Higher Education Financial Information - 2011/2012
This section includes financial and funding information for full and part time students who are looking to study on a higher education programme at St Helens College from September 2011.
Information for Full Time Undergraduates (including Foundation Degrees and HNDs)
How much will I be charged for my tuition fees?
Am I eligible for funding?
How Much money will I get?
How and when to apply for funding?
I have studied in higher education before, can I be funded again?
I have dependent children-is there additional financial help towards childcare?
Can I claim benefits whilst studying?
Financial Support
Information for Part Time Undergraduates (including Foundation Degrees, HNCs, HNDs and DTTLS)
Can I get financial help with my part time fees?
How do I apply for Part Time Funding?
Funding for full time undergraduates from September 2011
How much will I be charged for my tuition fees?
In the 2011/12 academic year full time undergraduate tuition fees for home or EU students will be:-
| Year 1 | £3037 |
| Returning Year 2 students | £2184 |
| Returning Year 3 students/Top Up Year students | £1704 |
You will be charged a fee for each year of your course. A different fee will be charged to students who hold an equivalent or higher level qualification than the one to which they are applying. The Government has agreed to a number of exemptions to this new policy, including students on Foundation Degrees and those in receipt of Disabled Students Allowance for which it will continue to provide public funding.
Am I eligible for funding?
There are various factors that are considered to determine whether you will qualify for student finance. These will include:
- Where you live
- Your university or college
- Your course
- Whether you’ve studied before
- Your age
If you would like further details regarding your eligibility for funding, see the Eligibility Factsheet.
How Much money will I get?
Whilst in full time higher education you will have two main costs:-
- Tuition Fees (the amount you are charged each year for your course)
- Living Costs (money for accommodation, food, bills and books)
Help with Tuition Fees
You can apply for the exact amount of fee loan to cover the whole tuition fee regardless of your household income and this will be paid directly to St Helens College. If you want to pay the fees yourself or you have another sponsor (employer or parents) you can make arrangements to do this on enrolment.
Help with Living Costs
Most full time students live off a combination of grants and/or loans. For an estimate of the amount of funding you are eligible for go to the Student Finance Calculator www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinancecalculator
You don’t need to wait until you are accepted on a course to apply for student finance. You can apply now and have everything sorted in plenty of time for starting university or college. You can apply for your funding on line see How and When to Apply Factsheet.
I have studied in higher education before, can I be funded again?
If you already have an honours degree, regardless of where and how this was obtained, you cannot normally receive any funding if you go on and study a second course. There are some exceptions to this. If you have studied in higher education before but not achieved a qualification you will be subject to the previous study rules which means your funding is likely to be reduced.
For more information regarding funding for students that have already studied in higher education, please visit www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
I have dependent children-is there additional financial help towards childcare?
Students with dependent children may be eligible for further financial support. Parents’ Learning Allowance is a means tested grant of up to £1,508 per year for full time students who have additional costs arising out of the care for a child whilst studying. In addition to this you can apply for a means tested Childcare Grant that can cover up to 85% of your childcare costs. For further information see Dependants' Grant Factsheet.
Can I claim benefits whilst studying?
Although most full time students are not eligible to claim income related benefits such as Housing Benefit, Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance, certain students with children or disabled students may be able to do so. For further information see Benefits and Funding Factsheet.
Financial Support
Access to Learning Fund (ALF)
Access to Learning Fund (ALF) is a non-repayable discretionary fund, which gives students, facing hardship, extra financial support to access and remain in higher education. More specifically the fund can be used to:
- meet specific course and living costs which are not already met from other sources
- assist if students are in financial hardship
- provide emergency payments for unexpected financial crises
- help students who may be considering giving up their course because of financial problems
Applications forms are available from student services and assessment will depend on a student’s personal circumstances. The Fund is administered by staff in Student Services at St Helens College.
Students with a disability
Students with a disability may also qualify for additional financial support. The Disabled Student allowance is intended to pay for extra costs that a student incurs as a direct result of their disability or long term medical condition.
Disabled Student Allowance (HE Learners)
What is DSA?
The Disabled Student’s Allowance is a grant to help meet the extra course costs a student may incur, as a direct result of a disability, health condition or specific learning difficulty.
What can the DSA be used for?
• Specialist equipment you will need for your course i.e. laptop, computer software.
• Non medical helper i.e. note taker or reader
• Extra travel costs because of disability
• Other costs i.e. books and materials
The amount you receive is based on an assessment of your individual needs. For more details see DSA Factsheet.
We can provide:
• Assessment of support needs
• Help applying for the DSA
• Updating assessment reports
• Providing a structured programme of support
• Help with organising / planning your time and assignments
• Help with revision
• Liaising with your tutors i.e. ensuring they are aware of your needs, arranging exam considerations if applicable
In class support available:
• Note taker/reader support
• CSW support for Deaf learners
Additional tutorial support sessions can be accessed with the Co-ordinator relating to course content and assignments. The Co-ordinator will assist with any issues you 8 may have while on the course.
Help with healthcare costs
If you have a low income you may be able to claim assistance with healthcare costs. You will need to complete a HC1 Form which is available from the post office, doctors surgeries and pharmacies.
Council Tax
Where a full time student lives in College accommodation or in homes where no-one but full time students live they are fully exempt from council tax. If a student lives with one adult who is not a full time student that person can claim 25% discount on their council tax bill.
Council Tax exemption certificates are available to eligible students from Student Services on production of a valid enrolment receipt.
National Insurance
These may be affected by periods of study and mainly apply to mature students who take time out of employment to undertake study. If you are concerned about losing your pension rights if you do not make National Insurance contributions during your course, you can contact the Inland Revenue for further information and advice, either by post:
Inland Revenue
National Insurance Contributions Office
Benton Park View
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE98 1ZZ
Alternatively you can contact the Inland Revenue by telephone on 0191 213 5000. Information and advice can also be obtained from the following websites www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk or www.dwp.gov.uk
Repaying Loans
Click here to find out how and when you would repay your student loan.
Accommodation
St Helens College provides fully furnished shared accommodation located within a five minute walk from the Town Centre Campus. Student accommodation comprises a number of fully furnished 3 bedroom houses, each with 3 bedrooms and shred use of fitted bathroom and kitchen. See attached leaflet for further details.
NHS Funded courses
Click here for further details on NHS funded courses.
Social Work
Click here for further details on additional funding for Social Work courses.
Initial Teacher Training Funding
There are many different routes into teaching including undergraduate, postgraduate and employment based. All loans, grants and bursaries are subject to conditions, but you may be eligible for financial support. Click here for further details.
Budgeting and Student banking
The most effective way of managing personal finances is by planning ahead and compiling a financial statement of all expected income and outgoings. For useful tips on how to prepare a financial statement, along with advice on choosing and opening a student bank account go to www.brightsideuniaid.org
Useful Links
These links may be useful to students in further or higher education. St Helens College is not responsible for the content of external sites.
UNIAID Student Calculator
Loans, grants, bills, jobs… all too much to deal with? Balance your budget with the UNIAID Student Calculator.
http://www.studentcalculator.org.uk/original/
http://www.studentcalculator.org.uk/international/
Student Finance England
The government's website with information about financial support for students in England
http://www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
National Debt Line
Confidential advice on how to cope with problems with finances and debt
http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
HM Revenue and Customs
Information on employment, tax and National Insurance
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/students
Money Supermarket
Compare prices for different products like insurance or utilities to find the best deal
http://www.moneysupermarket.com
Turn2Us
Help accessing funding sources including benefits and grants
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/
VoucherCodes
Discounts and vouchers for top online and high-street shops
http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/lists/studentdiscounts.html
NHS Student Bursaries Website
Calculate whether you’d be eligible for a NHS bursary
http://www.nhspa.gov.uk/sgu/default.aspx
Student Beans
Information about where to find student offers, discounts and deals
http://www.studentbeans.com
Student Job
Online portal for student and graduate jobs, work placements and internships
http://www.studentjob.co.uk/
Information for Part Time Undergraduates (including Foundation Degrees, HNCs, HNDs and DTTLS)
Funding for part time undergraduates from September 2011
From September 2011 St.Helens College will charge part time home or EU undergraduate students (including DTTLS)
£853/£1025/£1280* tuition fees per year.**
£853 for courses 50-59% intensity of study
£1025 for courses 60-74% intensity of study
£1280 for courses 75% plus intensity of study
*actual price depends on the rate at which the student studies their course each year. This is referred to as ‘intensity of study.’
**fee will rise with inflation each year
Can I get financial help with my part time fees?
Students following designated part-time courses may receive a grant towards tuition fees. A course is designated for part-time grants if it lasts at least one year; leads to a higher education qualification and it normally requires no longer than twice the time required for a full time course. For further details on Part Time Fee Grants/ Part Time Course Grants/Additional Support for Part Time students go to the Part-time Finance Factsheet.
How do I apply for Part Time Funding?
You apply by completing a PTG1 form. PTG1 forms are available to download from www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance Please note that PTG1 forms for the academic year 2011/12 are only available to download from August 2011. Before you apply will need to get your tutor to confirm within the PTG1 form you are a student and what percentage of a full time course you are enrolled on. If you are starting your course in September 2011 your tutor will not be able to do this until you have enrolled and attended for two weeks.
NEED FURTHER HELP AND ADVICE? – Student Services has a specialist Student Finance Adviser who can assist you with any concerns or queries regarding your financial needs. Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the Student Finance Adviser on 01744 623238 or by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
