Learners wishing to undertake higher education (HE) study need to have a good idea of the costs involved and the financial help they may be able to obtain to help pay for their studies. The costs involved in taking an HE course and the financial help available can be complicated and depend on the type of course, the mode of study and individual circumstances. Foundation degrees are very similar to honours degrees in costs and the financial help available.
Course costs are the main outlay for HE study. They will depend on whether the course is part-time or full-time, the level of learning undertaken and the qualification sought. The fees for Foundation degrees are broadly similar to those for honours degrees. Other costs need to be taken into account if study has an impact on the individual’s income or ability to earn.
In some cases the employer may be willing to pay and many trade unions have their own schemes to support members undertaking specific types of HE learning. It is also worth investigating whether those who are leaving employment to study full-time can return to work on a casual or part-time basis during their breaks.
For the most detailed & up to date information on HE finance visit the official HE student finance web pages at: www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance.
You can download forms and guides for 2009/2010 and ‘How to get financial help as a student’, a guide produced by Aimhigher and Student Finance England. You can also telephone 0845 602 8032, quoting the reference FINANCE09. The booklet is available in a range of languages, and in Braille, large print or on audio CD.
Eligibility for grants and loans
Learners who are planning to take an HE course need to check whether they are eligible to apply for the financial help described in this section. Eligibility depends on a number of factors such as how long they have lived in the UK and the type of course they have chosen. If the learner is a British citizen, has not got an existing HE qualification and is applying to a publicly funded college or university, they are likely to be eligible to apply for the grants described below.
All enquiries and applications for funding should be made to Student Finance England. See www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance for details of how to make an application.
The Open University deals with applications from its own students for the fee grant, the course grant and Disabled Students Allowance. For further information telephone an OU adviser on 0870 333 4340 or email them at general-enquiries@open.ac.uk.
Part-time HE students: costs
Most part-time learners will need to pay a tuition fee. Fees are normally payable every academic year and may be paid in instalments. The amount a learner needs to pay varies enormously, depending on the institution and course they have chosen but anything in the range of £500 – £1500 per year would not be unusual. There are no regulations stating how much can be charged in tuition fees for part-time courses, so it is important to check the fees the first year and if they are likely to increase during the course. For courses that include a professional qualification there may be the additional registration and examination fees set by the awarding body.
As well as payment of tuition fees a learner may also need to purchase course materials, such as books and equipment. When working out the cost of a part-time course a learner also needs to think about other expenses such as travel and childcare.
Part-time HE students: financial help
For learners who are considering a part-time HE course in England there may be financial help available. Eligible students entering HE in 2009 could apply for fee and/ or course grants
The fee grant is to help students pay the cost of their tuition fees. The course grant is to pay for additional costs such as books and travel. For those entering HE in 2009 the combined maximum grant will be £1,470. This does not have to be paid back. Learners have to make a separate application for each year of their course, using the form PTG1.
Further detailed information is available in A guide to financial support for part time students in higher education in 2009/2010. You can download a copy of this guide from www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance. If a learner is on certain benefits they will qualify automatically for the maximum help.
There is a lot more information about other sources of help in the section ‘Finance for part-time students – applying for the first time’ at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance.
How much financial help an individual actually gets depends on their income and that of their partner as well as how many children they may have.
Full-time HE students: tuition fees and tuition fee loan
Full-time students will need to pay tuition fees. In 2009/2010 Universities and colleges can charge up to £3,225 per year. Fees charged will usually be detailed in an institution’s website or prospectus. Eligible students do not have to pay their fees in advance, but instead can opt for a tuition fee loan which is repayable only when they have completed their course and are earning around £15,000. The loan is not like a commercial loan; it is low cost and only rises in line with inflation.
For more information on the tuition fee loan and advice on HE funding for full time students read A guide to financial support for higher education students in 2009/2010.
Full-time HE students: living costs and maintenance grant
If a learner is studying full-time they are very unlikely to be working except on a part time or casual basis, therefore they need to consider how much they need to cover their living costs such as rent/mortgage payments, bills, childcare, food, travel etc. Full-time students can apply for either a new maintenance grant or special support grant, depending on their circumstances. Students entering HE in 2009/2010 can get up to £2,906 per year. This help does not need to be paid back. How much a student receives depends on their income and that of their partner or family.
Full-time HE students: student loan
As well as loans available to cover fees there are loans to cover living costs; these are called student loans for maintenance. How much a student receives depends on where they are living and studying as well as their income and that of their partner or family. It also depends on how much grant a student is receiving.
Full-time HE students: student bursary
Universities and colleges that charge the highest rate of fee (£3,225 in 2009/2010) also have to offer additional financial help to students with a lower income. This additional help is called a bursary and the amount a student can expect will vary between courses and institutions and therefore it is important to find out what is on offer before applying. Students receiving a full grant can expect to get a minimum of £319 from their institution, although in many cases they will receive substantially more with the average bursary being around £800.
There is a lot more information about other sources of help in the section ‘Finance for full-time students’ on www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance. There is also a Student Finance Calculator where individuals can find out what they are likely to get.
Extra help for part-time or full-time students
You can find out more about extra help www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance.
Access to learning fund
Individual universities and colleges in England also operate a fund called the Access to Learning Fund which provides help if a learner is on a low income and needs extra help to enter or stay on an HE course. The fund is there to meet costs that are not being met by other grants and to ensure that a learner is able to remain on their course.
Individual universities and college administer this fund and an institution’s student services will advise on eligibility criteria and how to apply. In addition, institutions can run the Additional Fee Support Scheme. This provides extra help for part time students who are on a low income and for whom the normal fee support doesn’t cover the tuition fee.
Disabled students
If a learner has a disability or specific learning difficulty they may be able to get Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs). Learners on full-time courses or studying part-time at least 50% of the equivalent course are eligible for funds. The DSAs are to help pay for the extra costs a learner may have as a result of their disability. For example, a learner may need to pay for specialist equipment, for a helper (such as note taker) or extra travel costs. DSAs do not depend on the income of a student and they do not need be paid back. More information is available in the booklet Bridging the Gap: a guide to the Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) in higher education.
Parents
There is additional help in place for parents, particularly for those parents on a low income who pay childcare costs. Full details of the additional help in place for parents are available in the guide Childcare grant and other support for student parents in higher education in 2009/2010.
Other types of funding
Teacher training, NHS funded courses, nursing and social work
For some HE courses special financial arrangements are in place that affect the way in which a student is funded. This includes teacher training, training for health-related professions (such as medicine, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy), social work training and nursing diploma courses. To find more details on financial arrangements for specific courses go to: www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance or
www.tda.gov.uk for teaching, or www.nhsstudentgrants.co.uk for health professional courses.
Career development loans
A Career Development Loan (CDL) is a bank loan designed to help learners pay for work-related learning. It is intended for those who cannot find suitable funding elsewhere, so the grants and loans mentioned in the pages above should be a member’s first port of call. Members can use CDLs to fund a variety of work-related courses with a wide range of organisations.
Learners can borrow anything between £300 and £8,000 to help fund up to two years of learning (or up to three years if the course includes one year of relevant practical work experience).
A CDL can be used to pay for:
- course fees – 80 per cent of the course fees (or 100 per cent if someone has been out of work for three months or more at the time of application)
- other course costs – including, books, equipment, tools, childcare, travel expenses and any costs associated with disability
- living expenses – food, ordinary clothing or footwear, household fuel, rent, housing costs, council tax and water charges. These costs must not be covered by any other grant or state benefit and you must not undertake work involving 30 hours per week.
For more information on CDLs go to: www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners/CareerDevelopmentLoans/index.htm or call the CDL helpline on 0800 585 505. You can book a call back from an adviser or send an email via the website.
Adult Learning Grant (for level 2 or 3 qualifications to access HE)
A grant is financial support for a specific course or period of learning. Unlike loans, grants do no need to be repaid. The Adult Learning Grant (ALG) has been available nationally since October 2007.
It is aimed at those studying for a first Level 2 or 3 qualification so it can’t be used for HE itself. However, it could be used to gain the Level 3 qualifications necessary for entry to HE.
To be eligible for the grant you must:
- be aged 19 or over studying for your first full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification
- have a personal income below £19,513 (or £30,810 if you have a co-habiting partner who works)
- be studying full-time (excluding workplace learning)
- not receiving support from other government grants, training allowances or out of work benefits
- have normal residence in England (this could include a European Union (EU) national, having been granted indefinite leave to remain or having refugee status).
How much you get depends on your income (and your partner’s income if you have one). The maximum you can currently get is £30 per week during term time. If you did not apply at the start of your course, you can make a retrospective claim which can be backdated to the start of the term in which you applied.
For more information on the Adult Learning Grant go to: www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/DG_96
Train to Gain
The Train to Gain initiative is offering free Level 2 training across the country plus Level 3 NVQs in the North West and West Midlands regions of the country so it may be worth checking if your workplace is covered. The Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) is also funding three higher level skills pathfinder projects, extending the Train to Gain programme to include HE. The pathfinders will take place in the North West, North East and South West.
For more detailed information on the Train to Gain programme, visit: www.traintogain.gov.uk
For more information on the Level 4 Train to Gain pilots go to: www.hefce.ac.uk/learning/employer/path/
City & Guilds Bursaries
City & Guilds also offer a small number of bursaries each year to people who would like to study for a City & Guilds qualification. The bursaries can be used for costs like course fees, learning materials, childcare or travel. Applications are considered in June and December each year.
For more information on City and Guilds bursaries go to: www.cityandguilds.com/cps/rde/xchg/SID-0AC0478D-22A794AD/cgonline/hs.xsl/658.html
The Open University Union Discounts
All members of unions affiliated to the TUC who are new to studying with the OU can obtain a 10% discount on Level 1 courses that carry 30 and 60 credit points. They can also get a 10% discount on all OU products such as self-study workbooks, cassettes, CDs, videos, DVDs and software.
You can find out more about the OU benefits for union members, visit: http://www.open.ac.uk/union/
Student finance advice
Getting advice about the likely cost of HE and the support that could be available is a crucial part of the decision making process and different for all individuals. There is a lot of information about and plenty of people able to offer advice.
The main source of advice is Student Finance England Contact them via www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance or call the Customer Support Office on 0845 300 50 90.
Help can also be given by Connexions for those who are under 19 www.connexions-direct.com and by the Careers Advice Service www.direct.gov/careersadvice or nextstep www.direct.gov.uk/nextstep for those who are 20 or more. Trade union members can contact www.unionlearn.org.uk/uladvice.
The most relevant of the others are detailed below.
- Further education college welfare rights advisers
If a learner is currently studying at an FE college or adult education centre they may have a college based welfare rights officer/student finance adviser. This person is often part of a student support team. They will be able to offer advice about the implications of taking an HE course, both in terms of the grants and loans that will be available and the impact these may have on any benefits the learner is receiving (such as working families tax credit).
- Citizen’s Advice Bureau
A potential HE learner who receives any form of benefit may well wish to seek detailed advice on how becoming a HE student would affect them. For details of local CAB services go to: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
- Student union advisers
Some university and college student union centres will employ advisers who provide information to students on financial issues. These advisers often work with potential HE students before they actually apply to the university or college. For more information about student union services go to: http://www.nus.org.uk/
- High street banks
Most large high street banks have a student adviser who can provide up to date information and advice on student finances. If a learner is considering applying to HE, contacting their usual bank to see if there is a service available can be a good starting point.
