Higher education funding

For students starting courses between 1 September 2006 and 31 August 2009

Please note: Students starting courses for the first time in the 2009 to 2010 academic year will not have their funding assessed by their Local Authority and should instead contact Student Finance Direct for information.

Will I qualify?

You qualify to be considered if:

• you have been normally resident in the UK for the 3 years prior to the start of the academic year in which your course begins
• you have not previously attended any courses of higher education (although you may still qualify for some limited assistance if you have previously attended such courses, please ask for details)
• the course you want to attend is at a publicly funded college or university in the UK
• the course is for a full time first degree, a foundation degree, a Dip HE (Diploma in Higher Education) or equivalent, or for initial teacher training

How do I apply?

You can either:

• complete a paper application form which will be available from your school and the Plymouth Student Support Team (address and telephone number opposite) from the end of March
• download an application form and print it yourself
• complete an application online, if this service is available

What help will be available?

You may be able to apply for:

• Tuition fee loan
• Maintenance loan
• Maintenance/special support grant
• Bursaries
• Other help

Tuition fee loan

For the academic year 2008 to 2009, colleges and universities are able to charge up to £3145 tuition fees for each year of the course. All new students will have to pay these fees, irrespective of their family income.

However, a loan will be available to cover the cost of the fees, and students will not have to start repaying it until the April after they leave the course, and then only when they are earning at least £15,000 per year.

Maintenance loan

The amount you will be entitled to depends on where you are studying, on your family income and when your course began. The maximum loan available will be £4,625 for those living away from home but not in London, £6,475 in London, and £3,580 for those living with their parent(s). 75% of this loan is available regardless of income, whilst 25% is means tested. However, for most students the loan is reduced by the equivalent of the amount they receive in the Maintenance Grant, up to a maximum reduction of £1,260.

Maintenance/special support grant

This grant is available up to a maximum of £2,835 depending on the family income.

Your entitlement to a maintenance loan is reduced by the equivalent of your maintenance grant, up to a maximum of £1,260.

Certain students will receive a special support grant instead of the maintenance grant. Although the amount of grant money they are entitled to is the same, the maintenance loan will not be reduced. Also, the Benefits Agency will not take the special support grant into consideration when assessing means tested benefits.

Students entitled to be considered for a special support grant are those who:

• have dependent children and do not have a partner
• or have dependent children and their partner is also a full time student
• or are over 60
• or are eligible for certain specified disability benefits

Bursaries

From 2008, universities and colleges charging £3,145 a year for a course must provide at least £310 a year in non-repayable financial support, such as bursaries, to students on these courses receiving the full £2,835 maintenance or special support grant.

Other help

Other help may be available for certain students depending on family income and circumstances. This help does not have to be paid back. It includes:

• Parent Learning Allowance (PLA) of up to £1,470 per year
• Childcare grant of up to £148.75 per week for one child or £255 for more than one
• Adult Dependant Grant of up to £2,575 a year
• Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) - a range of help is available which is not subject to means testing
• Access to learning fund (administered by the university/college)

Where can I find out more?

Full details of the system of student support, including the rates of loan available and the repayment system, are explained in a guide booklet issued by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and available from their website. The booklet is entitled 'A guide to financial support for higher education students in 2008 to 2009', and will also be automatically sent to you if you ask for a paper application from the Plymouth Student Support Team.

When should I apply for help?

Application forms will be available from mid March. For a basic timetable of when to apply for funding please visit our timetable for applications page.

When will I get paid?

If you have correctly applied within the suggested dates, and have provided all the requested accompanying documents, you should receive your payment from the Student Loan Company in three instalments at the beginning of the autumn, spring and summer terms. In most cases all instalments will be paid directly into your bank account. Please see our timetable for applications page.

[Back to top]