New figures released show class divide in third level education

The number of grant recipients is higher in regional institutes of technology than in Dublin universities

NEWS

New figures on grant recipients in higher education institutions have been released showing the class divide between universities and institutes of technology (ITs). Over 50% of students in all institutes of technology around the country receive grant support.

School-leavers that don’t receive a grant are significantly more likely to gain entry into high-points courses. The Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) and University College Dublin (UCD) have the lowest number of grant recipients in the country at 7.16% and 27.07% of the total number of students respectively.

This is in contrast to Letterkenny IT which contains the largest amount of grant recipients at 74.43%, according to the Irish Times’ analysis of student enrolment and grant data for the last year. Letterkenny IT was followed by Athlone IT at 73% and IT Carlow at 71%.

Trinity is third on the list for the least amount of grant recipients standing at 28.7%. Grants indicate that a students’ collective family income is less than €40,000 a year. The figure factors in the number of dependants living in the household.

The analysis also shows that the number of grant recipients is just over 40% in the further education and training sector.

The Irish Times previously published data showing a 99% progression rate of school-leavers to third level education in Dublin 6, in comparison to 15% in Dublin 17.
Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Burton is to set targets for institutions to increase numbers of disadvantaged students as part of new five year plans. Bruton has signalled that universities could lose funding if they fail to meet these targets.