Part time higher education 2008

This page will tell you in brief, how you can qualify for financial help with your course costs if you are studying a part time course of higher education.

Any information given is intended as a guide only and does not cover all circumstances.

How will I qualify?

You will qualify to be considered if:

• you have been normally resident in the United Kingdom and islands for the three years prior to the start of your course
• the course is not initial teacher training
• the study leads to a qualification below post graduate level for example BA (Bachelor of Arts), BSc (Bachelor of Science), FD (Foundation Degree), Dip HE (Diploma in Higher Education)
• you will complete the course in no more than twice the time it would take if you studied full time
• you do not receive an NHS (National Health Service) bursary
• you do not already hold a degree level qualification for example BA, BSc, BEd (Bachelor of Education)
• you or your partner receive certain specified benefits or have an income below a stated limit

The course you want to attend is at a publicly funded college or university in the UK (although certain private colleges also qualify).

How do I apply?

Application packs are now available, and can be obtained from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), telephone 0800 731 9133, your college or the Student Support Team. You should also be able to fill the form in on-line at the Student Finance Direct website.

How much could I get?

You may be able to receive financial help towards the cost of your course. You could receive:

• a grant for fees of up to £1180 (see table below) depending on the outcome of an income assessment, which you will not have to pay back ,
• a course grant of £255 which you will not have to pay back, to pay for books, travel and other course costs, depending on the outcome of an income assessment
• help from the Access to Learning Fund, for example to help with childcare costs, if you meet the their criteria. Ask at your college for more details about the Access to Learning Fund

If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty and are studying at least 50% of a full time course, you may be eligible for the Disabled Student Allowance (DSA). DSAs can help to pay for the extra costs involved in studying for a course of higher education, as a result of your disability.

The allowance can help pay for the cost of major items of specialist equipment, a non-medical helper, travel and other course related costs. They do not depend on income assessment and you do not have to pay them back.

You can get more information from the DIUS guide called Bridging the Gap which can be accessed on the internet. You can also get a free copy of the booklet from the Student Support Team (see links opposite) or you can ask for one from the DIUS by ringing 0845 6077577.

For 2008 to 2009, the amount of fee support that you can receive will be linked to the intensity of your study, for example, students studying 75% of a full time equivalent, (FTE) course will qualify for more than those studying 50% of a FTE course.

Maximum levels of support are as follows:

What is income assessed?

If you are a single student and your income is £16,089 or less, you will receive full funding according to the intensity level of your study. If you have a partner or children, the income threshold is higher.

The higher your income, the less funding you will receive. If you started in 2005 to 2006 or later and you have a partner, the partner's income will be taken into account regardless of age. For students who started their course before 1 September 2005, the partner's income will only be taken into account if the student is aged 25 years or over.

You can find out more about part-time grants from the DIUS website.

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