Ollscoil na Gaillimhe - University of Galway
PA-8: Affordability and Access

The University delivers a number of programmes across the student lifecycle to ensure Higher Education is accessible and affordable to low-income students. At the pre-entry level, there are a number of alternative entry pathways that are designed to take account of the barriers students from low-income backgrounds face in accessing Higher Education. These include:

·       The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a university admissions scheme which offers places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. HEAR Applicants must meet a range of financial, social and cultural indicators to be considered for a reduced points place and extra college support. HEAR is for school leavers under the age of 23 who have completed an Irish Leaving Certificate: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/access-students/access-scheme-route/

·       The Access Programme for School Leavers and mature students is a course specifically designed for students who have a real desire to study at third level, but are unable due to financial or social reasons. On successful completion of this programme students are eligible to apply to a range of full-time undergraduate degrees at University of Galway: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/access/

At the post entry level there are a range of financial supports available to low-income students, which include:

·       The HEAR/Access Financial aid fund supports low-income HEAR undergraduates, Access School Leavers, and Access Mature Students. In 23/23 over 600 students were supported by the HEAR/Access Fund: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/financialaidfund/hearaccessfund/

The Means Tested financial aid Fund is for low-income Irish and EU Students with a gross family income less of than €46,790 who are ineligible for the HEAR/Access Fund: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/financialaidfund/meanstestedfund/

The Emergency Hardship Fund is for Irish and EU (including UK) Students who have had a significant life changing experience that has left them in financial crisis within the last 12 months. Chronic mental / physical illness, bereavement, and sudden unemployment of a parent / guardian or partner are some of the situations where students may be eligible for this fund: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/financialaidfund/emergencyhardshipfund/

·       The 1916 Bursary aims to encourage participation and success by students who are most socio-economically disadvantaged and from groups most under-represented in higher education. The scheme is open to first time entrants of an undergraduate programme, full or part time, with a household reckonable income of less than €26,200. In 23/24 over 100 University of Galway students were supported through this fund: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/accesscentre/accessscholarships/1916bursary-fund/

·       The University of Sanctuary Scholarship. This scholarship is designed to increase participation at the University of Galway among International Protection applicants, refugees, vulnerable immigrant groups and Irish Travellers. To date, the scholarship programme has welcomed 39 students from 22 different countries to the University: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/sanctuary/

·       Hygeia Scholarship: The scholarship is targeted at incoming first year students who are socio-economically disadvantaged and meet the following criteria:  Total household  income of  €50,000/ Or deemed HEAR Eligible: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/hygeia/

See above

Calculations:

Number of applicants for the University’s Financial Aid Fund (FAF): 1939

Number of eligible applicants for FAF: 1646

Percentage of successful applicants for FAF: 85%

Total students registered in 23/24: 19598

Estimated percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students = 1646/19598 = 8.4%

Tuition fees are low in Ireland when compared to the US and UK (typically €3,000 per year). For low-income students, tuition fees are waived and maintenance grants are provided. Therefore, student loan debt is very low relative to the US and UK. There is no State-backed student loan scheme and there are no institutional or national data available on student loan debt. A survey of University of Galway students in 2023 showed that 10.7% of students considered withdrawing from their degree programme for financial reasons. This figure is used as a proxy for student loan debt above (i.e. 100% - 10.7% = 89.3%). https://studentsurvey.ie/sites/default/files/2024-01/StudentSurvey.ie%202023_UG.pdf

Low-income students are eligible for the SUSI maintenance grant and fee waivers (which is administered nationally). Income thresholds are shown here: https://www.susi.ie/eligibility-criteria/income/full-time-undergraduate-income-thresholds-and-grant-award-rates/. In 22/23, the number of SUSI-funded students was 3,743 or 30% of undergraduate students (SUSI is not available to postgraduate students).

The University of Galway does not track graduation/success rate for low-income students. However, national statistics (link below) show that in 21/22 the progression rate for students from disadvantaged areas was 77%. This compares to an overall University of Galway progression rate of 89%. It is likely that the progression rate for low-income students at University of Galway is between these two figures. https://hea.ie/assets/uploads/2024/02/Progression-Rates-Overview-and-Key-Findings-Presentation-29.02.24-1.pdf