Finance
Student Services are available to offer students information, advice and guidance regarding financial support whilst studying. Assistance will be given to access appropriate funding this includes personal one to one appointments as well as group presentations.
For Further Education students, the following may be available:
Education Maintenance Allowances (EMA)
Students aged 16, 17 or 18 with a household income of approximately £30,810 or less can receive weekly payments of up to £30.00.
www.direct.gov.uk
Adult Learning Grants (ALG)
Students aged 19 or over studying for a first full level 2 or first level 3 qualification can apply for weekly payments of up to £30.00 (subject to financial assessment).
www.direct.gov.uk
Care to Learn Funding
You can claim Care to learn if you are a parent who is under 20 years old and studying.
www.dfes.gov.uk
Discretionary Learner Support Funding
Students studying on full or part time courses who have a household income of £21,000 or below can apply. Students will usually be eligible if they are on a benefit. A contribution towards course related costs can be made (subject to funding).
For Higher Education Students, the following assistance may be available:
Tuition Fees
All eligible full-time students can get a student loan for tuition fees. This is a non commercial loan from the Government. The money is paid directly to the college and students only have to start paying it back once they have left the college and are earning £15,000 per year.
Part-time students are able to apply for assistance through their local authority for a Fee Grant and a Course Grant.
Access to Learning Funding
Discretionary help is available for full- and part-time students studying higher education courses who have a household income of £21,000 or below. Funding may be used to help towards course related costs. Before you can receive assistance from the Access to Learning fund you must apply for your full entitlement of Student Maintenance Loan.
PGCE Teacher Training Bursaries
Students studying full-time, pre-service PGCE or Certificate of Education will qualify for a bursary. These bursaries are accessed once students are enrolled and are attending College. The amount of bursary awarded will depend on a number of factors. Click here for further details. All students on Initial Teacher Training courses should use the PN1 form to apply for assistance from their Local Authority www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk.
Social Work Bursaries
Social Work degree students can apply for the social work bursary through NHSBSA. The application pack is available at www.ppa.org.uk/swb Full-time students can get approximately £4,000 payable in 3 instalments and their tuition fees paid. Part-time students can get in the region of £1,700 payable in 3 instalments and their fees paid. This is non-means-tested and non-repayable, but students must meet the same residency criteria as stipulated by the local authority. The bursary can only pay fees that are not covered by the local authority so it is important that social work students do not have the tuition fee loan. The social work bursary is not a NHS bursary.
Further information on the above funding can be found in our Financial Assistance for Learners leaflet. This information is available from Student Services. We also have information on student discounts.