• Home Page
• -
• Education and Learning
• -
• Schools and colleges
• -
• Educational awards and benefits
• -
• Support for new students

Access Tools

This section gives details of the help available to full time 'new system' students who start their course in September 2006 or later.

Tuition Fees

If you choose to study at a university or college in England the maximum fee you can be charged is £3,145 per year. Different rates apply if you are studying in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. You can contact us using the details at the bottom of this page for further information.

From September 2006 eligible students will not have to pay fees before they start university or while they are studying. Instead, students will be able to apply for a new Tuition Fee Loan to cover these costs. The Student Loans Company (SLC) will pay these fees direct to the college on the student's behalf. Students will repay these loans once they have left university and are earning over £15,000.

The table at the bottom of the page shows the maximum amount of loan for students in the first and final years of study.

Maintenance Grant

A new Maintenance Grant was introduced in 2006 for new students who started their course in September 2006 or later. The maximum grant is £2,835 a year, and how much you will receive depends on your household income. The Maintenance Grant does not need to be paid back.

The following provides a guide as to how much you could receive:

Maintenance Grant / Special Support Grant - new students from September 2008

• If your household income is £25,000 or less the amount of grant payable is £2,835.
• If your household income is between £25,001 and £60,005 you will receive a partial grant.
• If your household income is over £60,006 you are not entitled to tuition fee grant.

Maintenance Grant / Special Support Grant - for students who started course between 1 September 2006 and 31 August 2008

• If your household income is £18,360 or less the amount of grant payable is £2,835.
• If your household income is between £18,360 and £39,305 you will receive a partial grant.
• If your household income is over £39,306 you are not entitled to tuition fee grant.

Special Support Grant

A Special Support Grant is available for students who started their course in September 2006 or later and who classed as a prescribed person under the Income Support or Housing Benefit Regulations. This will generally be lone parents, other student parents if they have a partner who is a student, and student with disabilities. Entitlement to Special Support Grant will not affect Department for Work and Pensions benefits. See above for guide to how much you could receive.

The Special Support Grant replaces the Maintenance Grant for eligible students.

Bursaries

Bursaries are extra financial help from universities and colleges. Any university or college who charges fees over £2,835 must provide extra help to students who receive the maximum Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant.

The amount payable is determined by the individual institution.

Contact your own college or university for more information about the bursaries available.

Student loan full and final year rates

Full year rates	Maximum maintenance loan
Students living with parents	Up to £3,580
Students living away from home and studying elsewhere	Up to £4,625
Students living away from home and studying in London	Up to £6,475
Final year rates	Maximum maintenance loan
Students living with parents	Up to £3,235
Students living away from home and studying elsewhere	Up to £4,280
Students living away from home and studying in London	Up to £5,895