There are many difference types of financial help available for students in higher education in 2008/09:
- Student loans for tuition fees
- Maintenance Grant
- Student loans for maintenance costs
- Parents' Learning Allowance
- Child Tax Credit
- Childcare Grant
- Adult Dependants' Grant
- Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs)
- Access to Learning funds
Eligibility and applications for the first three of these (help with tuition fees, Maintenance Grant and student loans) are explained below. For more information about other types of financial help please ring Pupil & Student Services or visit the Student Finance England website (see 'Links').
Am I eligible?
Tuition fee loans and maintenance loans
To qualify for student finance as a student from England, you will need to meet all of the residence requirements. Generally, on the first day of the academic year in which your course starts, you must:
- be a UK national or have 'settled status' in the UK (under the terms of the Immigration Act 1971)
- be ‘ordinarily resident’ in England
- have been 'ordinarily resident' in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three years immediately before starting the course - and not wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education
In general, you’ll only be able to get the finance package for higher education students if you’re doing a first higher education qualification or ‘topping up’ a lower-level higher education qualification.
Usually this means financial help for the length of your course - plus, if necessary, one extra year to cover any false starts or transfer
To qualify for a Student Loan to help with accommodation and living costs (called the ‘Student Loan for Maintenance’), you need to be aged under 60 when you start your course.
There’s no upper age limit on grants and the Student Loan for Tuition Fees.
Eligibility for student finance depends on the course you do and the university or college you go to as well as your personal situation.
All eligible students can receive a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees. The amount you receive is not based on a means test.
Maintenance Grant
If eligible for tuition fees you will usually qualify for a maintenance grant unless you have had previous study. The amount you receive depends on your income and the income of your family.
How do I apply?
You can apply online or get an application form on the Student Finance Direct website or get an application from Pupil & Student Services.
How much will I get?
The rules for Student Support are complex and therefore it is difficult to confirm exactly what help you will receive until you have completed the necessary forms. However in 2008-09 the following support is available:
Tuition fee loans
For the amount of your tuition fees up to £3,145
Maintenance Grant
In 2008-09 the Maintenance Grant is worth up to £2,835 a year. The amount you receive depends on your income and the income of your family. If this income was £25,000 or less in 2007-2008 tax year you would be entitled to the full grant. If the income of you and your family was between £25,001 and £60,005 you would receive a partial grant.
Student loans
The amount of loan that you could get for maintenance (living costs) varies dependent on household income. 75% of the maximum loan is available to all eligible students regardless of any other income they have. Whether you can get any or all of the remaining 25% depends on your income and that of your family. This will be assessed by Pupil & Student Services.
Repayments of loans start in the April after you leave higher education, and only once you start earning in excess of £15,000. Repayments are reasonable and depend on the amount you earn, not the amount you borrowed.
2009-10 new applications
The application process is changing for those starting University for the first time in 2009-10. Student Finance England will be processing all new applications and you should follow the link on the right hand side of this page for further details.