Pupil
and Student Finance
Financial Support for Students in Higher
Education
2008/09 Academic Year
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Overview
If you are considering starting a full-time or part-time course of higher
education (e.g. HND, BA, BSc, Bed) at university or college during the 2008/09
academic year, you may be able to get financial support. Further information
on courses can be found at www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk or
www.direct.gov.uk.
Certain courses are
funded through NHS bursaries such as Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Dental
hygiene. Students who wish to undertake a course of this nature must contact
the NHS Business Services Authority. Details available at www.nhsstudentgrants.co.uk
Financial support
From September 2008, the following financial assistance may be available
to students entering into full-time higher education in the 2008/09 academic
year:
- Tuition fees
- Maintenance Loans
- Maintenance Grants
- Parents' Learning Allowance
- Adult Dependants' Grant
- Additional support e.g. Disabled Student Allowances (DSA), Child Care Grants
(CCGs)
- University and College bursaries
An explanation of the most common type of financial support available is detailed
below:
Tuition Fees
Universities and colleges of higher education in England can charge up to £3,145
a year for their full-time courses. The amount charged may vary between courses,
as well as between universities and the amount increases per year in line with
inflation.
Different fee arrangements apply to universities in Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland and private universities and colleges.
No student who is entitled to a tuition fee loan has to pay fees before they
start university or while they are studying.
Tuition fee loans are eligible for students who attend a designated course
of higher education. The Student Loans Company (SLC) pays the fees direct to
the university/college on behalf of students. Students will repay these loans
once they have left university and are earning over £15,000.
Maintenance Loan
Maintenance Loans are available to assist students with living costs such
as accommodation, food, clothes, travel etc
The level of funding available differs depending on whether you study in London,
outside London or if you live with your parents.
In addition, the maintenance loan is means tested i.e. students entitled to
a maintenance loan will automatically receive 75% of the loan amount if requested,
this is called the ‘non means tested’ element. The remaining 25%
is ‘means tested’ based upon the household income.
The SLC will usually pay your loan in three instalments – one at the
start of each term. The SLC will make payments for students straight into their
bank or building society account and the student will receive a payment schedule
from the SLC.
Maintenance loans are repayable but only when a student leaves university
and is earning £15,000 or above.
Maintenance Grants
Students who commence their course during the 2008/09 academic year may be
entitled to a Maintenance Grant of up to £2,835 a year. This is dependent
upon a student’s income and that of their household.
The Maintenance Grant does not have to be paid back.
As a guide,
- students whose household income is less than £25,000 will receive
a full Maintenance Grant,
- students whose household income is between £25,001 and £60,005
will receive a partial grant which reduces as the household income increases,
- students whose household income is more than £60,005 will receive
no grant.
If a student is entitled to a Maintenance Grant their Maintenance Loan may
be reduced to reflect this. In practice, this means that the amount of maintenance
loan a student can receive will be reduced by £1 for every £1 of
Maintenance Grant entitlement up to £1,260.
The Maintenance Grant is paid in three instalments – one at the start
of each term, along with any Maintenance Loans.
Disabled Student Allowance (DSA)
If you have a disability, extra assistance may be available in the form of
a DSA. The DSA assists with the extra costs that a student may incur as a result
of undertaking their course and as a direct result of their disability or specific
learning disability.
Other
Other financial support may be available. Please contact the Pupil and Student
Finance Team for further information or see information on the following website www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk.
What will it cost whilst you are at university/college?
Once a student has calculated or have been informed as to how much financial
assistance they are entitled to from the government and their university/college,
it would be beneficial to work out all your living costs as you possibly will
need to find money for rent, food, clothing, a TV licence, travel, books and
more.
At the university/college, student union advisors and other
support staff are an invaluable source of advice.
With regard to working out costs of student life, information can be found
at the National
Union of Students (NUS) website and at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance.
How to apply for financial help?
In order to be considered for financial support, a student should first apply
for a place at university/college. An application should be made as soon as possible
to ensure that any financial entitlement will be available before the start of
the course. Students do not have to wait until they have a firm offer of a place
before applying for student finance.
Applying for assistance
Applications for student support are usually administered by the Local Authority
for the area where you live, with payments being made by the SLC who are based
in Glasgow. Please note that some Local Authorities do not administer the application
process as this function has been transferred to the SLC.
If a student wishes to apply for student support and they live in the London
Borough of Bexley, please contact the Pupil and Student Finance Team at the address
on the left hand side of this page. Alternatively, application forms including
DSA forms are available on-line from the Student Finance Direct website www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk.
Student support application forms are available at London Borough of Bexley
schools for students who attend there.
Alternatively, an application can be made on line at www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk.
University and College Bursaries
In addition to funding available through the student loans system, bursaries
may be available from a university or college and these may be based upon
a household income. Students will need to contact the university or college or
check their website for further details.
Loan repayments
Details regarding repayments are available on the Student Finance website
at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance or
contact the SLC at:
Student Loans Company Limited
100 Bothwell Street
Glasgow
G2 7JD
Telephone: 0800 405 010
Website: www.slc.co.uk or www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk
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