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Student Finance Arrangements 2011/2012

Student Finance Arrangements 2011/2012. Contents. Full Time Higher Education - Eligibility Criteria - Financial Support Available - Exceptions Part Time Higher Education How to apply What happens next? Repayments Further Education Awards.

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Student Finance Arrangements 2011/2012

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  1. Student Finance Arrangements 2011/2012

  2. Contents • Full Time Higher Education - Eligibility Criteria - Financial Support Available - Exceptions • Part Time Higher Education • How to apply • What happens next? • Repayments • Further Education Awards

  3. Eligibility Criteria There are three main conditions you must meet: • Be personally eligible – have lived in the UK and Islands for at least 3 years before the start of your course and livingin Northern Ireland on the first day of the academic year in which your course begins • Must attend an approved college – a University or College in the UK or ROI that is maintained out of public funds, CAFRE, certain private colleges specifically designated for student support • Must attend an approved courseto get support – degree, HNC, HND, Dip HE, Foundation degree

  4. Eligibility criteria Gap year students If you delay your university start until 2012, you will be subject to the same support package as other students commencing in 2012 and not to the support due for the 2011/12 starters e.g. if Tuition fees are increased to £5000 you will be required to pay/take out a loan for £5000, rather than £3375 which applies to 2011/12 starters.

  5. Financial support available Tuition fees • All Students can take out a Student Loan for Feesfor the amount charged by the institution (£3375 per year, Scotland £1,820 a year, apart from Medicine where fees will be £2,895 a year) • Paid direct to the institution by SLC • No income assessment involved • Study first, pay back when you are earning more than £15,000 per year • Fees may vary between courses and between universities

  6. Financial support available MaintenanceLoans There is no change to the rates for the 2011/12 year • Max £6,780 if living away from parents’ home and studying in London • Max £4,840 if living away from parents’home and studying outside London • Max £3,750 if living at home The loan is reduced if you receive a Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant

  7. Financial support available Maintenance Grant/Special Support Grant • Non-repayable grant for students from low income households (< £41,065) • Worth up to £3,475a year – depending on household income • SSG is available to students who are eligible for income support or housing benefit • Not available for students studying in ROI

  8. Financial support available Studying in the ROI • No Tuition Fees. Flat rate charge of €2000 paid to institution for you by local SFni office. • If required to pay €2000 on enrolment day, ensure PN1 application is returned to local SFni office to enable this fee to be refunded by your institution. • Eligible for a maintenance loan and means tested bursary of up to £2000 where income < £23,605. • Transfer or repeat students will be charged full tuition fees (not payable by SFni)

  9. Financial support available Extra Help with Living Expenses • Parents’ Learning Allowance of up to £1,538 a year • Childcare Grant of up to £148.75 a week for one child and £255.00 a week for two or more • Adult Dependants’ Grant of up to £2,695 a year

  10. Financial support available Disabled Students’ Allowance A range of help available which is not means tested on household income • Specialist equipment allowance of up to £5,266 for the whole course • Non-medical helpers’ allowance of up to £20,938 • General allowance of up to £1,759 per year • Extra travel costs as a result of the disability Contact the Disability Adviser at your institution for an assessment of what support you will require.

  11. Financial support available Help from your Institution Higher Education Bursary Scholarship Scheme (HEBSS) • Extra (non-repayable) grant from a UK institution for students who are in receipt of full (or in some cases partial) Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant • No separate application involved – eligibility determined through your Student Finance application • Each institution offers different amounts of support

  12. Assessment process Student Finance NI assesses householdincome based on: Your gross taxable income (excluding any earnings during institution term-time and holidays); PLUS Gross taxable income of parent(s) / partners / step-parents; LESS Deductions for payments into pensionfunds and £1,153 for each other dependentchild in the household This does not apply to Independent students

  13. Living cost support 2011/12

  14. Exceptions • Health Professional degrees in NI – income assessed bursary of £2355 (2010/11 rate), reduced loan of £2370 and Tuition fees paid in full • Health Professional degrees elsewhere in UK – reduced loan and NHS bursary • Nursing degrees / diplomas in NI, Scotland and Wales – not eligible for any funding from SFni • Nursing degrees in England – reduced loan and NHS bursary. Diplomas in England – no support • Social Work degrees in NI – additional funding from DHSSPS of non-means tested grant (£4000 and contribution towards work based learning expenses £500)

  15. Part-time HE Courses HE part time courses must be at least one year’s duration and at least 50% of a full time course. Support for eligible students will consist of: • A means tested Tuition fee grant of up to £1,230 • A means tested grant of up to £265 • Disabled Students’ Allowance Previous study may impact on the financial support available

  16. How to apply • Paper application forms available from school or your local Student Finance NI office or download an application form at www.studentfinanceni.co.uk • Complete form fully and return to your local Student Finance NI office • Pay correct postage (1st class not sufficient) • Apply as soon as possible and check your application online • EU Students should apply to the EU Team in Darlington

  17. How to apply Information required You must provide the following information with your application form – • Original Birth certificate or valid Passport. A Birth certificate mustbe accompanied by an identity confirmation form • National Insurance Number • Your bank account details • Details of your income and that of your household

  18. What happens next? Application acknowledged and you receive Customer Reference Number ↓ SFni determines whether you are eligible for support and amount due ↓ SLC sends notification of how much support you will receive and when ↓ Take your notification to University at enrolment stage ↓ Your University confirms enrolment ↓ SLC pays your support each term by BACS

  19. What you must do You must tell SFni of any change in your circumstances as this may affect your entitlement e.g. • Name / marital status • Address (home / lodging) • Transfer / Suspension or Withdrawal from course / college. • Illness • Drop in parents’ income

  20. Things you need to know • If you withdraw from your course before 1 December you will not be eligible for a Tuition fee loan, but some institutions may still charge you fees which you will have to pay • If you are on a placement / abroad as part of your course you may not receive any support other than a reduced loan (check first with SFNI) • If you receive support for an HND/Dip HE course and move on to year 1 of a degree course you will not receive a Tuition fee loan or a maintenance grant for year 1 of the degree • If you receive a grant and your entitlement is reassessed to a smaller grant/no grant at all – the SLC will demand repayment from you immediately • You must reapply each year to get support

  21. Repayments • You only repay Student Loans (Fees and maintenance) once you have left your course and are earning over £15,000 a year. • Repayments are based on what is earned, e.g. earnings at £18,000 pay back £22 a month • You do not repay any grants received unless you withdraw from your course or a re-assessment is required

  22. How to contact us By telephone on:0845 6000 662 By post or personal visit: Student Finance NI 3 Charlemont Place The Mall Armagh, BT61 9AX Visit our web site at: www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

  23. Further Education Awards • For certain lower level courses • Payment of approved Tuition fees • A grant (maximum £2000) Closing Dates: • Full time - 30 June 2011 • Part time - 30 September 2011 Apply to: Student Finance NI Further Education Awards Section 1 Hospital Road Omagh Telephone: 028 8225 4546 Email: feawards@welbni.org Further Education support is currently under review and the above information may change.

  24. Further Guidance Student Finance NI has endeavoured to detail every aspect of the application process and possible funding available to students entering Further/ Higher Education. If you have any queries that are not mentioned in this presentation please read the ‘Guide to Financial support booklet’ or contact the Customer Services Office on 0845 6000 662 for further assistance.

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