Student Finance
At University Studies at West Suffolk College, we understand that managing finances while studying can be daunting. That’s why we’re here to help you navigate the various financial support options available.
We advise that you submit your application as soon as possible so that your funding is in place for starting your course. It is important to be aware that a new student finance application needs to be completed prior to each year of your study. Please visit the Government website to find out information on student finance application deadlines for new students and returning students.
Tuition Fee Loan
A tuition fee loan is designed to cover the cost of any academic fees charged by your college or university. This is to be paid back but not until after you have completed your course and your income is over the repayment threshold. Your education provider sets the cost of a course and this determines how much you can borrow. Once you have made a successful application, your loan will then be paid directly to the provider in instalments. Full time students can borrow up to £9,250 via the tuition fee loan.
There are many factors which determine whether you are eligible for a tuition fee loan. please check the gov.uk website for more details.
Maintenance Loan
You can also apply for a maintenance loan which will help towards your living costs whilst you are studying at university or college. This is intended to cover rent, food, bills, books and travel and is deposited directly into your own personal bank account each term. As with the tuition fee loan, this will need to be paid back but not until after you have completed your course and your income is over the repayment threshold.
Everyone who is eligible for student finance can take a maintenance loan, however, the amount that you can borrow is calculated based on your household income. Typically, as household income increases, the amount that you can borrow decreases. You can get an estimate of what you might be entitled to via the student finance calculator on the government website below.
In your final year of study, you will receive less maintenance loan than previous years. This is because it is usually assumed to cover the periods between each year, but you will no longer be entitled to it once your course has ended.
Advanced Learner Loan (Access to Higher Education)
You can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to meet the upfront costs of your qualification, which will be paid directly to the college on your behalf. If you are 24 or over, or if you are 19-23 (even if you already have a Level 3 qualification), you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to fund your course. This loan will cover the cost of your tuition fees. It’s easy to apply, your household income isn’t considered and there’s no credit check.
You won’t have to pay anything back until your income is over the repayment threshold, however, if you go on to complete an eligible, Higher Education qualification (such as a full bachelor’s degree), the outstanding balance of your Advanced Learner Loan will be written off. To qualify for this, you must have fully completed both courses. You do not need to take out a loan for the Higher Education course. However, it must be eligible for funding by Student Finance England. The Higher Education course does not have to relate to the Access to Higher Education course that you have completed.
If you do not progress onto an eligible Higher Education course, you will have to pay back the loan once you earn over the repayment threshold. The size of your monthly repayments will depend on how much you earn, not what you owe.
To qualify for the Advance Learner Loan, you must be:
Aged 19 or over
Living in the UK for a minimum of three years
How do I apply?
You can apply for the Advanced Learner Loan when you receive your Learning and Funding information letter from us. You will receive this once you have gained an offer on your chosen course. For more information, visit www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan/how-to-apply.
You may also be eligible for the Bursary Fund which provides additional support and is designed to help towards accommodation, childcare, course materials and travel. You can find out more information about the Bursary Fund at www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan/bursary-fund.
If you still have some questions, you may find these Frequently Asked Questions helpful: Advanced Learner Loan FAQs.
Additional Funding and Grants
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) - This helps to pay any additional costs that you may have as a direct result of your disability. It is not dependant on household income but is assessed based on your own individual needs and you do not have to pay this back.
Childcare Grant - If you are a full time undergraduate student with a child under 15 in registered childcare (or under 17 with special educational needs) you may be able to apply for a Childcare Grant.
Parents’ Learning Allowance - You can apply for a Parents’ Learning Allowance if you are a full time undergraduate student and have children who depend on you. It is designed to help towards additional costs associated with being a parent and a student and you do not need to be paying for childcare to be eligible. This will not need to be repaid unless you are overpaid due to a change in circumstances.
Adult Dependants’ Grant - This is designed for those who have an adult who depend on them financially. It does not cover dependants who are students or who earn more than £3,796 a year. You won’t need to repay this unless you’ve been overpaid or leave your course early.
For any queries on applying for funding and student finance, please contact the student support team via universitystudiessupport@easterneducationgroup.ac.uk.