded a grant – how much were you awarded for Fees/Maintenance? • Other Financial Support in 2011/12 – list what if any supports you are receiving i.e. • Entrance Scholarships/Sports Scholarships/Postgraduate Research Grants etc • What supports if any are you receiving from agencies outside of U.C.C. such as • Local Partnership Company • Bank of Ireland Millennium Trust • Other Scholarships • Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

9. Overview of Form (cont’d) • Page 5 – Section C – Details of Income from all sources includes • Salaries, Wages, Other income including Rent, Pensions etc • Self Employed/Farming Income • Social Welfare Payments – Unemployment Benefit/Assistance/Disability/One Parent/ Back to Education/Rent Allowance Note • Income must reflect Household Income so include income from parents/partners • Mature Students living at home must provide both their own income details and that of the Household including Parents income • Mature Students not living at home do not provide details of parents income • Applicants are defined as mature where they are 23 years of age on January 1st of their first year of entry into UCC • Students under 23 who declare themselves financially independent of their parents/guardians must provide letter from Solicitor/Care worker/Social Worker and attach to application

10. Overview of Form (cont’d) • Page 6 – Section D – Student Assistance Fund History • Indicate if you have been in receipt of funding from the Student Assistance Fund in previous years and amount you received • In addition details of any other UCC support in previous years should be included where relevant including scholarships, fee concession etc • Page 6 – Section E – Categories of Assistance • If you are successful in your application you will be asked to provide receipts to the value of the amount awarded. In this section you select the one expense heading which best represents the reason why you have applied – examples include Books, Rent, Food, Childcare – Note that you will have to produce receipts so please ensure you select a category which you will be able to provide receipts for – EU auditors will need to see evidence of receipts in applicant’s name for rent paid, utility bills paid etc.

11. Overview of Form (cont’d) • Page 7 – Section F Grant Receipt Details Required for HEA Statistical Purposes • Largely Biographical Information used by HEA to assess profile of applicants • Requests details of age • Pre UCC Profile i.e. was applicant in full time education, was applicant employed etc • Entry Route to UCC – i.e. via CAO, Mature Entry • Post Entry Involvement – Is applicant supported by UCC Disability Support Office, Mature Student Office etc • Tick boxes relevant • Page 8 - Section F Grant Receipt Details Required for HEA Statistical Purposes (cont’d) • Requests family details – how many children in family, how many are dependent on parents income, have any family members applied for this fund in 2011/12 • Details of any payments received from the Department of Social Protection • Details of any part time work undertaken by applicant

12. Overview of Form (cont’d) • Page 9 - Section F Grant Receipt Details Required for HEA Statistical Purposes (cont’d) • Requests details of living arrangements – i.e. living at home, rented accommodation etc • Applicants must confirm if they are in receipt of Rent Allowance • Page 9 – Section G – Declaration • Where student is under 23 the declaration must be signed Both applicant and his/her parent/guardian. • Independent Mature Students should sign at “Applicant” line only Note: Applicants should be aware that they may be asked to provide the name and contact details of a referee who will be able to independently verify the data submitted as part of their application. Page 10 Offers applicant space to include any special circumstances which the Committee might take into consideration Page 10 Section H – Outlines the rules and Standards of Conduct applying to the Fund

13. Documents required to support application • Form P21 – Available from Revenue Commissioners Tel: 1890 222 425 (Southern Region) or www.revenue.ie • Notice of Assessment is required with audited Financial Statements for self employed or persons engaged in Farming - Notice of Assessment available from Revenue Commissioners 021 6027000 (Cork area) or www.revenue.ie • Social Welfare Documentation can be obtained from the Department of Social Protection www.welfare.ie Note: Income is assessed on the tax year ending 31 December 2010 – if applicants’/household financial circumstances have changed since that date due to unemployment/bereavement of parent/guardian spouse etc - attach supporting documents relating to the change of circumstance with application in addition to 2010 documents.

14. Closing Dates for applications • Completed applications can be submitted from 5th October 2011 up to 16th December 2011 • No applications will be processed until the 20th October in the first instance to allow any students not familiar with the scheme to gather relevant documents • All completed applications submitted between 5th October 2011 and the 19th October 2011 will be date stamped as having been received on 20th October – when Committee is scheduled to meet for the first time. • No correspondence pertaining to applications submitted will be sent to applicants until after the 20th October • After 20th October completed applications will be reviewed by the Committee every 2 weeks and successful applicants will be contacted with regards to the level of award they will receive and when they should call to Finance Office with receipts to collect their cheque. • As soon as funding has been distributed in full, no further awards can be made regardless of eligibility. • Incomplete applications and applications received after 16 December 2011 will not be considered

15. Successful applications • Successful applicants will be contacted in writing once their application has been assessed by the Student Assistance Fund Committee – note Committee will not meet until 20th October so no assessment before then will occur • Successful applicants will be advised of the level of the award and when they can collect same from the Finance Office • When successful applicant is collecting cheque they must have receipts to value of the award with them before cheque will be presented to them – no receipts means no cheque. • Do not attach receipts to application – they are provided only if you are successful and when you are contacted to collect your cheque. • Payment of awards can be facilitated directly to applicant’s bank accounts if required

16. Next Information Evening • Tuesday October 11th at 6pm in Boole 4 • Questions