Student Finance ArrangementsStudent Finance Arrangements

2011/20122011/2012

Contents

• Full Time Higher EducationFull Time Higher Education

- Eligibility Criteria- Eligibility Criteria

- Financial Support Available - Financial Support Available

- Exceptions - Exceptions

• Part Time Higher EducationPart Time Higher Education

• How to applyHow to apply

• What happens next?What happens next?

• RepaymentsRepayments

• Further Education AwardsFurther Education Awards

Eligibility Criteria

There are three main conditions you must meet:

• Be Be personally eligiblepersonally eligible – have lived in the UK and – have lived in the UK and Islands for at least 3 years before the start of your course Islands for at least 3 years before the start of your course and livingand living in Northern Ireland on the first day of the in Northern Ireland on the first day of the academic year in which your course beginsacademic year in which your course begins

• Must attend an Must attend an approved collegeapproved college – a University or – a University or College in the UK or ROI that is maintained out of public College in the UK or ROI that is maintained out of public funds, CAFRE, certain private colleges specifically funds, CAFRE, certain private colleges specifically designated for student supportdesignated for student support

• Must attend an Must attend an approved courseapproved course to get support – to get support – degree, HNC, HND, Dip HE, Foundation degreedegree, HNC, HND, Dip HE, Foundation degree

Eligibility criteriaGap year students

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

Financial support available

Tuition feesTuition fees

• All Students can take out a Student Loan for FeesAll Students can take out a Student Loan for Fees for for the amount charged by the institution (£3375 per year, the amount charged by the institution (£3375 per year, Scotland £1,820 a year, apart from Medicine where Scotland £1,820 a year, apart from Medicine where fees will be £2,895 a year)fees will be £2,895 a year)

• Paid direct to the institution by SLCPaid direct to the institution by SLC• No income assessment involvedNo income assessment involved• Study first, pay back when you are earning more than Study first, pay back when you are earning more than

£15,000 per year£15,000 per year• Fees may vary between courses and between Fees may vary between courses and between

universitiesuniversities

Financial support availableMaintenance Loans

There is no change to the rates for the 2011/12 yearThere is no change to the rates for the 2011/12 year• Max £6,780 if living away from parents’ home and Max £6,780 if living away from parents’ home and

studying in Londonstudying in London• Max £4,840 if living away from parents’Max £4,840 if living away from parents’ home and home and

studying outside Londonstudying outside London• Max £3,750 if living at homeMax £3,750 if living at home

The loan is reduced if you receive a Maintenance Grant orThe loan is reduced if you receive a Maintenance Grant orSpecial Support GrantSpecial Support Grant

Financial support available

Maintenance Grant/Special Support GrantMaintenance Grant/Special Support Grant

• Non-repayable grant for students from low income Non-repayable grant for students from low income households (< £41,065)households (< £41,065)

• Worth up to £3,475Worth up to £3,475 a year – depending on household a year – depending on household incomeincome

• SSG is available to students who are eligible for SSG is available to students who are eligible for income support or housing benefitincome support or housing benefit

• Not available for students studying in ROINot available for students studying in ROI

Studying in the ROIStudying in the ROI

• No Tuition Fees. Flat rate charge of €2000 paid to No Tuition Fees. Flat rate charge of €2000 paid to institution for you by local SFni office.institution for you by local SFni office.

• If required to pay €2000 on enrolment day, ensure If required to pay €2000 on enrolment day, ensure

PN1 application is returned to local SFni office to PN1 application is returned to local SFni office to

enable this fee to be refunded by your institution.enable this fee to be refunded by your institution.

• Eligible for a maintenance loan and means tested Eligible for a maintenance loan and means tested

bursary of up to £2000 where income < £23,605.bursary of up to £2000 where income < £23,605.

• Transfer or repeat students will be charged full tuition Transfer or repeat students will be charged full tuition

fees (not payable by SFni)fees (not payable by SFni)

Financial support available

Financial support available

Extra Help with Living ExpensesExtra Help with Living Expenses

• Parents’ Learning AllowanceParents’ Learning Allowance of up to £1,538 a year of up to £1,538 a year

• Childcare GrantChildcare Grant of up to £148.75 a week for one of up to £148.75 a week for one

child and £255.00 a week for two or morechild and £255.00 a week for two or more

• Adult Dependants’ GrantAdult Dependants’ Grant of up to £2,695 a year of up to £2,695 a year

Disabled Students’ AllowanceDisabled Students’ Allowance

A range of help available which is not means tested on A range of help available which is not means tested on household incomehousehold income

• Specialist equipment allowance of up to £5,266 for Specialist equipment allowance of up to £5,266 for the whole coursethe whole course

• Non-medical helpers’ allowance of up to £20,938Non-medical helpers’ allowance of up to £20,938• General allowance of up to £1,759 per yearGeneral allowance of up to £1,759 per year• Extra travel costs as a result of the disabilityExtra travel costs as a result of the disability

Contact the Disability Adviser at your institution for an Contact the Disability Adviser at your institution for an assessment of what support you will require.assessment of what support you will require.

Financial support available

Financial support available

Help from your Institution

Higher Education Bursary Scholarship SchemeHigher Education Bursary Scholarship Scheme(HEBSS)(HEBSS)

•Extra (non-repayable) grant from a UK institution for Extra (non-repayable) grant from a UK institution for students who are in receipt of full (or in some cases students who are in receipt of full (or in some cases partial) Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grantpartial) Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant•No separate application involved – eligibility determined No separate application involved – eligibility determined through your Student Finance applicationthrough your Student Finance application•Each institution offers different amounts of supportEach institution offers different amounts of support

Assessment processStudent Finance NI assesses Student Finance NI assesses householdhousehold incomeincome based based on:on:

Your gross taxable income (excluding any earnings Your gross taxable income (excluding any earnings during institution term-time and holidays);during institution term-time and holidays);

PLUSPLUS Gross taxable income of parent(s) / partners / Gross taxable income of parent(s) / partners / step-parents;step-parents;

LESSLESS Deductions for payments into pension Deductions for payments into pension funds and funds and £1,1£1,15353 for each other dependent for each other dependent child in the householdchild in the household

This does not apply to Independent studentsThis does not apply to Independent students

Living cost support 2011/12

IncomeIncomeMaintenanceMaintenance

Grant Grant Lodging Lodging

Rate of LoanRate of Loan

Maint Maint Grant Plus Grant Plus

LoanLoan

£19,203£19,203 £3,475£3,475 £2,953£2,953 £6,428£6,428

£25,000£25,000 £2,201£2,201 £3,289£3,289 £5,490£5,490

£35,000£35,000 £689£689 £4,151£4,151 £4,840£4,840

£41,065£41,065 £50£50 £4,790£4,790 £4,840£4,840

£53,035£53,035 £0£0 £3,630£3,630 £3,630£3,630

Exceptions

• Health Professional degrees in NI – income assessed Health Professional degrees in NI – income assessed bursary of £2355 (2010/11 rate), reduced loan of £2370 bursary of £2355 (2010/11 rate), reduced loan of £2370 and Tuition fees paid in fulland Tuition fees paid in full

• Health Professional degrees elsewhere in UK – reduced Health Professional degrees elsewhere in UK – reduced loan and NHS bursary loan and NHS bursary

• Nursing degrees / diplomas in NI, Scotland and Wales – Nursing degrees / diplomas in NI, Scotland and Wales – not eligible for any funding from SFninot eligible for any funding from SFni

• Nursing degrees in England – reduced loan and NHS Nursing degrees in England – reduced loan and NHS bursary. Diplomas in England – no supportbursary. Diplomas in England – no support

• Social Work degrees in NI – additional funding from Social Work degrees in NI – additional funding from DHSSPS of non-means tested grant (£4000 and DHSSPS of non-means tested grant (£4000 and contribution towards work based learning expenses £500)contribution towards work based learning expenses £500)

Part-time HE Courses

HE part time courses must be at least one year’s duration HE part time courses must be at least one year’s duration and at least 50% of a full time course.and at least 50% of a full time course.

Support for eligible students will consist of:Support for eligible students will consist of:• A means tested Tuition fee grant of up to £1,230A means tested Tuition fee grant of up to £1,230• A means tested grant of up to £265A means tested grant of up to £265 • Disabled Students’ AllowanceDisabled Students’ Allowance

Previous study may impact on the financial supportPrevious study may impact on the financial supportavailableavailable

How to apply• Paper application forms available from school or your Paper application forms available from school or your

local Student Finance NI office or download an local Student Finance NI office or download an application form at application form at www.studentfinanceni.co.ukwww.studentfinanceni.co.uk

• Complete form fully and return to your local Student Complete form fully and return to your local Student Finance NI office Finance NI office

• Pay correct postage (1Pay correct postage (1stst class not sufficient) class not sufficient)• Apply as soon as possible and check your application Apply as soon as possible and check your application

onlineonline• EU Students should apply to the EU Team in EU Students should apply to the EU Team in

Darlington Darlington

How to applyInformation requiredInformation required

You You must must provide the following information with your provide the following information with your application form –application form –

• Original Birth certificate or valid Passport. A Birth Original Birth certificate or valid Passport. A Birth certificate certificate mustmust be accompanied by an identity be accompanied by an identity confirmation formconfirmation form

• National Insurance NumberNational Insurance Number• Your bank account detailsYour bank account details• Details of your income and that of your householdDetails of your income and that of your household

What happens next?

Application acknowledged and you receive Customer Reference Application acknowledged and you receive Customer Reference Number Number ↓↓SFni determines whether you are eligible for support and amount SFni determines whether you are eligible for support and amount due due ↓ ↓SLC sends notification of how much support you will receive and SLC sends notification of how much support you will receive and whenwhen ↓↓Take your notification to University at enrolment stage Take your notification to University at enrolment stage ↓↓Your University confirms enrolmentYour University confirms enrolment ↓↓SLC pays your support each term by BACSSLC pays your support each term by BACS

What you must do

You must tell SFni of any change in your circumstances You must tell SFni of any change in your circumstances as this may affect your entitlement e.g.as this may affect your entitlement e.g.

• Name / marital statusName / marital status• Address (home / lodging)Address (home / lodging)• Transfer / Suspension or Withdrawal from course / Transfer / Suspension or Withdrawal from course /

college.college.• IllnessIllness• Drop in parents’ incomeDrop in parents’ income

Things you need to know• If you withdraw from your course before 1 December you will If you withdraw from your course before 1 December you will

not be eligible for a Tuition fee loan, but some institutions may not be eligible for a Tuition fee loan, but some institutions may still charge you fees which you will have to paystill charge you fees which you will have to pay

• If you are on a placement / abroad as part of your course you If you are on a placement / abroad as part of your course you may not receive any support other than a reduced loan (check may not receive any support other than a reduced loan (check first with SFNI)first with SFNI)

• If you receive support for an HND/Dip HE course and move on 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 to year 1 of a degree course you will not receive a Tuition fee loan or a maintenance grant for year 1 of the degreeloan or a maintenance grant for year 1 of the degree

• If you receive a grant and your entitlement is reassessed to a If you receive a grant and your entitlement is reassessed to a smaller grant/no grant at all – the SLC will demand repayment smaller grant/no grant at all – the SLC will demand repayment from you immediatelyfrom you immediately

• You must reapply each year to get supportYou must reapply each year to get support

Repayments

• You only repay Student Loans (Fees and maintenance) You only repay Student Loans (Fees and maintenance)

once you have left your course and are earning over once you have left your course and are earning over

£15,000 a year. £15,000 a year.

• Repayments are based on what is earned, e.g. Repayments are based on what is earned, e.g.

earnings at £18,000 pay back £22 a monthearnings at £18,000 pay back £22 a month

• You do not repay any grants received unless you You do not repay any grants received unless you

withdraw from your course or a re-assessment is withdraw from your course or a re-assessment is

requiredrequired

How to contact us

By telephone on: 0845 6000 662By telephone on: 0845 6000 662

By post or personal visit:By post or personal visit:Student Finance NIStudent Finance NI3 Charlemont Place3 Charlemont PlaceThe MallThe MallArmagh, BT61 9AXArmagh, BT61 9AX

Visit our web site at:Visit our web site at:

www.studentfinanceni.co.ukwww.studentfinanceni.co.uk

Further Education Awards• For certain lower level coursesFor certain lower level courses• Payment of approved Tuition feesPayment of approved Tuition fees• A grant (maximum £2000)A grant (maximum £2000)

Closing Dates: Closing Dates: o Full time Full time - 30 June 2011- 30 June 2011o Part time Part time - 30 September 2011 - 30 September 2011

Apply to: Student Finance NI Apply to: Student Finance NI Further Education Awards SectionFurther Education Awards Section 1 Hospital Road1 Hospital Road OmaghOmagh

Telephone: 028 8225 4546Telephone: 028 8225 4546Email: Email: feawards@welbni.orgfeawards@welbni.org

Further Education support is currently under review and the above Further Education support is currently under review and the above information may change.information may change.

Further Guidance

Student Finance NI has endeavoured to detail every Student Finance NI has endeavoured to detail every aspect of the application process and possible funding aspect of the application process and possible funding available to students entering Further/ Higher Education. available to students entering Further/ Higher Education. If you have any queries that are not mentioned in this If you have any queries that are not mentioned in this presentation please read the ‘Guide to Financial support presentation please read the ‘Guide to Financial support booklet’ or contact the Customer Services Office on booklet’ or contact the Customer Services Office on 0845 6000 662 for further assistance0845 6000 662 for further assistance..