From 2006 there will be changes to tuition fees. To find out more look at the Universities UK website.
The costs facing undergraduates fall into two areas :Tuition fees and living costs.
Tuition fees - The maximum charge is £1,050 but should be less for most students as it is related to family earnings. Apply to your Local Education Authority when you receive an offer of a place at university, even if your offer is conditional. They will assess how much of the fee you have to pay.
A report by the Independent Committee of Inquiry into student finances in Scotland, December 1999, proposes that fees will be paid up front by the Scottish Excecutive but must still be paid back by students once they have graduated and gained employment.
Tuition fees should be less in a year when you are on placement and there are no more than ten weeks of tuition.
The DfES strongly advise that you always apply to your LEA, whatever your circumstances, otherwise you run the risk of paying the full tuition fee which is over £4,000.
Living costs - There are three different methods of support: Loans, supplementary grants for students in particular circumstances and hardship loans and access funds.
Student loans are linked to inflation and do not attract higher interest rates charged by banks and other lenders. Apply to your LEA when you have been offered a place at university.
If you are disabled, have dependents or have other special circumstances you can apply for supplementary grants. These are:
- Dependents’ Allowance - if someone is financially dependent upon you, child or adult, they will be taken into account.
- Disabled Students’ Allowances - non-means tested funds to cover study related costs incurred as a result of your disability. This is now available to part-time as well as full-time students.
- Single Parent Students - there are allowances for single parents under certain circumstances.
- Care Leavers’ grant - for people leaving care to go into higher education. Apply to your LEA when you have been offered a place at university.
Hardship Loans and Access Funds - these are ways of support available to students while at college. You can get advice on applying for hardship loans and access funds from your student support/student services office at college.
Other than LEA loans and grants, you can also receive Career Development Loans (CDL). Information on CDLs is available from banks, jobcentres, TECs (Training & Enterprise Council), careers advisers and colleges.
If you are not eligible for Government funding you can call The Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS). This is an independent advice agency for people wanting to get funding for further or higher education.