Top-Up Stipends

MCAST students enrolled in apprenticeship programmes may qualify for the Top-Up Stipend. It is paid in addition to the standard Students’ Maintenance Grants. The Top Up stipend is paid when students are actively working with their sponsoring employer. Together with the employer’s contribution, the Top-Up Stipend ensures that students receive the National Minimum Wage for the hours worked.

Payment Information

What it means

There are two separate situations:

• If you are eligible for Students’ Maintenance Grants:

You receive your normal student grants/stipend plus the Top-Up Stipend for your apprenticeship hours plus the payment from your sponsoring employer.

• If you are NOT eligible for Students’ Maintenance Grants:

• You still receive the Top-Up Stipend for the hours you work plus the payment from your sponsoring employer. You simply don’t receive the Students’ Maintenance Grants.

So, eligibility for the Students’ Maintenance Grant does not determine whether students can receive the Top-Up Stipend.