First of all, there are grants. These are open to application from students attending further or higher education courses approved by the Department of Education and Science (www.education.ie), and include:

• Higher Education Grants (HEG Scheme)
• Third Level Maintenance Grants for Trainees (TLT Scheme)
• Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship (VEC Scheme)

To find out if you are eligible, contact your local authority for an application form (your local County Council or Corporation if you are doing a Degree or Postgraduate Course (Level 8), or your local VEC for Trainee Courses, Certificate or Diploma (Level 6/7). Your college registration fee will be refunded up to a specified maximum amount, if you qualify. Check out www.mygrant.ie for local authority contact details. Make sure you apply to the right authority!

Always apply in good time - some of the documents you'll need, such as tax certs, can take weeks to obtain, so get them as soon as you can. The deadline for applications is generally the 31st August, though some authorities may accept applications after this date. If the application form looks a bit like double dutch to you, then contact the authority or drop in to your local SU office for some help.

To qualify for a grant, you will need to be means tested; this means your income (or your parents') must not exceed a certain amount. Always apply for a grant if you are eligible - the extra money will help ease your financial strain and allow you to concentrate on your coursework.

If your application is successful, remember that there's no set date by which you'll receive your money, so check this with your local authority. HEG and VEC grants are paid in three equal instalments. A cheque in your name will be sent to college and can be collected from the Registration or Accounts office.

If there is a delay with receiving your money, or you feel you have been unjustly turned down for a grant, then contact your local SU office. In the case of a refusal, you can appeal to your local authority.

Remember that your eligibility for a grant may be reassessed at any point during your course of study.

At the start of the year, you pay what is called a capitation fee, and a portion of this is paid into the Student Assistance Fund, which is used to provide financial support to disadvantaged students. Full time students doing courses longer than a year are eligible to apply to DIT Student Services, who administer the fund. There are a number of different categories of funding available:

• General Student Assistance Fund: Offers financial assistance to students experiencing unforeseen financial difficulty. All students are interviewed, assessed and must produce documentation certifying income and expenditure details.
• Rental Assistance: To help students cope with the burden of renting. This one is means tested, and you will need to provide proof of your rental arrangement.
• Childcare Assistance: Also means tested, a subsidy to help with childminder or creche fees.
• Dental/Opthalmic Assistance: Offers assistance towards the cost of routine dental or opthalmic treatment.
• Medical Assistance: To help with specialist or medical treatment. Students holding medical cards are unfortunately not eligible.
• Travel Abroad: Assistance towards circumstances where students must travel as part of their academic programme.
• Emergency Assistance: Immediate assistance in situations where students require urgent financial assistance.

Forms are available to download from www.ditsu.ie, and are also available at your local Students' Union office.

The application forms usually require accompanying documentation, and you may need to forward further documentation throughout the school year. So remember to keep your papers in order and hang on to any relevant receipts.

If you need a hand filling in the forms, just give us a shout in the SU.

The BTEA Grant is available to people who want to return to education. Application is through the Department of Social and Family Affairs; the form is available at www.welfare.ie (it's the BTE1 form). You should only apply once you have been accepted into a course. Each individual is entitled to varying rates depending on his/her circumstances.

Many courses, both under- and postgraduate, are now eligible for the Tax Relief scheme. Contact your local Tax office to find out more - visit http://www.revenue.ie/index.htm and click on 'Contact Details' to find your local office.

The Millennium Partnership Fund offers support to students from disadvantaged areas. Partnership companies and community groups manage the fund locally. Check out www.studentfinance.ie for more information.

This fund is an additional support and service to students with disabilities. Contact the DIT Disability office for further information.

Scholarships are awarded at one of three levels - Elite, Talented or Developmental, and up to a maximum of €1,500 in monetary value and support services. Applications will be considered from both current and prospective students. For further information contact DIT Sports office. http://www.dit.ie/DIT/sport/

Okay, so hopefully now you've got a bit more money than you had before. But what if you're not eligible for financial assistance? Here are some other ways to get a few extra bob...

• Join the workforce Getting a part time job is a great way to earn some money, and, if you can find a job you enjoy, of getting a bit of a break from college too. Shops and pubs are always looking for part time workers, so drop in some CVs and see what comes up. Remember, though, that the job is supposed to help you through college, so reconsider your position if you find that your work is interfering with your ability to study or submit coursework on time.
• Get paid to have fun! Become a mystery shopper, and get paid to go shopping or eat out. All you need to do afterward is fill in an exaluation form about your experience. Easy peasy. Google 'mystery shopping Ireland' to get you started.
• Become a part-time advertising exec! Promotional work and handing out or delivering leaflets can earn you an extra few quid. It's a great way to get a taste of the industry (good for the CV, too), and a pretty good way to have a laugh. Keep an eye on www.ditsu.ie for job listings in this area.
• Why not recycle your old mobile phone? Check out http://ie.envirofone.com to see if you can get a few bob for it.

Right, so now you HAVE some money. What can you do to make it last a bit longer, and to prevent yourself from getting into debt?