Free Fees for Irish and other EU Students

The two degree courses offered by Shannon College are included in the Department of Education & Science’s ‘Free Fees Initiative.’ To be deemed eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be a first time undergraduate student
• Hold EU nationality or official refugee status
• Have been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding entry to an approved third-level course

Guide to College Charges and Expenses

Students eligible for Free Fees are still required to pay an annual registration fee and pay for other expenses in Year 1, such as accommodation and meal charge. Please click on link below for details of the College Charges and Expenses for 2011:

>> Guide to College Charges and Expenses 2012

Information for Students Not Eligible for Free Fees

Students who do meet the criteria for Free Fees (see top of page), will be required to pay either EU Tuition Fees or Non-EU Tuition Fees. See below for details of eligibility for these two fee structures.

EU Fee Eligibility:

If a student does not satisfy the above criteria for Free Fees, the student may be eligible for EU Fees. EU Fees are determined by the Department of Education and Skills each year. The EU Fee can vary each year but was €5,950 in 2010, 2009 and 2008. Students paying EU Fees will be required to make payments at the beginning of each of the four years at Shannon College at the current rate of that year.

EU Fees apply to the following two categories of students:

1. EU/EEA/Swiss Nationals who do not meet the criteria for Free Fees (above) but who have been tax resident in the EU/EEA/Switzerland for at least three of the last five years.

2. Non-EU/EEA/Swiss Nationals who have been tax resident in the EU/EEA/Switzerland for at least three of the past five years.

Students in the above two categories, must also satisfy one of the following criteria:

1. If under the age of 23 (on the 1st of Sep of Year of Entry) parent(s) of the student must have been resident as tax-payer(s) (that is – principal residence for the purpose of taxation) in the EU/EEA/Switzerland for three of the five years prior to the student commencing studies at Shannon and the student must have been permanently resident in the EU/EEA/Switzerland for three of the five years prior to commencing a programme at Shannon.

2. If over the age of 23 (on the 1st of Sep of Year of Entry) the student must have been resident as a tax-payer (that is – principal residence for the purpose of taxation) in the EU/EEA/Switzerland for three of the five years prior to commencing studies at Shannon College. Any period of residence as a student, or as holder of a student visa, is not included in the assessment of years of residence.

Please note, students eligible for EU Fees are also required to pay the Student Contribution. Please see Guide to College Charges and Expenses document for further information.

Non-EU Fee Eligibility:

Any student who does not meet the criteria above for Free Fees or EU Fees will be required to pay Non-EU Fees, regardless of nationality or citizenship. Students classified for fee purposes as Non-EU will not be permitted to change their fee status following admission. Click on link below for Non-EU Fees for 2011.

>> Non-EU Tuition Fees and College Charges: BBS 2012

Further Queries

If you have any questions regarding your fee status, please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions Office on +353 61 712590 or by emailing the Admissions Officer, Ms. Joan Markham at joanmarkham@shannoncollege.com.