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What help can I get with my higher education fees?

In order to support higher education students with course fees, a number of sources of financial assistance are available from both us and the Government to help you with your fees and living expenses.

Full-time Degree Level students

Tuition Fee Loan
If you're a full-time student, you won't have to pay tuition fees before or during your studies. Instead, you'll be able to take out a Student Loan of up to £3,000 for 2006/07 to cover the full amount of tuition fees. The amount you get does not depend on your financial circumstances. The Student Loans Company will pay the fees directly to the University Centre and you will not have to pay back this loan until you have finished your studies and are earning over £15,000 a year. If you stop working or you do not earn more than £15,000 per annum you don't pay anything.

Maintenance Loan
Maintenance loans to help you with living costs are also available. If you are living at home whilst studying, this may be up to £3,495, and it may be up to £4,510 if you are living away from home (loan amounts are per annum) All eligible students are entitled to 75% of the maximum figure. Whether you can claim any or all of the remaining 25% will depend on your household income. As with the Tuition fee loan, you do not have to start paying back the loan until you have finished university and are earning more than £15,000 a year.

Important - please note that students in receipt of the Maintenance Grant will have their maintenance loan reduced as part of the maintenance grant is paid in substitution for part of the maintenance loan (which has the effect of reducing the loan debt for lower income students).

Maintenance Grant
Full-time students from lower income households are also eligible for the non-repayable Maintenance Grant which is worth up to £2,765 a year. How much you will receive will depend on your household income (grants are currently available for household incomes up to £38,330). Maintenance grants are paid in three instalments – one at the start of each term. Around half of all full-time students who are funded by their Local Authority are likely to be eligible for an annual non-repayable Maintenance Grant of up to £2,765. How much a student receives will depend on their income and that of their household. If that income is:

Special Support Grant
Students from lower income families with an underlying eligibility for means-tested benefits (for example lone parents) may be eligible for financial help from a means-tested Special Support Grant of up to £2,765 (instead of the Maintenance Grant above).

Anglia Ruskin University Maintenance Bursary
Anglia Ruskin University will also provide an extra £305 annual bursary for students from the lowest income households claiming the full £2,765 Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant.

Other Financial Help
In addition to the above, you may also be eligible for one of the following sources of financial help:

  • Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs)
  • Parents’ Learning Allowance
  • Adult Dependants’ Grant
  • Childcare Grant
  • Access to Learning Funds
  • Various scholarships directly from Anglia Ruskin University

Course specific financial help
Specific courses also qualify for financial help, including some education / teaching courses which draw funding from Local Education Authorities.

Part-time Degree Level students

Tuition Fee / Course Costs Grant
Part-time students who live and study in England may be able to apply for a means-tested, non-repayable fee grant and a course costs grant. The fee grant can help to pay for tuition fees and the course grant can help to pay for other study related costs such as books, travel and equipment.

To apply for these grants, both you and your course must be 'eligible'. This means your course must:

  • last at least one year
  • not take more than twice as long to complete as an equivalent full-time course
You won't qualify for the fee or course costs grant:
  • if you already have a degree from a UK university or college
  • if you are studying a part-time course of Initial Teacher Training (as you will apply for the same type of student funding as full-time students)
  • if you are studying for more than one part-time course at a time

Further information about tuition fee grants and course costs grants is available on the Student Finance pages of the Government’s information website, www.direct.gov.uk.

Additional Fee Support Scheme (AFSS)
If you receive a fee grant that doesn't cover your tuition fees, you may be able to get extra money from your college through the Additional Fee Support Scheme. Please call us for more information about the AFSS.

Scholarships
Some part-time students will be entitled to a scholarship from Anglia Ruskin University to help towards the costs of studying. If you are:

  • starting your part-time studies from 2006 onwards
  • studying for a qualifying award
  • paying your fees yourself
  • or if you are in receipt of the Tuition Fee Grant through your Local Authority

You may be considered for a scholarship provided (subject to certain course requirements, please call for details). If your fees are paid by an employer you will not be eligible.

Other Financial Help
In addition to the above, you may also be eligible for other sources of financial help including Disabled Students’ Allowances or Access to Learning Funds. Please call 0845 8728722 for more details of help with course costs.