Student Finance Guide 2012

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2012 Undergraduate entry

Investing in

your futureStudent Finance Guide

UK Students – September 2011



We are aware that choosing to

go to university is a significant

investment of your time and money

and we are committed to helping

you get the maximum returnpossible from studying with us.



www.mmu.ac.uk

Contents

Introduction to student finances 2-3

Step 1: Find out about Manchester Metropolitan University and funding

Investing in your future 4-9

Funding for your studies 10-13

Manchester Metropolitan University Student Support Package

Maintenance Grant

Loans

Part-time work, bank accounts and discounts 14-15Extra support and mature students information; 16-17

Adult Dependants Grant, Special Support Grant, Parent’s Learning Allowance

Childcare Grant, Disabled Students’ Allowance and Access to Learning Fund

Step 2: Find out about costs

Planning finances, budgeting and applying 18-19

Tuition Fees at Manchester Metropolitan University 20-21

Living costs and accommodation 22-23

Repayment amounts & interest rates 24-25

Step 3: Find out how it works

Part-time students and students not from England 26-27

Application information

Useful web addresses

Help with student finance

Contacts at Manchester Metropolitan University 28

Please check www.mmu.ac.uk/fees (or www.mmu.ac.uk/moneymatters) for the latest information and to check

that you have the latest version of this guide.

1



Student Finance Guide | September 2011

Introduction to

student finance 2012

We passionately believe that goingto university is a real investment

in your future. If you wish to

follow a professional or vocational

career and benefit from all the

opportunities and rewards that this

can offer, then going to university

remains the best and most direct

way of achieving this.

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Funding • Manchester Metropolitan • Manchester Metropolitan • Maintenance Grants

income University Student Support University Student Support Maintenance Loans

Package Package • Part-time work

• Maintenance Grants • Maintenance Grants • Tuition Fee Loan

Maintenance Loans Maintenance Loans• Part-time work • Part-time work

• Tuition Fee Loan • Tuition Fee Loan

Costs • Tuition Fees • Tuition Fees • Tuition Fees

Outgoings • Accommodation • Accommodation • Accommodation

• Living costs • Living costs • Living costs

• Study costs • Study costs • Study costs

There has been considerable news about

going to university in 2012, much ofwhich has focused on the Tuition Fees

increasing. The Tuition Fees are rising due

to government funding for higher education

being cut in 2012. These fees will be

paid for by a loan to each student and no

student attending university in 2012

will have to pay these fees upfront.

The existing system of loans and grants has

also been extended and improved to assist

students in going to university.

Student funding & costsThe table below should help you to get a

quicker grasp and understanding of the

funding available and the costs of going to

university.

Think of this table as a simple personal

calculator with sources of funding available.

Some are free (grants & Student Support

Package) and some in the form of loans tohelp you pay for your costs. The main costs

are fees, accommodation and living costs.

2

You don’t have to pay fees

upfront, and you don’t startto make repayments until

you are earning £21,000 or

more



www.mmu.ac.uk

Financial support from ManchesterMetropolitan University in 2012

• For 2012, we are providing a £3,000

Student Support Package** to each first

year, full-time, first-degree undergraduate

who joins us from a household with an

income up to and including £25,000.

• We will also have a household income

dependent support package in place

for students who continue through to

year two.

Repayment after graduation• We believe that the repayment model

for any full-time student joining us in

2012 represents an improvement on the

current scheme in terms of the monthly

repayment amounts.

• Under the 2012 proposals, a graduate

earning an annual salary of £25,000 will

pay back £360 per year, equivalent to

£6.92 per week. Almost all graduates

under the current system are paying more

each month. It is estimated that fewer

than 35% of students starting in 2012 will

repay the loans in full. The outstanding

loan is written off after 30 years.

• A Department of Enterprise research

report estimated that a typical UK

graduate earned £160,000 more in lifetimeearnings than a non-graduate.

• We have presented the full facts and

figures in this guide as clearly as possible

to help demonstrate that going to

Manchester Metropolitan University in

2012 remains as strong a commitment

and investment in your future as it has

always been.

• We are one of the largest and most

successful universities in the UK today

and very much a university of and for the

North West region, producing more than

8,000 mostly local graduates each year.

** Student Support Package assessed upon receipt

of Student Finance online application. List of eligible

students please refer to www.finance.mmu.ac.uk/students

Only students with a UK Student Support number are

eligible to apply for the Student Support Package.

3




Investing in your future

We realise that choosing to go touniversity in 2012 is a significant

investment of both your time and

money. Our job is to help you

get the maximum return on your

investment.

Our combination of industry relevant

courses, academic expertise, world-

class facilities and supportive learning

environment make for an outstanding

learning experience. With campuses based

across the vibrant city of Manchester, and a

lively Cheshire campus in Crewe, you’ll also

have access to fantastic social and leisure

facilities to make the most of university life.

Investing in the right coursefor you

We offer over 1,000 professionally relevant

courses designed to equip you with

the important skills, qualifications and

experience you need to make you a sought

after professional.

Our courses span a range of subjects

including accounting and finance, business

and management, science and engineering,

healthcare and social work, clothing design

and technology, art and design, humanities,

law and teaching.

Investing in your career• 90%* of our graduates go straight

into work or further study within six

months of graduation.

•70 professional bodies and

associations work in partnership with

the University to provide the right kind of

courses for the private and public sectors.

•We work in partnership with schools and

organisations across the region and we

review our courses to ensure that they

are up-to-date and relevant to

employers. We place employability

at the very heart of university learning &

teaching.

•Many of our courses encourage

industrial placements to give you real- life experience of the workplace and equip

you with the skills you’ll need to succeed

in your studies and after you graduate.

•Opportunities range from year-long paid

placements in the UK or overseas, to

short voluntary placements and

student ‘real life’ projects for employers.

* Source: DLHE Survey 2010 for all respondents available

for employment or further study and whose destinations

are known.

4



www.mmu.ac.uk

Investing in careers andemployability support

You’ll find our team of professionally trained

careers advisors are on hand to help you at

each stage of your university life.

As well as providing you with the

employability skills to help you get your

first graduate job, we advertise part-time

jobs, which can help to add to your income

whilst at university.

We also help you with information on

volunteering opportunities, recruitment

fairs and job vacancies and even provide

mentoring from a professional in your field.

mmu.ac.uk/careers

Investing in a lifelongrelationship

After you’ve graduated, our Alumni

Association provides the opportunity for

you to stay connected with students, staff

and other alumni.

You’ll also be able to use our careers and

employability resources and advice for up to

three years after you graduate.

You will have full access to our extensive

online resources and tips, as well as listings

for graduate job vacancies and internships.

Whatever your career path, we’ll be here

to help you at each stage to make sure you

get the right job for you.

“Work experience and

part-time employment is

invaluable when applying

for graduate jobs, and our

Volunteering MMU service

and the Jobs4students job

shop can help you gainthis experience.”

Katie Bennett, Careers

and Employability Service

5




Investing in our academicexpertise

Our 4,000 staff are committed

to sharing their passion for their

subject and giving you the best

possible experience with us. We

pride ourselves on delivering a

supportive learning environmentwith tutors and support staff who

are there to help you succeed in

your studies and make your time as

a student with us memorable.

We are a university with award-winning

staff at the forefront of their fields. You’ll

find teaching and research academics

who advise the United Nations on climatechange, education specialists who have

influenced the shape of primary education,

international prize-winning artists and

creators of high performance clothing for

explorers and elite athletes.

We also have award-winning healthprofessionals, internationally renowned

researchers in the fields of sciences, arts,

humanities, education and social sciences,

and some of the country’s best writers

including the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann

Duffy.

Many of our 1,900 academic teaching staff,

105 professors and 100 researchers are

themselves experienced professionals whohave well-established links within their

sectors and ensure that your learning is

up-to-date and relevant. They supplement

their teaching with lists of essential

reading, interesting articles, support

materials and resources, much of which will

be available on your personalised online

learning environment.

mmu.ac.uk/courses


6



www.mmu.ac.uk

Investing in a supportivelearning and teaching

environment

Your learning will be enhanced by

our range of impressive facilities,

from superbly equipped lecture

theatres and teaching rooms to

cutting-edge laboratories andspecialist facilities.

•We have an extensive library on each

campus, and every subject taught here

is comprehensively covered with a total of

more than 750,000 books, plus e-journals,

articles and e-books which you can access

online from any location, 24 hours a day, 7

days a week.

•Our lecture theatres and teaching rooms

contain state-of-the-art facilities, and

you’ll find a superbly equipped language

lab facility, featuring plasma wall screens

and individual stations for private and

independent working.

•We’ll provide you with a comprehensiveand personalised virtual learning

environment (VLE), containing reading

lists, electronic books and articles, lecture

notes, tutorial materials and study kits.

•Free WiFi is available across the

University and there are computer drop-in

centres (IT zones) on each campus

with the latest software applications and

helpdesk support.

•Our video conferencing facilities and

video recording suites with remote control

cameras will help you prepare for giving

presentations.

•We’ll lend you items such as netbooks,

laptops, camcorders, audio-visual

equipment and projectors, all free of

charge, to ensure you get the very best

out of your studies.

7




Investing in your studentexperience

We work hard to provide you with

an outstanding student experience,

ensuring that the combination

of integrated learning, student

support services, employment focus

and active social life provide youwith a well rounded education to

get you ready for the world after

graduation.

As a significant amount of independent

study is required to complete your degree

course, our combination of first-class

libraries, dozens of high tech laboratories

and modern IT facilities will ensure youhave all the resources you need to make

the most of your studies.

You will study for your degree through a

programme of integrated learning, direct

contact with tutors and independent study,

underpinned by personal support services.

Our courses are very strong in developing

employable skills so that you can practise

what you have studied.

Our range of support services can help you

with your learning and get the most out of

your studies. This includes personal support

from your tutor, advice and guidance from

Student Support Officers and our online

resource, Skills Online, which provides

resources in time management, help with

assignments, group-work, writing, giving

presentations and note taking.

What’s more, a big part of your universitylife will be about new experiences and

the new friends you make. Your time as a

student with us is a fantastic opportunity

to try new sports, experience new cultural

pursuits and make the most of living and

studying in the region that is home to

Europe’s largest student population.

Living and studying in the North West

of England is much more affordablethan living in London or the South

East of England and with a huge range

of leisure, retail, eating and drinking

establishments, you’ll find plenty of

opportunities for part-time work to fit

around your studies.


8



www.mmu.ac.uk

Investing in world-classfacilities

Our aim is to create one of the best

teaching and research universities

in the UK through an exciting

investment programme.

We are more than midway through a

£350 million programme of improvementto provide state-of-the-art, environmentally

sustainable buildings and facilities.

These include a new science & engineering

complex, contemporary arts centre, exercise

& sports science centre, art & design

building and business school & student

hub.

In addition, we’ve recently invested over

£5million on IT infrastructure and £1million

on student PCs and regularly update our

learning and teaching equipment to ensure

you have access to the very best support for

your studies.

Superb locations

With campuses across the dynamic city

of Manchester and a lively campus in

Crewe, Cheshire, both locations offer

tremendous study, leisure, sport, social and

entertainment facilities, as well as excellent

accommodation.

Manchester - the UK’s mostpopular student city

A city of culture, music and sport, you’ll

never be short of something to do.

World-class museums, international

cinemas, theatres, opera, ballet, comedy

clubs and music venues all feature and

there are hundreds of cafes, restaurants,

pubs, bars and nightclubs.

Manchester is a truly multicultural city,

with established international communities

and its sporting reputation is world-famous

with its two football clubs, rugby clubs,

Lancashire Cricket Club and specialist

sporting facilities.

MMU Cheshire - a friendly

community campus

Our Cheshire campus in Crewe with

over 4,000 students offers a welcoming,

community feel, with outstanding sporting

facilities and a lively Students Union, it is

within easy access of nearby towns and

the surrounding countryside. Crewe is

a thriving town with theatres, cinemas,

and lively pubs and bars and the campus

is within easy walking distance of Crewe

railway station.

There are excellent facilities at the MMU

Cheshire campus, including brand new

purpose-built and superbly equipped

performance studios and state-of-the-art

student accommodation with on-campus

restaurants, bars and shops.

9




Funding for your studies:an introduction

What are the main sourcesof funding?

It’s really important that you find out about

the different kinds of funding available and

how much you are entitled to.

It might seem like there is a lot of

information to take in, but we are here

to help with Student Financial Support

Officers available at open days and within

our student information points.

Key principles•University funding is entirely dependent

on your own personal situation and

principally around your family or

Household Residual Income (HRI)*.

•Funding is there to help you through a

three or four degree programme and to

ensure that you can adequately support

yourself and complete your studies.

•A mix of a Student Support Package,

grants and loans are available to

support you.

•You can also combine this with additional

sources of financial support, such as

part-time work (p14/15), and begin to

work out a budget based on your income

and outgoings.

* Household Residual Income is the gross income of

the household with deductions for any other dependant

children and an allowance for pension payments that

qualify for certain specified tax relief.

10

The main sources of funding are:

A Manchester Metropolitan University

Student Support Package**

B Maintenance Grant

C Maintenance Loan

D Tuition Fee Loan

A simple distinction to remember is:

• You do not have to pay back the

Student Support Package and grants

(A and B).†

• You do have to pay back loans

(C and D) after graduation.



www.mmu.ac.uk

Manchester MetropolitanUniversity Student Support

Package

The level of Student Support Package you

will be entitled to is dependent on your

household income. Generally speaking,

if your family household income is up to

and including £25,000 you will be eligible

for the maximum amounts available. Thispackage is not to be repaid*** (subject to

full-time ongoing attendance).

Maintenance Grant

Again, the level of support you will be

entitled to is dependent on your household

income. Generally speaking, if your family

household income is up to and including£25,000 you will be eligible for the

maximum amounts available. This package

is not to be repaid* (subject to attendance

on payment dates) and many students

can use these funds to pay for living,

accommodation or associated costs

whilst studying.

LoansThe Maintenance Loan (C) and Tuition

Fee Loan (D) which you borrow during the

course of your studies are added together to

provide a final loan amount for repayment.

You will personally receive whatever

Maintenance Loan you are entitled into

your bank account, whilst the Tuition

Fee Loan is paid directly to whicheveruniversity you choose to study at.

Please note that repayments on these loans

do not begin until you are earning over

£21,000 per year and until the April after

you graduate. See pages 24/25 for more

detailed information about this.

* If household income level changes, then some of this

may need to be repaid.

** Student Support Package assessed upon application of

Student Finance online application. For a list of eligible

students please refer to www.finance.mmu.ac.uk/

students.

*** If household income level increases above £25,000,

then this package will need to be repaid.

† subject to full-time ongoing attendance.

11

Top tips:

• Use the budget calculator at

www.ucas.com/students/

studentfinance to find out about

funding you’re entitled to.

• Our MMUnion Advice Centre can give

you advice about what you’re entitled

to whilst you’re studying - visit

www.mmunion.co.uk/advice formore details.




Funding for your studies:grants and loans

How much will I have forliving costs?

The amount of Maintenance Grant you

are eligible for impacts upon the amount of

Maintenance Loan you receive.

Studying away from home and outside London

Household Maintenance Grant Maintenance Loan* Total amount

Residual (non-repayable)

Income

£25,000 or less £3,250 £3,875 £7,125

£30,000 £2,341 £4,330 £6,671

£35,000 £1,432 £4,784 £6,216

£40,000 £523 £5,239 £5,762

£45,000 £0 £5,288 £5,288

£50,000 £0 £4,788 £4,788

£55,000 £0 £4,288 £4,288

£60,000 £0 £3,788 £3,788

Over £62,500 £0 £3,575 £3,575

* Assessed upon application – depending on your personal circumstances,

you can choose to take the full , partial or no maintenance loan.

These will be allocated based on twofactors:

• Household Residual Income (HRI)

• Whether you are living at home or away

from home whilst you study

Use the tables on these pages to see what

you could receive if you choose to come to

Manchester Metropolitan University.

12



www.mmu.ac.uk

Do your homeworkIt’s important to work out how much

funding you are entitled to before you sit

down and work out your budget. Don’t

forget that you might also receive a Student

Support Package which is based on HRI.

Apply as early as possible for student

finance to make sure that you have

everything organised before you’re due to

start your course.

* Assessed upon application – depending on your personal circumstances,

you can choose to take the full , partial or no maintenance loan.

Living at homeIf you are planning to stay at home and

become a full-time undergraduate, the

Maintenance Grant stays the same and

the Maintenance Loan amount will reduce

slightly. Many students decide this route is

much more cost effective and give a weekly

contribution to their family or household

income.

Studying whilst living at home

Household Maintenance Grant Maintenance Loan* Total amount

Residual (non-repayable)

Income

£25,000 or less £3,250 £2,750 £6,000

£30,000 £2,341 £3,205 £5,546

£35,000 £1,432 £3,659 £5,091

£40,000 £523 £4,114 £4,637

£45,000 £0 £4,350 £4,400

£50,000 £0 £3,663 £3,663

£55,000 £0 £3,163 £3,163

£58,195 £0 £2,843 £2,843

£60,000 £0 £2,843 £2,843

13




Funding for your studies:part-time work

Getting a part-time job and thebest bank account for you can make

a positive impact on your finances

whilst studying. You can control

where you work, how much you

work and which bank account to

suit your circumstances.

How do I find out about

part-time work?

Working for up to 15 hours a week can

add to your income and also help you to

learn new skills and gain invaluable work

experience for your CV.

Our campuses are in, or very close to city/

town centres, making studying within easy

reach of flexible working opportunities

in offices, restaurants and entertainment

venues. This means you can easily fit

part-time work around your studies.

The University is committed to

providing as much support as possible

to help you find part-time work:

• MMUnion job shop advertises a rangeof part-time, temporary and holiday jobs:

www.mmunion.co.uk/jobsandcareers

•Jobs4students is the service to help you

find work in the University, e.g.

coursework receipting/admin support:

www.mmu.ac.uk/jobs4students

•Student Ambassadors work atUniversity Open Days and on our

enquiries service, as well as supporting

event work. We provide training for

Student Ambassadors; many go on to

secure excellent graduate jobs as a result

of combining their academic skills and

work experience.

•Holiday work and saving is a great

way to add to your earnings outside term- time (mainly during summer and Easter).

Many students choose to combine

summer work with the opportunity to

travel, e.g. Camp America.

Our Careers and Employability Service

has lots of information about work and

experience opportunities which could also

help you to secure a job after you graduate:

www.mmu.ac.uk/careers .

14



www.mmu.ac.uk

How can student bankaccounts help?

•Where you put your money could be very

important to your finances.

•Most banks offer special student accounts

with a free overdraft, often extended until

after you graduate.

•It is worthwhile doing your homework

properly on student bank accounts - you

can visit:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/

banking/Student-bank-account

www.moneysupermarket.com/current-

accounts/student-bank-accounts/

Top tips:• Make sure you know how much money

you can earn working before you have to

pay Income Tax.

• The Personal Allowance (amount you can

earn in one tax year) for 2011-2012 is

£7,475 - this means that you can earn up

to £7,475 over the year before you are

liable to pay any tax.

• If you are studying full-time, we

recommend that you don’t work more

than 15 hours a week - you will need to

find a balance so that you have time for

course commitments including lectures,

seminars, study and events.

“I’ve been a student ambassador

for all 3 years of my course. I’ve

improved my interpersonal skills

and it looks good on my CV. It’s

something extra to regular jobs

and stands out to employers.”

Iain Scott, Student Ambassador

15




Funding for your studies:mature or independent students

If you are a mature student, yourincome will be assessed differently

when you apply for student

finance. If you are an independent

student living with your partner,

their income may be taken into

consideration.

You are a mature or independent student if

you meet one or more of the following:

•Aged 25 or over before the start of

your course

•Married or in a civil partnership before the

start of your course

•A parent who has your child living with

you

•Financially independent of your parents

for 3 years before the start of your course

•Living in the care of a Local Authority or

voluntary organisation.

Is there any extra support formature students?

The University offers Mature Entry Sessions

for anyone who is not studying in school

or college. Sessions cover writing personal

statements (for your UCAS application),

student finance and university as a mature

student.

www.mmu.ac.uk/mature

Special Support Grant

If you have a pre-existing right to welfare or

disability benefits, you may be entitled to a

Special Support Grant – this is different to

the Maintenance Grant as it will not impact

on the amount of Maintenance Loan you

can receive.

Additional support

There is some additional support for

students with children, students with a

disability and students who have financial

difficulties.

Grant Amount

Parents Learning Allowance Up to £1,508

Childcare Grant Up to 85% of actual costs of childcare:

Maximum £148.75 per week for one child

Maximum £255 per week for two or more children.

Adults Dependants Grant Up to £2,642

16



www.mmu.ac.uk

Funding for your studies:extra support

Disabled Students’ AllowanceStudents with disabilities may be entitled

to Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).

Our Guide for Disabled Students andStudy Support Guide are also available

on the website

www.mmu.ac.uk/learnerdevelopment

or telephone 0161 247 3491.

Access to Learning Fund

If you get into financial difficulty when

you are studying, e.g. unexpected costs

or childcare costs, you can apply for extra

help through the Access to Learning Fund.

Further information and application forms

are available from

www.mmu.ac.uk/studentfinance.

Top tips:• As a mature student you may need

additional time to gather information

relating to your status as an independent

student. Applying for student finance as

soon as possible is always recommended.

• Find out more about the sources of

funding on this page

www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance.

• You can contact the University (see page

28) who can help you to apply for any

of the grants/funding on these pages and

also give you advice on budgeting

www.mmunion.co.uk/advice.

What it covers How does it work How to apply

Costs you have You need to apply for DSA1 application form*

through attending the DSA as soon as at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

your course, as a possible. You do notdirect result of your have to wait until you Telephone: 0845 300 5090

disability or have a confirmed place

learning difficulty Minicom: 0845 604 4434

*there is a short and full version of this form. You need to

read the information on the website above to make sure

that you complete the correct form.

17




Costs for your studies: budgetingand applying for finance

Why do I need to budget?Going to university is the first time you

are likely to be financially independent of

your family and will cost money, including

loans to pay fees, accommodation costs

and general living and study expenses.

Managing your money properly at

university is crucial to surviving financially

and making the most of the opportunities

available to you.

If you have not had to budget before, you

need to set yourself spending limits and

actively manage your money to make sure

your income lasts. This means knowing

how much money you have to spend each

week and monitoring how much money is

going in and out of your bank account.

Loans are usually transferred to your bankaccount at the start of each term and there

are three instalments per year.

How much money you have to spend

depends on:

•Where you live

•Your lifestyle

•Your course•Your ability/wish to work part-time

•Your money management skills

Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert

website provides some useful information

about the new student finance system and

how to make the most of your money whilst

you are at university.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/student-loans-tuition-fees-changes

Will I be able to get studentdiscounts?

When you enrol at university you will

automatically become a member of

MMUnion. All student union members can

buy a NUS (National Union of Students)

Extra card. The card costs £11 and

grants you discounts on books, clothes,

sportswear, music, travel, food and drink

and lots more.

As a full-time student you can also buy

a 16-25 Railcard (even if you are over 25)

which gives you up to a third off rail fares

www.16-25railcard.co.uk.

You might also find it helpful to type

‘student discount’ and ‘discount vouchers’

into a search engine to find other ways tosave money whilst you are at university.

18



www.mmu.ac.uk

How do I apply for studentfinance ?

You don’t need to wait until you have a

university place confirmed before you apply

for student finance and you should apply as

soon as possible. It’s really important that

you are organised and take responsibility

for budgeting at university.

You need to apply for student finance,

(i.e. to be assessed and make arrangements

for student loans, the Manchester

Metropolitan University Student Support

Package, grants) at www.direct.gov.uk/

studentfinance.

You will need the following information to

complete your student finance application:

•National Insurance Number

•Passport details (or evidence of your

identity/residency)

•Income details for yourself and your

household

•Student bank account details (if you have

them)

•Medical evidence of disability, if

applicable

How your parents/carerscan help

It’s very important that you encourage your

parents/guardians to help you apply for

student finance as soon as possible. They

can also help by making sure that you

have the correct information available to

complete the online application accurately.

They should be able to help you budget

based on your personal situation.

Your parents/carers can sign up to our

Parents Connection Service, where we

will keep you up-to-date with the latest

developments, updates and key milestone

dates through the application cycle.

Top tips:

• It’s really important that you apply as

soon as possible for student finance, as a

late application may mean that you do not

have funds in place when you are due to

start your course.

• Try to keep a balance between worrying

too much about money and being carefreewith your money – it will be a time when

you learn how to budget!

19




Costs for your studies: Tuition Fees

Why do we need to pay moreTuition Fees in 2012?

The Government is responsible for the

significant increase in Tuition Fees for all

students. They are reducing the amounts

of funding given to universities over the

coming years and passing the real costs

of attending university to each student

through a loans system.

We have set our fees realistically, to help

ensure that you have the opportunity to

make the most of your talent, and can

benefit from a high quality university

education.

We are also offering a substantial Student

Support Package if students meet the

qualifying criteria to ensure each studentis able to reach their potential through

attending university.

How is the University helping

students with funding?

We have a long established tradition

of supporting students of all ages and

social backgrounds through their highereducation. If you join as a full-time

undergraduate in September 2012, studying

your first degree, from a household income

up to and including £25,000, you will

receive a first year Student Support Package

of £3,000.

How much are Tuition Feesat Manchester Metropolitan

University?

You don’t pay course fees upfront or

make any repayments during your course.

Loans to cover Tuition Fees are not to be

repaid until the April after you graduate

and only if you are earning at least £21,000

a year.

The table opposite shows the range of fees

for different courses.

Exceptions to the proposed fees include:

Foundation Year: £3,465 and Sandwich

years are £680pa. NHS and TDA-funded

teacher training courses have additional

sources of support available. Visit

www.mmu.ac.uk/fees for moreinformation.

Top tips:

• Course fees are paid directly from the

Student Loans Company to the University.

It is important that you apply for student

finance as soon as possible to make sure

that funds are in place in time.

• Remember that all of the fees in this

guide apply only to home students.

• If you have previously studied on another

higher education course, please seek

advice about the support available to you.

20



www.mmu.ac.uk

Manchester Metropolitan UniversityProposed fees for 2012 undergraduate courses

* A full list of specific fees and courses is available on www.ucas.com

Fees* Type of course* Subject areas likely to be within this band

£8,000 Courses mainly delivered by More than 65% of our courses will be in this

per year lecture, seminar and tutorial category, including:

• Accounting, Finance and Economics

• Business, Management and Marketing

• Combined Honours (some)

• Food, Tourism and Hospitality

• Health, Psychology and Social Care (some)

• Humanities and Social Sciences - Englishand Creative Writing, Languages and

European studies, Philosophy and Politics,

Law, History, Criminology and Sociology,

Information Technology and

Communications

• Leisure

• Science and Engineering

£8,500 Courses making greater use There will be a small number of courses,

per year of facilities, material, staff and around 5%, within this category technical support

£9,000 Courses involving significant Approximately 30% of our courses will be

per year activities, equipment and/or within this category, including:

specialist facilities, in addition • Architecture

to lectures, seminars and • Exercise and Sport Science (Cheshire

tutorials campus)

• Contemporary Arts (Cheshire campus)

• Most Art and Design

• Most Education

• Most Health, Psychology and Social Care

• Some Science and Engineering and

Combined Honours

Please check www.mmu.ac.uk/fees (or www.mmu.ac.uk/moneymatters) for the latest information and to check

that you have the latest version of this guide.

21




Costs for your studies:living costs

How much will I spend onliving as a university student?

If you haven’t lived on your own or been a

student before, it’s important that you get a

realistic idea about how much things cost

before you start budgeting for university.

Being a student can be very exciting, as

you will have much more independence,

meet new people, go to different places

and do more things. With this comes the

responsibility for supporting yourself on

a day-to day basis and managing your

own finances (even if you decide to live at

home).

What will I have to pay for as astudent?

The table below illustrates some of the

costs you will encounter as a student. Your

costs will depend on your lifestyle and

where you live:

Average estimated living costs

•Away from home - it is estimated that

an average student living away fromhome outside London would typically

need £7,500 - £8,000 each year.

•Living at home - students staying at

home need between £3,000 - £3,500 plus

any contributions to the household.

Our students tend to use a combination of

grants and loans, along with part-time

work to cover these living costs.

Essential costs Additional costs

Halls/rent/contributions at home Mobile phone contract

Bills i.e. gas, electric, water, insurance Internet connection

(included in your hall fees, but will be on top

of private/shared house rent)

Food and drink Socialising: coffees, entertainment, meals

out, cinema

Travel to and from university Trips and holidays

Costs related to your course, e.g. books, Gym membership/sports activities costs

printing, materials and equipment

Personal items, e.g. contact lenses,

toiletries etc.

Previous loan or credit commitments

Contents/house insurance

22



www.mmu.ac.uk

Living in a shared houseThe costs will vary according to a range of

factors:

•Location in relation to shops,

transport routes, university campus and

entertainment.

•The number of people living in the house

and sharing kitchen/bathrooms.

•Condition and standard of fixtures and

fittings in the house.

As a full-time student you are exempt from

paying Council Tax if living with full-time

students. If living privately you will need to

arrange this (in university halls of residence

this is arranged for you).

Top tips:

• It’s important that you budget accurately

and give yourself a realistic weekly

allowance that you stick to. See pages

24/25 for more information.

• Before you decide where to live, make

sure you find out how much it will cost to

travel to and from university.

• Make the most of deals and discounts.

For example, in Manchester you can get

a weekly bus ticket for £7-£8 (2011

prices); an annual bus ticket represents

better value if you are going to be relying

on the bus service.

*subject to increases year-on-year

What is included inaccommodation costs?

Halls of residence

The benefit of living in halls is that you

only pay one fee which typically includes

your rent and most bills such as electricity

and water. You will only need to pay for

contents insurance and internet connection

(although in many university locations

broadband is available for free).

A room in our university halls costs range

from £80–£112 per week* depending on

the type of room and catering you choose.

We keep the majority of our places for first

year students and there are also a variety of

private halls close to our campuses.

See www.mmu.ac.uk/accommodation

for information and videos on University

halls and living away from home.

23




Repaying your loans

What does ‘graduates willrepay 9% of their income over

£21,000’ actually mean?

Student loans, e.g. Tuition Fee Loan and

Maintenance Loan, are combined and

repayments are deducted monthly from

your salary, normally through the tax

system.

You do not have to start making repayments

until the April after you graduate - this

means that if you start university in 2012,

you will not start making repayments until

at least April 2016. You will only start

making repayments if you are earning over

£21,000 (it was £15,000 previously, see page

25).

Repayments are based on income, not whatis owed, which is why repayment amounts

per month are significantly lower than the

previous scheme, see the table on p25.

How does this work in the

longer term?

If your salary falls below £21,000,repayments will stop. For example, if you

take a career break or are unemployed, the

monthly repayments start again when you

are earning above £21,000.

Although you will be better off on a month

by month basis on the new system, the

main difference is that you will likely be

paying your loans off for much longer. A

student who graduated in the past 5 yearsis expected to take 12-17 years to fully pay

their loan - under the new system this

could be extended to 20+ years. The loan iswritten off after 30 years. The government

estimate that fewer than 35% of students

starting in 2012 will repay the loans in full.

The Council for Mortgage Lenders has

advised that a student loan is unlikely

to affect a graduate’s ability to obtain a

mortgage.

What interest rates are the

government going to charge

on student loans?

Whilst you are studying (from the start of

your course) up until the April after you

graduate, the government will charge

interest at Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 3%.

From the April after you graduate:

•If you are earning below £21,000, interest

will be charged at RPI.

•If you are earning between £21,000 and

£41,000 or above interest will be applied

between RPI and RPI + 3% on a gradual

scale depending on your income.

•If you are earning £41,000, interest will be

applied at RPI + 3%.

24



www.mmu.ac.uk

How much will my repaymentsafter graduation be?

Here are some examples of salaries and

repayments under the new 2012 fees

system:

Salary after Amount of salary from Monthly repayment Monthly amount

graduation which 9% will be under new 2012 paid in the current

deducted. i.e. over loan system 2011 entry system £21,000

£15,000 £0 £0 £0

£16,000 £0 £0 £7.50

£18,000 £0 £0 £22.50

£21,000 £0 £0 £45.00

£24,000 £3,000 £22.50 £67.50

£27,000 £6,000 £45.00 £90.00

£30,000 £9,000 £67.50 £112.50

£33,000 £12,000 £90.00 £135.00

£36,000 £15,000 £112.50 £157.50

£40,000 £19,000 £142.50 £187.50

As mentioned opposite, although you willbe better off on a month by month basis

with the new system, the main difference is

that you will likely be paying your student

loans off for a longer time period.

25




How it works: Information forpart-time students and students

not resident in EnglandIs the system the same forpart-time students?

Funding for part-time study is different

to funding for full-time study. For the first

time, new part-time students, studying at

least 25% of a full-time course, can apply

for a Tuition Fee Loan. If you are a part-

time student you need to complete formPTG1 at

www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance .

What if I’m a student in:

Wales:

www.studentfinancewales.co.uk

Northern Ireland:www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

Scotland:

www.student-support-saas.gov.uk

EU students

Students normally resident within the

European Union, but outside of the UK

are entitled to Tuition Fee support. Fullinformation is available at

www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance .

International students

Students normally resident outside the

European Union are not normally entitled

to financial support from the UK

government. If you are an International

student interested in studying at

Manchester Metropolitan University you

can contact our International office atwww.mmu.ac.uk/international/money/

resident or call + 44 (0)161 247 1022.

The UK Council for International Student

Affairs website also provides support and

information www.ukcisa.org.uk/student.

26



www.mmu.ac.uk

What do I need to do before I start university?

Register to apply for student finance online at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

Find out how much funding you can receive

Find out if you qualify for a Manchester Metropolitan University

Student Support Package

Apply for student finance at the website above, making sure you submit all theinformation correctly as soon as possible

Work out what your living costs will be, and costs of accommodation if you are

moving away from home

Work out costs of books, equipment etc. for your course

Find out about student discounts/deals on travel you will get as a student

Watch videos of our students talking about student finance at

www.mmu.ac.uk/moneymatters so that you can see what it’s really like

Sit down and plan a realistic weekly budget

Do some research on student bank accounts and have your account ready in time

Think about getting a job during the summer holiday before you start university

just in case

Join our Facebook page and meet students

starting with you in September 2012

Student finance checklist:

27




At Manchester Metropolitan University

there are a number of finance specialists to

help you with with student finance.

MMUnion Advice Centre

Can help you to find out what funding is

available to you (before as well as when

you are a student with us), including

helping with:

• Applying for funding

•Applying to Access to Learning Fund

•Information about welfare and disability

benefits

•Free phone calls to Student Finance

England and the Student Loans Company

Website www.mmunion.co.uk

Email [email protected]

Telephone 0161 247 6533

Financial and Legal Services

Can help you with general enquiries about

your fees and how to pay your fees.

Website www.finance.mmu.ac.uk/

students

Student Financial Support

Can help you with advice on funding and

general funding information.

Email [email protected]

Telephone 0161 247 1045/3636

The University website

Also has more information about fees and

The Manchester Metropolitan University

Student Support Package, including videos

on student finance.

Website

www.mmu.ac.uk/moneymatters

Official sources of information for students

and parents/carers:

www.direct.gov.uk/yourfuture

www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

(Applying to university) www.ucas.co.uk

28

Useful contacts



www.mmu.ac.uk

The finance and fees information in this

guide are based on full-time, undergraduate

students starting university in England in

September 2012 and for those students

undertaking their first degree only.

Student finance figures are constantly

reviewed by the government and other

organisations, so you need to make surethat you have the correct information for

the year you are intending to study and

your individual situation from official

websites. If you defer entry from 2011/12 to

2012/2013 you will be charged fees at the

2012/2013 rates.

29

Disclaimer



Manchester Metropolitan University

All Saints, Manchester

M15 6BH

www.mmu.ac.uk/moneymatters

Find a course

www.mmu.ac.uk/study/courses

Frequently asked questions

www.mmu.ac.uk/askmmu

International enquiries

Tel: +44 (0)161 247 1022

Email: [email protected]

www.mmu.ac.uk

This publication is available in alternative

Student Finance Guide 2012

Documents

Transcript of Student Finance Guide 2012