Full-time higher education
In 2006 the Government introduced ‘top-up’ fees, allowing universities and colleges
of higher education to charge up to £3,000 per annum for fulltime degree courses.
Loans were available to cover the cost of those fees and the loan does not
have to be repaid until the graduate is earning a salary of more than £15,000.
Additional loans can be accessed to cover some of the living costs.
In 2010, after much controversy, the coalition Government raised the maximum fee to £9,000 per annum. As a sweetener they also changed the salary at which a contribution to pay off the loan has to be paid - £21,000.
Many universities and colleges offer bursaries to help those from lower-income families and some institutions charge less than the current (2010/11) £3,290 for their courses. If the cost of the fees is off-putting you should be aware that many colleges that offer BTEC HE courses also charge significantly less than universities’ own degree courses.
For further information on loans and the cost of higher education click here.
Part-time higher education
The cost of part-time courses is usually proportional to the full-time courses,
so a part-time course that delivers half of a full-time course will cost
50% of a full-time equivalent course, but this is not always the case.
BTEC courses such as HNCs and HNDs usually cost significantly less. In
2004 the Government introduced non-repayable grants for part-time study
that are means tested on the student’s income. The grants have two components
- the fee grant, worth up to £820 for a 50% full-time equivalent course,
for those starting a course in 20010/11, and the course grant, worth up
to £265, which can be used to help with the cost of books, travel, etc.
The maximum grant in 2010/11 is payable to single people whose income is
less than £16,845 but you can still get something if you earn more. The
maximum salary, beyond which you will not get any grant, is currently £28,066.
The grants are provided by Student
Finance England for those who live in England or from the Local Authority
in which the student lives if in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
For a more-detailed explanation of the grants, including how to apply, a document can be accessed by clicking here.
The website for more general information on grants for part-time study can be accessed by clicking here.
NB Regrettably, the coalition Government has also decided to remove the grants for part-time higher education starting with the academic year 2011/12. They argued that loans would create a ‘level playing field’ so that all students could access them, whether they studied on a part-time or full-time basis.
Additional Fee Support Scheme
Some universities and colleges run the Additional Fee Support Scheme, which could
provide extra help if:
To find out more click here.
Courses offered by the Open University also attract grants to help with the cost of study. These are provided directly by the OU rather than the Local Authority. Further information and a ‘ready reckoner’ can be found by clicking here.
NB These will also disappear in the academic year 2011/12.
