I think its a fantastic scheme, I completed a plc course on the btea scheme and have secured a mature student place for university in September for an arts degree. people complain but there is good programmes such ad this out there, there is no excuse for anyone to spend there days sitting on their ass doing nothing, take these opportunities and improve yourself

I’m heading into my third year of an engineering degree on the bte scheme. Have a go, if I can do it…

That’ s all very fine if you are doing a full time course but if you are doing a part time course like me you get nothing. I chose part time as it was the only way of doing my particular course. Also I want to work and pay my way but the state wanted me to commit to two years on the BTEA and other social welfare benefits. I asked them for even half my course fees which would cost about €2,700 in total. They said no I would only get assistance on a full time course which would cost the state circa €30,000 over 2 years between fees and benefits and leave me with no chance of being able to get a job and get out of the state I’m in at the moment. No wonder the country is bollocked the way it is with this sort of illogical thinking.

I’m sure the BETA helps out some people who are OK with living on low income for 2+ years but it’s only a PR exercise for people who want to study and find work at the same time.

I think thats a fair compromise.

It’s 9 months on JB/JA. It’s a pity though it’s not open for people with level 8 or higher. If someone finds themselves out of work and wanted to change career to better find a job in an area, they will not qualify for BTEA.

I guess this is to discourage people from spending their lives in college and not at home doing nothing :)

It’s a great scheme but to many people abuse it. A guy in my class last year got his grants and the BTEA and went to oz, he got this from September until Christmas, when he had to get something signed to say he was still in college.

and its not available to masters or postgrad students

Apparently you have to be on jobseekers allowance for 9 months before you can avail of the btea. I find this somewhat curious.

I am about to start my final year at nuim and have found the beta invaluable if i were not in receipt of this i could not have taken up this course, HOWEVER these grants are quickly being eroded, we are to loose a further 4% in September along with the morning500 book allowance which is needed along with also having to pay 500 towards tuition fees which will leave me 1350 worse off, this situation is made even worse by the loss of the grant top up for some 3900 i appreciate i am lucky to getting both but the government seem to be opening a furtherdoor with one hand and slamming it in your face once you get in.