What funding is available and how do you go about applying for it?
All students have to apply for their funding through Student Finance England. Their website will tell you what funding is available and how to apply for it. It provides you and your parents or sponsors with all the information you will need to make decisions about what financial support you may want to apply for as well as explaining the application process. You must apply online, if you cannot complete an online application you should contact SFE.
Criteria
To apply for this funding you must be living in England on the first day of your course and either have been ordinarily resident in the UK for three years before the start of the course and have settled status or you meet the requirements of one of the other categories such as having Refugee status.
If you are a returning student then you can apply online on the Student Finance England (SFE) website.
» EU students
There is funding for students from other European Union countries for fees and a bursary for living costs. For full information on these and other details visit the Directgov website.
» Tuition fees
Tuition fees are charged annually and are usually paid directly to the University by Student Finance England.
In 2011/12 the course fees are £3,375 a year for all full time undergraduate courses.
To find out more please visit Undergraduate Fees and Finance
» Undergraduate student funding
Statutory funding is available for undergraduate students starting in academic year 2011/12. Full details available on www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
In addition to your tuition fee loan you may also be entitled to
- Maintenance loan for living costs
- Maintenance grant for living costs or fees
- Special support grant
- Parents learning allowance
- Adult dependants grant
- Childcare grant
You can find information about this funding on the Student Finance England website.
You may also be entitled to a university bursary. You can find more information on our bursaries page.
» Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
DSA pays for additional costs you may incur as a result of being a disabled student e.g. if you have a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, a physical impairment or experience mental health issues.
You can find more information abour DSA on our Support for Disabled Students section.
» Access to Learning Fund (ALF)
ALF provides discretionary emergency funding. Further information available in the Students in financial hardship section of the website.
» Repaying student loans
You will only have to pay back loans once you have left your course and are earning over a set amount.If your earnings stop or fall below £15,000 your payments will automatically stop before re-starting again once your earnings rise above £15,000. At present interest rates if you are earning £16,000 then the repayment rate is 0.6%.
You do not have to pay back grants or bursaries.
You can find the most up to date information on the Student Finance England website.
