Part time student support
Part-time study is not funded in the same way as full-time and so there are no loans available, but you may qualify for a grant towards the cost of your tuition fees and a small course costs grant.
Whether or not you qualify for this support depends on your personal circumstances, but includes an assessment of your residency, household income and the intensity of your study. If you do not qualify for student support, or you chose not to apply for it, you will be expected to make payment of your tuition fees yourself.
The main sources of government-funded help for lower income part-time students are:
- The Fee Grant - to help with tuition fees.
- The Course Grant - to help with study costs, such as books, materials and travel.
The maximum Fee Grant you can get is based on how ‘intensive’ your course is - how long it takes to complete compared to the equivalent full-time course. For the most intensive courses, the maximum available through the Fee Grant and Course Grant combined is £1,495 for 2011–12. See table below.
If you are getting certain benefits, you will qualify for the maximum automatically. Otherwise, how much you can get depends on your personal circumstances and household income. Any help you get through either grant does not have to be paid back.
Entitlement to any of these grants will depend on your household income and whether you have a partner or children. Whether a partner's income is included in the assessment of your income will depend on when you started your programme, as there have been recent regulation changes.
| Household income | Fee Grant* | Course Grant | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course intensity 50-59% | Course intensity 60-74% | Course intensity 75%+ | ||
| Less than £16,845 | Full grant - £820 | Full grant - £985 | Full grant - £1,230 | Full grant - £265 |
| £16,845 | £770 | £935 | £1,180 | Full grant - £265 |
| £16,845 to £25,420 | Partial grant (at least £50) | Full grant - £265 | ||
| £24,421 to £26,029 | No grant | Full grant - £265 | ||
| £26,030 to £28,065 | No grant | Partial grant | ||
| £28,066 or more | No grant | No grant | ||
| * You can't be awarded a Fee Grant that's higher than your actual tuition fees | ||||
Additional fee support
If your tuition fee charge is higher than the grant you are receiving and you qualify for the maximum amount of grant available for the level of intensity of your study, you may qualify for additional support to help you pay the balance of the fees from the, Additional Fee Support Scheme (AFSS). You can apply for this support from the university. Read more about this.
The Disabled Students’ Allowance is available from your local authority to help you with costs that you incur as a direct result of your disability while attending your programme.
As a part-time student you may be able to claim income-related benefits, such as income support and housing benefit. If you are claiming Jobseekers Allowance, you must be willing to go to a job interview, even if you have to take time off from your programme. You should also be prepared to rearrange your hours of study to fit around a job.
