Students doing the diploma in video production at Galway-Mayo IT are suffering "great anxiety and unease" at the prospect of having to pay fees of £1,280 for their oneyear course.

Prior to this academic year, the course received funding from the Department of Education and its students were entitled to grants. However, in a recent written answer to parliamentary questions, Minister for Education Micheal Martin said that in order to qualify for grant aid under the third-level student support schemes, a student must be pursuing a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration.

"As an exceptional matter in the 1997-98 year, grant aid was provided to and fees paid on behalf of students attending this course as the students concerned had been advised by the college authorities that the course was eligible for assistance." The exceptional arrangement applied for that year only, the Minister said.

The students protested outside the IT's headquarters two weeks ago, on the same morning as a visit from junior education minister Noel Treacy. They discussed their problem with Treacy and presented the college authorities with a petition. The students had received a letter from the IT stating that their names would be deleted from the records and they would be prohibited from taking classes and exams if they didn't register by October 27th. The students have asked that fees be waived pending redesignation of the course as a graduate diploma.