Doug Jennings Student Funding Arrangements 2012 entry.

Doug Jennings

Student Funding Arrangements 2012 entry

Tuition Fees Up to £9000 per year at Universities

Less at most Colleges

Student Loan for Tuition Fees available to all; no ‘up front’ fees

(paid back at the end of the course)

Loan isn’t compulsory, students can pay all or part of tuition fee upfront themselves

Bristol’s fees• Tuition fees - annual tuition fee of £9,000 (increasing annually in line

with inflation) for all UK and EU students on full-time undergraduate programmes – subject to approval by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA).

• Students whose residual household income is £15,000 or below, and in receipt of a maintenance grant (or special support grant), will pay a reduced tuition fee of £3,500.

• Students whose residual household income is between £15,001 and £20,000, and in receipt of a maintenance grant (or special support grant), will pay a reduced tuition fee of £4,500.

• Students whose residual household income is between £20,001 and £25,000, and in receipt of a maintenance grant (or special support grant), will pay a reduced tuition fee of £6,000

Living cost loanThere is one loan for your fees and another loan for your living costs.

The amount you get depends on:- where you study and live- your parents’ (or household) income

Non-repayable grantsGrants are also available to help with your living costs

- Grants do not have to be paid back

The amount you get depends on your household income

Student Loan for Maintenance

Repaying your loans

- You start repaying your Tuition Fee and Living Cost Loans after you graduate and get a job with a salary over £21,000 a year

- The repayments are made automatically and you pay back the loans at 9% of everything you earn over £21,000

Rates of interest

From the April after you leave your course, interest will be applied at:

-The rate of inflation for incomes below £21,000

-The rate of inflation and up to +3% on a gradual scale if you earn between £21,000 and £41,000

-The rate of inflation +3% if you earn over £41,000

Other Sources of Government funding

• National Scholarship Programme (NSP)

• Disabled Student Allowances – apply via SFE

• Childcare Grant – apply via SFE

• Parents’ Learning Allowance – apply via SFE

• Adult Dependants’ Grant – apply via SFE

• Child Tax Credits – apply via HMRC

• State Benefits – apply via local benefits office

Other sources of funding

• Discretionary hardship funds/Access to Learning Funds

• Part-time work• Sponsorship• Trusts and Charities• Overdrafts but not credit cards!

Applying for funding

Online application from now at

www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

How to apply• Students actively encouraged to apply online at : www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance• Online application process should reduce the need to send off documents such as passports and P60s• Apply the year before entry to University. •It is recommended to apply as early as possible to ensure funding is in place for the start of the academic year•It doesn’t matter if you don’t know which university you’re going to when you apply

Things to remember…

- You will need to provide evidence of your household income for the previous tax year. This includes the income of all residents within the household and any taxable income from savings and investments.

- There is an automatic ‘opt-in’ which allows your financial information to be shared with your university or college so you can be assessed for bursary support. Only tick the box if you do not wish to be assessed for a bursary.

Things to remember…

- The new online system is linked to UCAS so if you have already applied, it should save you re-entering all of your personal information.

- The deadline for this year is:

31 May 2012

Frequently asked questions

• What if my circumstances change?

• Are dependent siblings taken into account when considering my eligibility for student finance?

• What if my parents/carers are separated?

• Where can I find more information?

• Do I have to complete an online application?

Any questions?