May/June 2024
If you began your Taught Masters in January 2024, you will be contacted with information regarding the Masters Reduced Fee.
DCU Alumni
10% Reduced Masters Programme Fees Scheme
All eligible student balances have now been adjusted. If you have yet to pay your second semester fees, please now make the fee payment in the usual way.
Where a balance had already been paid in full before the application of the Master Reduced Fee reduction, a credit will be applied to the account and the refund process is underway. If you have not received your refund by the end of March please do let us know.
We thank you for your continued patience with this process and we are delighted you benefited from the Masters Reduced Fee. Thank you for returning to DCU for your postgraduate taught studies, we greatly appreciate your loyalty.
DCU has extended the 10% Masters Reduced Fee scheme that is exclusive to all DCU graduates and outgoing final year students from the university for the 2024/2025 Academic year.
It applies to students commencing the first year of a full time or part time taught Masters Programme for the academic years 2024/2025.
This is an exciting opportunity for our Alumni Community. It underlines our commitment to continuous learning and our ever increasing list of benefits for graduates of DCU.
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Summary of Reduced Fee Scheme
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Student must be enrolled in a full taught masters programme (part time or full time).
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Eligible students must be a DCU graduate.
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The applicant must include/declare their previous DCU student number and relevant programme(s) when applying for their Masters through the student application portal.
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The Discount, for now, applies in respect of the Academic years 2024/25.
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Graduates will pay the 1st Semester fee instalment as normal.
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The 10% discount of the total course fee in the current year will be applied in full to the 2nd Semester payment.
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If an eligible student pays the full fees in Semester 1, a refund in line with the Masters Reduced Fee will be issued in early 2025 in line with Semester 2 registration. If the student withdraws before the second semester or does not make the second payment, the Discount is withdrawn.
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The Discount does not apply to repeat students.
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The 10% reduction applies to students commencing year one of a Masters Programme in the 2024/25 academic year.
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The 10% reduction is also applied to second year students who both commenced and completed the first year of their Masters in the 2023/24 academic year.
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The Discount cannot be used in combination with another award, scholarship or discount [e.g. 10% Discount with another Scholarship or Discount]. DCU will automatically apply the scholarship/reduction of whatever one offers the highest reduction.
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Important Information & Timeline
The fee reduction scheme applies to all DCU alumni. It is relevant to graduates, and recent outgoing final year students (2024 and 2025) about to graduate and to students currently studying a Masters at DCU who are thinking about doing a second Masters commencing in 2024/25 academic year. To qualify you need to be a graduate and commence your Masters in 2024/2025 academic year.
Please note: The 10% reduction also applies to eligible second year students who both commenced and completed the first year of their taught Masters programme in the 2023/24 academic year.
It can be applied to any full-time or part-time taught Masters programme at DCU.
What academic year does this scheme apply to?
The scheme is applicable for Masters programmes, across all five faculties of study, starting in the 2024/25 academic years.
Please note, the Alumni Office is the single point of contact for queries relating to eligibility. Whilst other units and departments may try to assist with your query, clarification on eligibility is only verified by the Alumni team in November/December 2024 after you have registered and commenced your studies.
For any queries relating to the Masters Reduced Fee, please email alumni@dcu.ie
The applicant should include/declare their previous DCU number and previous course/s of study when applying through the student application portal.
The Discount is only available to students who register and pay the required first payment. The Discount on the full cost of the current year's fees is applied to the 2nd Semester payment.
If the student withdraws before the second semester or does not pay the second payment, the Discount is withdrawn.
If an eligible student pays the full fees in Semester 1, a refund in line with the Masters Reduced Fee will be issued in early 2025 in line with Semester 2 registration.
Please note, the most efficient way to ensure you you receive the discount is by indicating you are a graduate on your postgraduate application.
You do not have to apply for the 10% Masters Reduced Fee. DCU will contact you in December to confirm your eligibility. Please see our detailed timeline at the bottom of this page
Programme Timeline
September/October 2024
Register for your course and pay Semester 1 fee installment.
For eligible graduates who began their Masters in January 2024, the 10% discount will be applied to the semester 2 fee installment. Eligible students who have already paid their fees in full will receive a refund in semester 2.
Late 2024/Early 2025
Email One
Confirmation email from Alumni Office to eligible students in Year 1 of a taught Masters Programme who used the same student number as their previous period of study
Email Two
Safety net email to all Year 1 Masters students (excluding those who receive email one above) inviting graduates to submit their details to determine eligibility for the 10% Masters Reduced Fee.
Email Three
Confirmation email from Alumni Office to eligible students in Year 2 of a taught Masters Programme. These students commenced and completed year one of a two year taught Masters programme in the 2023/24 academic year are eligible for a fee reduction in year two.
Early 2025
January - 10% Reduced Fee deducted from Semester 2 fee instalment for all eligible students.
End of January 2025
January - Deadline for paying balance of Semester 2 fee installment
February 2025
Refund students/sponsors who paid the full fees in Semester 1
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Frequently Asked Questions
If you began your Taught Masters in January 2024, you will be contacted shortly with information regarding the Masters Reduced Fee. For eligible graduates, the 10% discount will be applied to the semester 2 fee installment. Eligible students who have already paid their fees in full will receive a refund in semester 2. This date will be confirmed shortly.
A: Email alumni@dcu.ie with this query
A: The 10% reduction is also applied to eligible second year students who both commenced and completed the first year of their taught Masters programme in the 2023/24 academic year.
A: We’re delighted you enjoyed your Masters so much that you want to do a second one! The answer is yes; as a graduate of a Master’s programme you can avail of the reduced fee on a subsequent full Masters programme.
A: The Discount cannot be used in combination with another award, scholarship or discount [e.g. 10% Discount with another Scholarship or Discount]. DCU will automatically apply the scholarship/reduction of whatever one offers the highest reduction.
A: Yes, the fee reduction is applicable to the DCU Connected online Masters programmes.
A: This fee reduction only applies to applicants to a Masters programme.
A: Yes, the Masters Reduced Fee is approved for the academic years 2024/25.
A: No, it may only be applied to a full-time or part-time taught Masters programme.
A: No, it may be applied only to a taught Masters programme.
A: This fee reduction is available to both full-time and part-time Masters programmes.
A: Yes, as a member of the alumni community you’re eligible and we’ll be delighted to see you back. Graduates from SPD, MDI & CICE became part of the DCU Alumni community as part of the incorporation project.
A: You’re eligible on the simple basis of being a DCU graduate (or one of the incorporated colleges). You will need to meet the entry requirements of the Masters programme you’re interested in studying.
A: Yes. Graduates from SPD, MDI & CICE became part of the DCU Alumni community as part of the incorporation project.
A: Yes. Graduates from SPD, MDI & CICE became part of the DCU Alumni community as part of the incorporation project.
A: Yes. Graduates from SPD, MDI & CICE became part of the DCU Alumni community as part of the incorporation project.
A: Yes. Graduates from the BA Media Production Management in Ballyfermot College of Further Education receive a DCU Parchment upon graduating. The Alumni Office will send an email to students about the Masters Reduced Fee in December, please submit your details in response to this mail.
A: Applications received after the appeals deadline will not be considered for the reduced fee.
A: No, unfortunately, this fee Discount does not apply to those going into 5th year on the Integrated Masters for CAMi and BMEDi because you are already receiving a reduction in cost.
A: Yes, the discount applies to both EU Fee and non-EU Fee Levels.
A: Yes, the discount is applicable to all DCU graduates who previously exited with a Certificate or Diploma.
However, if you complete the Graduate Certificate or Diploma and continue on to the masters as a result of this (as a continuous student), you will not be eligible because you will not have a graduate record until you complete the full period of study.
A: Yes, the Discount can be applied where a Student who deferred previously and is registering in 2023/24 or 2024/25.
A: The Discount applies to the Fee paid by the sponsor. If the sponsor pays the full fee upfront, the 10% discount will be and can only be refunded to the sponsor. This will require the process of retrieving bank details and relevant information.
A: Students who have their Fee paid by SUSI will be entitled to the Masters Discount and may use it, only against the balance of fees owed. If the Masters Discount is greater than the amount owed after applying the SUSI Fee award, the Discount will be reduced to the amount owed. The discount applied cannot reduce the fees owed further than zero.
A: The Discount is only available to students who register and pay the required first payment (of the full fees for the year). In January the 10% reduction will be applied to the students second semester fee balance. If a student has paid the full course fee already a refund will be processed.
The required payment profile can be explained by the following example:
First payment, prior to Registration: Full Fee x 60% (e.g. Fee €7,000. 1st Payment €4,200)
Second Payment, prior to start of Second Semester: Full Fee x 40% less the Discount (e.g. €7,000 x 40% - €7,000x10% = €2,800-€700 = €2,100)
A: Yes, those eligible will receive a refund for the 10% in line with all the requirements for the reduced fee. Please note, we are currently finalising the process for refunds in this scenario, check this FAQ for an update after your studies commence.
A: Discount does not apply to Skillnet or Springboard Programmes; however Students taking these programmes but not funded by Skillnet or Springboard are entitled to the Discount.
*Students who register on a Masters Programme but exit with a lower award, e.g. Diploma, will not be eligible for the Masters reduced fee.
Testimonials
"A large part of the reason why I chose DCU for my masters was that the financial assistance is available to alumni, education is expensive and any assistance that can be provided to ensure the course is accessible is important"
"The Reduced Masters Fee resulted in a significant saving and that made a huge difference to me"
"It was very beneficial financially and was a significant factor in my decision to apply for the masters, especially in DCU"
"It was a weight lifted off my shoulders when making the decision on whether to continue my studies or not"
"The reduced fees benefited me hugely as it took pressure off me as a student"
"Allowed me to focus on my studies more with less pressure on part time work"