Financing your studies
Higher Education Student Support Arrangements in Wales
The information below relates to higher education student support rates for 2010/11 only. For the latest information, please refer to www.studentfinancewales.co.uk or to www.wales.gov.uk. For students residing in other parts of the UK, please refer to the contacts listed below.
Assembly Learning Grant
The Assembly Learning Grant (ALG) provides financial support to help meet general living costs.
For further information contact your Local Authority.
The Assembly Learning Grant is paid in three instalments, one at the start of each term, just like your Student Loan.
How much you get depends on your household income, and will be calculated by your Local Authority when you make your application. The table below will help you estimate your entitlement:
Academic Year 2010/11
Household Income - Full Time Course
£0 to £18,370 - £5,000
£18,371 to £50,020 - £Partial Grant
Over £50,020 - £0
For every £1 of ALG you receive, the amount of Maintenance Loan you are entitled to will be reduced by 60p, up to £2,844. This means that up to £2,844 of repayable loan will be replaced, by the non-payable grant.
Student loans
A student loan can be awarded to cover these costs, which is paid directly to the College. Students will repay these loans once they have left the College and are earning over £15,000 per year. Subject to eligibility, students can apply for a tuition fee loan of up £3,290 towards the cost of these fees.
The amount you can borrow depends upon your household income and where you live while you study.
For continuing students 75% of the loan is non income-assessed, while 25% is income-assessed. This means that a proportion of the loan paid to you will be dependent upon your household income.
For new students, the amount of loan available will depend upon household income, and may also depend on the amount of any Assembly Learning Grant awarded.
Supplementary allowances
Additional funding is available to students in particular circumstances, including if you are disabled or have dependants, eg Childcare Grants, Parents’ Learning Allowance. The University provides help with applications for the Disabled Student’s Allowance, the Non-Medical Helper’s Allowance and the Equipment Allowance where appropriate.
Access to learning funds/financial contingency bursaries
These are funds available to students to help meet living costs who may otherwise be discouraged from going into higher education. Students can apply for these funds after commencing the course. Please contact Student Services for more details
Career development loans
You may apply for a Career Development Loan (CDL), to fund any full-time or part-time course as long as it is vocational in nature. CDL is a deferred repayment bank loan which allows you to borrow between £300 and £8,000. For further information look under advice for adult learners at www.direct.gov.uk or call 0800 585 505.
Applying for financial support
Who to contact if you normally live in:
Wales
Student FinanceWales
0845 602 8845
www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
England
Student Finance Direct
08456 077 577
www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk
Scotland
Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS)
www.saas.gov.uk
Northern Ireland
Student Finance ni Contact Centre
0845 600 0662
www.studentfinanceni.co.uk
Another EU country
You may get support for tuition fees on a similar basis to UK students but you will not be eligible to apply for a Student Loan, Supplementary Grants, or Access to Learning Funds. For an application form for help with tuition fees, please contact: The European Team, Dept for Education & Skills (SSD1), Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, Darlington, Co Durham DL3 9BG. Tel: 0141 243 3570.
Trinity runs a ‘Money Doctor’ scheme to help you manage your money whilst at University. Advice is provided on setting and keeping to your budget so that you avoid financial difficulties. Please contact Student Services for more details – 01267 676830.
