I am aware that Ballyfermot College of Further Education (BCFE) offers a BA Honours Degree in Visual Media awarded by the University of Dundee. It is a full-time 2-year top-up degree course with options to specialise in animation and game design. There are 37 students enrolled on the 2-year degree programme in 2023/23. There are a further 27 students currently enrolled in BCFE on a 1-year full-time top-up degree course leading to a BA Media Management Production which is awarded by DCU.
Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 outlines the position with regard to approved institutions for the purposes of the Student Grant Scheme. BCFE is comprehended within Section 7(1)(d) of the Act as an education institution in the State in receipt of grants out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas for the provision of post-leaving certificate courses. Further education centres are not designated as approved third level institutions for the purposes of providing higher education awards under the Student Grant Scheme.
Given that
these programmes are higher education awards delivered by a further education institution, students undertaking the programmes are not eligible for SUSI funding.
City of Dublin ETB has advised my Department that similar to PLC learners attending CDETB PLC courses in 2023/24, learners on these degree courses were not charged course fees.
