Adult Learners - Financial Information
1. Fee charges for your course
From September 2006 universities and colleges in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will all have different arrangements when it comes to charging fees. The table below shows the charges English students can expect to pay whilst studying in the UK.
Maximum fee charges for English students starting University or College in 2006
| 2006/07 | 2007/08* | 2008/09* | 2009/10* | |
| Where in the UK? | ||||
| England | £3,000 | £3,000 | £3,000 | |
| Wales | £1,200 | £3,000 | £3,000 | |
| Scotland | £1,700 | £1,700 | £1,700 | £1,700 |
| Medicine courses in Scotland | £2,700 | £2,700 | £2,700 | £2,700 |
| Northern Ireland | £3,000 | £3,000 | £3,000 |
* The figures for these years are subject to annual increases in line with inflation and will be finalised nearer the time.
NOTE - The standard degree course in Scotland lasts four years (English degree courses tend to last only three years).
From September 2006 universities in England will be allowed to vary the fees they charge new students. Universities will be able to charge between zero and £3,000 per year. The maximum fee chargeable will not rise by more than the rate of inflation before 2010 at the earliest. Variable fees will only affect students who start their course in September 2006 or later. Existing students will not be asked to pay variable fees. Instead, their fees will be capped at up to around £1,200.
Universities will only be allowed to charge more than the 'standard fee' of around £1,200 if they have signed up to an Access Agreement with the new Office for Fair Access (OFFA). This agreement will set out the universities proposals for improving access and the action they will take to promote fair access, including providing financial help, so that students from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
2. What help is available?
The following information is a summary of the help available to full time students. Further details will be available in the guide "A guide to financial support for higher education students in 2006/07" which will be available from March 2006. You can get a copy of this guide at that time from;
- Your Local Authority (LA)
- The Dfes Information Line on 0800 731 9133
- The Guides page of the Dfes website
The table below gives and indication of the maximum amounts of financial help.
Student Support Available for students starting Higher Education in 2006
| Academic Year | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 |
| Tuition Fee Charge | Up to £3,000 | Up to around £3,000* | Up to around £3,000* |
| New student loan for fees from 2006 | Up to £3,000 | Up to around £3,000* | Up to around £3,000* |
| Amount of new Maintenance Grant | Up to £2,700 | Up to around £2,700 | Up to around £2,700 |
| Student Loan for living Costs | Up to £4,405 | Up to around £4,405* | Up to around £4,405* |
| Help from universities and colleges | Many Colleges and Universities offer non repayable bursaries - contact your college or university to see what they are offering! | ||
* These figures are subject to annual increases in line with inflation and will be finalised nearer the time.
3. Help towards tuition Fees
From September 2006 eligible full-time undergraduate students will not have to pay fees before they start university or whilst they are studying.
Instead eligible students will be able to apply for a Student Loan for Fees to cover these costs. This means that they won't have to find the money before they start their course or whilst they are studying, and the fees will be paid direct to the their university or college, on their behalf. Students will repay these loans once they have left university and are earning over £15,000.
There are no upper age limits imposed for students loans for fees.
4. Help with livings costs
How much help is available depends on household income. The table below illustrates the amount and type of help that different incomes might attract.
Annual Help with Living Costs
| Household Income | £17,500 | £26,500 | £37,500 | £50,000 |
| Maintenance Grant | £2,700 | £1,200 | Nil | Nil |
| Student loan for maintenance * | £3,200 | £3,200 | £4,400 | £3,300 |
| Total each year | £5,900 | £4,400 | £4,400 | £3,300 |
| Help from Universities and Colleges | Many Colleges and Universities offer non repayable bursaries - contact your college or university to see what they are offering! | |||
* These figures are for students living away from home but not in London. A higher rate of student loan for maintenance is payable for students living away from home in London and a lower rate applies to students living at home.
Further information is provided below.
5. New Maintenance grant
From 2006, new full-time students from lower income households will be eligible for the new non-repayable Maintenance Grant which is worth up to £2,700 a year. How much a student will get will depend on their income and that of their household. If that income is
- £17,500 or less they will receive the full £2,700 grant.
- A partial grant will be payable where household income is between £17,501 and £37,425.
Around half of all new full-time students are likely to be eligible for a full or partial grant. Grants are payable in three instalments - one at the start of each term.
Up to £1,200 of the new grant will be paid in substitution for part of the student loan for maintenance (see section 5).
6. Bursaries
Universities and colleges wishing to charge more than £2,700 a year for a course will have to provide additional non-repayable financial support, such as bursaries, to students on these courses who are receiving the full £2,700 Maintenance Grant. This means that students who receive the full maintenance grant and who are on courses charging the maximum fee of £3,000 a year will get at least £300 a year in additional financial support from their university or college, making a total package of non-repayable support of at least £3,000 a year. This may take the form of a Bursary or some other type of financial help. The type and amount of financial help will depend on the university or college concerned.
Some students will get more than this, as many universities and colleges are expected to offer financial help worth more than £300. It will be important to speak to the university or college that you're interested in and find out what it offers. Contact their student advice service for information.
7. Student Loans for maintenance
Student loans to help with living costs are available. They attract a very low rate of interest - at inflation levels. This ensures that the value of the loan that is repaid remains the same in real terms as the amount borrowed. In September 2004, the interest rate was 2.6%. The table below shows the maximum maintenance loans available.
| 2006/07 | Student living at home | Student living away from home, in London | Student living away from home, outside London |
| Maximum Full Year loan rate: | £3,415 | £6,170 | £4,405 |
| Maximum Final Year loan rate: | £3,085 | £5,620 | £4,080 |
Maintenance loan entitlement for maintenance grant recipients will be reduced by up to £1,200 as up to £1,200 of the maintenance grant is paid in substitution for part of the maintenance loan (which has the effect of reducing the debt for lower income students by up to £1,200 a year).
The loan is repayable once you leave your course and start earning more than £15,000 a year. Deductions are usually made through the PAYE tax system by your employer in the same way as tax and National Insurance contributions. Repayments are linked to your earnings, so the more you earn the more you repay; the less you earn the less you repay. So someone earning £20,000 a year would repay £8.65 a week or £37.50 a month. If you stop working, or your earnings fall below £15,000, then your repayments will cease.
There is a range of extra help available if you have children or adult dependants. Click here for more information
There is extra help available for those students with a disability. Click here for more information
Help available after starting your course - the Access to Learning funds
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These are available through your college and provide help for students on low income who may need extra financial support for their course and to stay in higher education. More specifically the funds:
and These funds are for full-time and part-time students (studying at least half of an equivalent full-time course - your college will be able to tell you if your course qualifies). Students will be assessed according to individual needs. However, the following groups of students are a priority for help from the Access and Hardship Funds;
Your college will decide whether you are able to get this help and if so, how much you can receive. This will depend on your own circumstances Payments are usually given as grants, and do not have to be repaid, although sometimes they can be given as short-term loans. The college will also decide whether to pay you in a lump sum or in instalments. |