The assessment for eligibility under the "Undergraduate Free Fees" is SEPARATE to the designation of an applicant as EU or Non EU. Any student liable to Full EU fees but Not eligible under the "Undergraduate Free Fees Scheme" as outlined below, may still be eligible for financial support toward their tuition through their local authority under the " Higher Education Grant Scheme". Applicants should contact their local authority for further information on the operation of this scheme.

In order for an applicant to qualify under the "Undergraduate Free Fees" scheme they must satisfy three tests:

• The Nationality Test
• The Residency Test
• The Previous Studies Test
     

 
The "Undergraduate Free Fees Scheme" covers the cost of the tuition fee payable which DOES NOT include the charge payable by students towards the cost of registration, examination and student services.

Undergraduate Free Fees- Nationality Test

In order for an applicant to satisfy the "Undergraduate Free Fees" National Test, the applicant must be a national of a EU member state.

In addition, the following special categories of applicants will satisfy the Nationality test under the "Undergraduate Free Fees" scheme:

1.Persons who have refugee status in Ireland
2.Programme Refugees: persons who are invited to Ireland by the Government usually in response to a humanitarian crisis at the request of the UNHCR

Undergraduate Free Fees - Residency Test

The applicant must have ordinarily resided in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding entry to a third level course. Any time taken to acquire citizenship/refugee status may be included as part of the residency time period.

Undergraduate Free Fees - Previous Studies Test

Free Fees are not payable for students who:

• are repeating a year, having failed their end of year examinations or as a result of changing courses
• are undertaking a second undergraduate course
• any student who has already attended but did not complete a certificate, diploma or degree programme