Full Time Students
For UK and EU students starting undergraduate courses in 2008, we will charge £3,145 tuition fees for full-time undergraduate degrees and £2,200 for full-time foundation degrees, HND and Year Zero students. Different charges apply for non-EU students.
The fee for Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technology students on a placement in 2009/10 will be £654.Award Home and EU Fee Overseas Fee
Edexcel Foundation Art & Design No Fee £8,850 plus registration fee £TBA
Higher National Diploma/Foundation Degree/ Year Zero £2,200 £8,850
18 mth Foundation Degree Fast Track £3,145 —-
Degree £3,145 £8,850
2 yr Degree Fast Track £3,145 £8,850
More information on fees and scholarships For EU (non UK) and non-EU students
What Does the Tuition Fee Cover?
The tuition fee pays for your teaching, assessment, examinations, the University’s Library and computer facilities, welfare support.
The tuition fee does not cover your accommodation and living costs, personal equipment, course materials, stationery and so on.
Which funding system am I on?
What funding am I entitled to? This depends upon when you begin your course of study and if you have ever done any previous Higher education study prior to this.
You will be classed as a 2005 funding system student if you:
took a gap year in 2005/06 and by 1 August 2005 received confirmation of their deferred place for 2006/07
not been able to take up their intended 2005/06 place because of A-level results which you have successfully appealed against and are starting in 2006/07 instead
started your current course before September 2006 or have transferred from a course that started before then
started an ‘end-on’ degree course after completing a Foundation Degree, Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) or Diploma of Higher Education course in 2005/06
Finance Guide: Old funding system undergraduate full time student with children or adult dependant (PDF, Filesize: 77.04KB)
Finance Guide: Old funding system undergraduate full time student without children or adult dependant (PDF, Filesize: 59.82KB)
You will be classed as a 2006 funding system student if you have:
started your course betweem September 2006 and July 2008 and do not meet the above criteria
or
you are a prospective student beginning your course after September 2008 and you have previously attended some Higher Education study
Finance Guide: For students who began study after September 2006 but before September 2008 (PDF, Filesize: 184.21KB)
If you are a prosepective student beginning study from September 2008 and you have never done any previous Higher Education study, please click on the leaflet below;
Money Matters Guide (PDF, Filesize: 535.97KB)
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Part Time Student Financial Support
If you are an Undergraduate new part-time student in 2008-09, to apply for a fee grant or a course grant you should contact Student Finance Direct or your Local Authority for a PTG1 form. You will then need to contact the Information Centre to arrange for your form to be signed/verified.
Continuing students should contact their Local Authority for a continuing part-time application form.
Fees and Course Grants
A Fee Grant is available to help with tuition fees and is paid directly to the University. A Course Grant for £255 is available to help meet the cost of books, travel and course expenditure and is paid directly to you. You will not have to repay these grants, and the amount you receive is based on your household income.
2008/2009
For students studying at the rate of 50% or more but less than 60% of a full-time equivalent course (FTE):
Maximum Fee Grant available: £785
Maximum Course Grant available: £255
Total Maximum Support: £1040
For students studying at the rate of 60% or more but less than 75% of FTE (HNC = 63% of FTE, Foundation Degrees = 67% of FTE):
Maximum Fee Grant available: up to £945
Maximum Course Grant available: £255
Total Maximum Support: £1200
For students studying at 75% or more FTE (Part-time Honours Degree up to 75% of FTE):
Maximum Fee Grant available: up to £1180
Maximum Course Grant available: £255
Total Maximum Support: £1435
(If the Undergraduate course is less than the figures above then the cost of the tuition fee may be covered, for more information contact Janet Newey for a University Fee Waiver Form, available after the 20th August 2008. Janet Newey t: 01785 353337 e: j.newey@staffs.ac.uk)
Income: Less than £16,090
Fee Grant: Maximum grant allowed for your course intensity (or the tuition fees charges for your course if these are lower)
Course Grant: Full grant £255
Income: Less than £16,090
Fee Grant: Maximum grant allowed for your course intensity less £50 (or the tuition fees charges for your course if these are lower)
Course Grant: Full grant £255
Income: £16,091 to £24,280
Fee Grant: Partial grant (at least £50)
Course Grant: Full grant £255
Income: £24,281 to £24,874
Fee Grant: No Grant
Course Grant: Full grant £255
Income: £24,875 to £26,825
Fee Grant: No Grant
Course Grant: Partial grant
Income: £26,826 or more
Fee Grant: No Grant
Course Grant: No Grant
If you live with a partner, your assessment will usually be based on your combined incomes. For further information visit the Student Finance Direct or Direct Gov.
Disabled Student Allowance
If you have a disability, long term health condition, dyslexia or dyspraxia which makes studying more expensive or less convenient than it would be otherwise, contact the University Disability Advisory Service. You may be able to receive extra financial help. This could be for academic support (e.g. if you are dyslexic and you need a scribe for note taking) or equipment (e.g. a voice-recognition computer, tapes or Braille). These additional allowances are not means tested in any way. Please remember that if you fall into a category above, please ensure that you tick the relevant box on the Local Authority form to indicate this.
Help From the University
The Access to Learning Fund (askAlf)
This fund is provided to the university by the government for students in financial hardship. Undergraduate and postgraduate ‘home’ students who meet the relevant criteria are eligible to apply for term time awards and, in some cases, awards to cover the summer vacation period. ALF is a discretionary fund of last resort which means that you are not guaranteed an award but if you do receive one it does not usually have to be repaid. However, ALF can ask for the money to be repaid if your attendance is poor or if you leave the course before the end of the academic year.
Full Time students must have applied for all other relevant funding, including their full entitlement to the Maintenance Loan, (undergraduates only), tax credits, where applicable and any other benefits that they may be entitled to. Postgraduate students who are not entitled to public funding should show that they have made ‘reasonable’ provision to fund the course because ALF is not allowed to consider fees for any full time students.
Part time students must have applied to their Local Authority for the part time tuition fee grant and course cost grant if they meet the LA criteria. ALF is able to help part time students who are in financial hardship with a percentage of their course costs, including travel and reasonable childcare costs. However, part time students must be studying a minimum of 50% of a full time course, usually 60 credits undergraduate and 90 credits at postgraduate level. Part time students are not usually eligible for a summer vacation award.
Postgraduate students who are studying at postgraduate level for the first time may be eligible to apply to ALF for a Postgraduate Bursary. Successful students would receive £500 if studying full time and £250 for a part time course.
Further information and application packs can be obtained from the Information Centres and the Students’ Union Advice Centres on both the Stoke and Stafford campuses. Application packs are available from nominated staff at the Schools of Health and in SURF and partner colleges.
Social Security Benefits and Tax Credits:
Income Support and Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit
Part time students can claim Income Support and Housing/Council Tax Benefits under the usual rules without restriction. Generally this includes lone parents with a child under 16 and those deemed incapable of workdue to incapacity, although this does include some other groups. Please see the Students’ Union Advice Centre for further information.
Income Support and Housing/Council Tax Benefit are means tested and any income you receive such as Child Benefit and Child Tax credits will be deducted from your benefit entitlement. This does not include the Tuition Fee and Course Cost Grant, which are disregarded.
Job Seekers Allowance:
You can claim Job Seekers Allowance whilst studying part time. You must be able to pass all the basic rules for JSA including being available for work and actively seeking work.
Incapacity Benefit:
Studying part time (or full time) should not affect your entitlement to claim Incapacity Benefit as becoming a student does not mean that you are capable of work. Incapacity Benefit is not means tested and therefore any student income you receive is not counted when assessing your entitlement.
Child Tax Credit:
Anyone with children who has an income below £58,175 (up to £66,350 if you have a child under 1), can apply for and receive the Child Tax Credit, which is administered by the Inland Revenue.
Working Tax Credit:
If you are a single parent or have a disability that puts you at a disadvantage of getting a job AND you work more than 16 hours a week, OR you are aged 25 and work 30 or more hourse per week, you can apply for Working Tax Credit.
Early Education Places:
All children are entitled to free education sessions a term after their third birthday up to commencing school. You can claim the grant if your child is aged 3 or 4 and is attending a private/voluntary childcare setting that is registered with the Local Authority. The funding entitles your child to 5 sessions per week (lasting two and a half hours each) at a registered setting. You can claim a maximum of 2 sessions in any day and the grant is available for 38 weeks of the year. You will be required to pay for any childcare over and above the 5 free sessions per week. For further details, contact the Childcare Service on Stoke (01782) 294981 or Stafford (01785) 353371.