www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• General eligibility
• The student finance package
• Repayments
• SFE practitioner resources
• Application information
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• Settled status – can live in the UK without any Home Office
restriction
• Ordinarily resident in England on the first day of the first academic
year of their course
• Been living in the UK for the three years immediately prior to this
date
• Tuition fee support only for European Union students who don’t meet
the residency requirements
• Exceptions exist for certain groups of students
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• If the student, their spouse, civil partner or parent/step-parent are
recognised by the government as a refugee and have lived in England
since this status was awarded
• If the student, their spouse, civil partner or parent/step-parent have
been granted Humanitarian Protection to stay in the UK by the
Home Office, resulting from a failed asylum application, and meet the
standard ‘ordinary’ and 3 year residence requirements
• EEA /Swiss migrant workers and the children of Swiss and Turkish
workers may also qualify for Tuition Fee Loans and additional support
if they meet the set employment or residency requirements
!
If there’s any doubt surrounding their residency status or eligibility
for funding, students should call the SFE helpline - 0845 300 5090.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• From AY 13/14 applications from Armed Forces personnel or their family
members will be processed by the funding body in the UK territory where
they lived prior to enlisting
• Unless subsequent to this they have established permanent residence in
another administration (practice already in place in Wales & Scotland)
• Additional requirement for the residency category ‘children of Swiss
Nationals’
• The parent(s) of the ‘child of a Swiss national’ must be exercising their
free movement rights in the UK on the first day of the first academic year
of the course for the student to be eligible to apply for the full package of
support
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
Course eligibility
Courses must be of a certain type and be lead to a recognised
higher-education qualification including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
First degree (BSc, BA, BEd)
Foundation Degree (FdA, FdSc, FdEng)
Higher National Diploma or Higher National Certificate (HND/C)
Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
University or college eligibility
The HEI must be publicly funded (by the UK government) or privately
funded but running individual courses that get public funding from the
government.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• General rule – Tuition Fee Loan available for full length of the
student’s first undergraduate course, plus one additional year if
needed e.g. if the student changes course
• If a student has previously studied in the UK, they may still be
eligible for a Maintenance Loan if they don’t have an equivalent or
higher-level qualification or they’re studying an ‘exception course’
leading to a professional qualification*
• Individual circumstances (including any extenuating circumstances)
can affect eligibility
!
*Medical Doctor, dentist, veterinary surgeon, architect, social
worker, course attracting means tested Healthcare Bursary (NHS)
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
Tuition Fee Loan
Maintenance (living cost) Support
Scholarships & Bursaries
Additional Support
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• Universities/colleges can charge a tuition fee of up to £9,000 a year
but need to demonstrate increased efforts in widening participation and
justification for any tuition fees over £6,000*
• The tuition fees set will be decided by the university, including whether it
charges different tuition fees for different courses
• The average tuition fee for 2012 was around £8,657 up from the initial
£7,500 expected government average level
(Independent & Times Higher Education)
*Presented in OFFA approved Access Agreement
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• Students on sandwich years/study years abroad will be subject to
lower tuition fee limits
• Current levels, up to a basic amount of £3,000 or up to a
£4,500 higher amount for students at institutions with an accepted
access agreement
• Students at private institutions not getting funding from HEFCE but
offering courses designated by BIS will be entitled to borrow up to
£6,000 to cover their tuition fee costs
• If the private institution is charging more, the student will need
to self-fund the remainder
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• Eligible students won’t have to pay for their tuition fees up front
• The non-means tested Tuition Fee Loan (doesn’t depend on household
income) is available to cover the tuition fee set by the HEI up to £9,000 max for full-time courses (£6,000 at private institutions)
• The Student Loans Company will pay the university or college directly in
instalments across the academic year
Not compulsory - students can also*:
• Pay full tuition fees upfront to their university or college, or
• Pay part of the tuition fees and take Tuition Fee Loan for the rest
* To be agreed with the university or college
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
Tuition Fees will be paid to a university or college at three points in the
academic year.
Liability date
% of Tuition Fee Loan
student will be liable for
First day of Term 1*
First day of Term 2
First day of Term 3
25%
25%
50%
*Two weeks after Term 1 start date for part-time courses
!
Interest on the loan will be charged from day payment is made to
the university or college, not from the liability date.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• From September 2012 new part-time students can apply for a nonmeans tested Tuition Fee Loan which replaces the means tested Fee
Grant and Course Grant (continuing students can still apply for these
grants)
• The maximum universities or colleges can charge for new students on
part-time courses is £6,750 a year
• Students starting designated part-time courses provided wholly by a
private institution can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £4,500
• The amount charged will depend on their course intensity. (Minimum
25% Maximum 75%) Students must complete their part-time course in
no more than 16 years
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• Part-time students won’t be entitled to a loan or grant towards living
costs but can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs)
• Part-time students from a low-income household may get support
through the National Scholarship Programme and should look into
other bursaries/scholarships offered by universities or colleges
Part-time study & benefits
• Part-time students can usually still claim benefits that depend on
household income (means-tested benefits) such as:
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Housing Benefit, and Council
Tax Benefit if unemployed
!
Given the complexity of benefits, students should always contact
their local Jobcentre Plus for eligibility assessment.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• The majority of the repayable Maintenance Loan will be available to
all eligible students. 65% of the total loan is not based on household
income.
• The amount of Maintenance Loan available will be linked to where
a student lives and studies while in higher education.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
65% not based
on household
income
35% based on
household
income
Maximum Loan
Parental home
£2,843
£1,532
£4,375
Elsewhere
£3,575
£1,925
£5,500
London
£4,988
£2,687
£7,675
Overseas
£4,247
£2,288
£6,535
Full-year
Student
!
Additional loan is available for each extra week of study for
students attending their course beyond 30 weeks.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• The maximum non repayable Maintenance Grant in 2013/14 is £3,354
• The grant a student gets is solely dependent on household income
Household income thresholds:
• Students from households with an income of up to £25,000 will be
entitled to the maximum grant of £3,354
• Students from households with incomes of up to £42,611 will be
entitled to a partial grant
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
Student living away from home, outside London 2013/14
Household
Income £
Maintenance
Grant
Maintenance
Loan
Total
£25,000 & under
£3,354
£3,823
£7,177
£30,000
£2,416
£4,292
£6,708
£35,000
£1,478
£4,761
£6,239
£40,000
£540
£5,230
£5,770
£42,611
£50
£5,475
£5,525
£42,875
£0
£5,500
£5,500
£50,000
£0
£4,788
£4,788
£60,000
£0
£3,788
£3,788
£62,125 & over
£0
£3,575
£3,575
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
Bursaries:
• May be eligible for National Scholarship Programme
• Linked to personal circumstance and often, income level
• Vary by institution
Scholarships:
• Linked to academic results or ability
• Can be subject specific
• Limited in numbers
!
Students should check university websites and ask at open days
for information on bursaries and scholarships – what’s available
as well as how and when to apply.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• Helps towards the additional costs a student may face as a result
of their disability, long-term health condition, mental-health
condition or specific learning difficulty
• In addition to the standard student finance package
• Don’t have to be repaid
• Don’t depend on household income
• Looks at the specific needs of the individual in relation to their
circumstances and studies
!
Students need to be aware the DSAs application process can take
up to 14 weeks so they should apply early!
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
Students may be eligible for DSAs if they have any of the following*:
• A mental-health condition, such as anxiety or depression
• A specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia or dyspraxia
• A developmental disorder, such as autism, ADHD/ADD
• A long-term health condition or progressive medical condition such
as Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer or HIV
• A sensory impairment which could affect the ability to see or hear
!
*Other conditions not mentioned on this list may also be covered
by Disabled Students’ Allowances.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
Students can get DSAs if they:
• are on a full-time or part-time undergraduate course including Open
University and other distance-learning courses; or
• are on an eligible full-time or part- time postgraduate course
including Open University and other distance-learning courses; and
• have a disability, long-term health condition, mental-health
condition or a specific learning difficulty which affects their ability to
study.
!
Generally, any previous study won’t affect eligibility for DSAs,
even if students have received financial support.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
DSAs rates 2013/14
!
Allowance
Part-time
maximum
support
Full-time
maximum
Support
Frequency of
payment
Non-medical personal
helper
£15,390
£20,520
Annual
Specialist equipment
£5,161
£5,161
Duration of
course
Other disability-related
expenditure
£1,293
£1,724
Annual
Disability-related travel
No limit – reasonable spending can be
claimed
For both full-time and part-time postgraduate students there’s a
single allowance of up to £10,260 a year.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
Childcare Grant
Based on 85% of actual registered/approved childcare costs up to
maximum of: £148.75 per week for one child
£255 per week for two or more children
Parents’ Learning Allowance
• Help with course-related costs for students with dependent children
• Amount received will be between £50 and £1,508
Adult Dependants’ Grant
Normally for the student’s partner. Can be for another adult who is
financially dependent on the student where the adult’s net income isn’t
more than £3,796 p.a. Maximum grant available: £2,642.
!
Dependants’ grants are income related. Universities may offer
additional support to students with childcare/caring responsibilities.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• Making use of the same income information for the core assessment
and the targeted assessment
• Using the residual prior financial year income for partners and other
adult dependants and the net income from the prior financial year for
dependent children
• No longer use applicant’s estimates of ‘recurring financial obligations’
in the financial assessment and instead use standard disregards
(applies to students starting a new course from September 2013)
• Existing disregards are to be increased, to help mitigate the impact of
this change
• Further information can be found on: www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• All new and returning students in AY 13/14 are subject to the prior
financial year income change and only new students in AY 13/14 are
subject to the new standard disregards
• Returning students in AY 13/14 will continue to provide their estimates of
their recurring financial obligations
• From AY 13/14 a cap is to be applied to the amount of Childcare Grant
payable in the first payment period of an academic year where an
applicant does not provide details of a childcare provider.
(£115 per week, or 85% of estimated costs, whichever is less)
• Once the applicant has supplied childcare provider details, a
reassessment will be carried out and any additional Childcare Grant
entitlement will be paid to the student
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• Repayments won’t start until the students income is over £21,000 a year
(£1,750 a month).
(On entering repayment, this threshold will scale annually in line with
earnings)
• Full-time students will begin to repay in the April after graduating
from/leaving their course (From 2016)
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• Part-time students can begin to repay in the April 4 years after
they’ve started their course (If income is over £21,000)
• Repayments will be 9% of income over £21,000 and if in employment
will be deducted automatically from salary through the HMRC tax
system for most students
• If income falls below £21,000 repayments will stop
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
Income each year before
tax
!
Income from which Approximate monthly
9% will be deducted
repayment
£21,000
£0
£0
£25,000
£4,000
£30
£30,000
£9,000
£67
£35,000
£14,000
£105
£40,000
£19,000
£142
£45,000
£24,000
£180
£50,000
£29,000
£217
£60,000
£39,000
£292
Any outstanding loan balance will be written off 30 years after
entering repayment.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
The interest charged will vary during study and depending on earnings
after graduation.
During study until
entering repayment
Income:
Below £21,000
!
Interest rate:
Retail Price Index (RPI) +3%
Interest rate:
RPI Only
Income between:
£21,000 - £41,000
RPI plus some amount
between 0% and 3%
Income:
Above £41,000
Interest rate:
Retail Price Index (RPI) +3%
Students can make extra voluntary repayments at any time.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
!
Gross income
Old System
monthly repayment
New System
monthly repayment
£16,000
£1
£0
£18,000
£16
£0
£21,000
£39
£0
£24,000
£61
£23
£27,000
£84
£45
£30,000
£106
£67
£33,000
£129
£90
£36,000
£151
£113
The first earnings-linked rise in repayment thresholds for existing
students occurred in 2012. Up from £15,000 to £15,795.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
Example 1
Old System Student
• 3 year course, £3,000 a year fees
• £4,000 a year Maintenance Loan
• 25 year write off period
Example 2
New System Student
• 3 year course, £9,000 a year fees
• £4,300 a year Maintenance Loan
• 30 year write off period
Owes £23,000 at end of studies,
including interest
Owes £45,000 at end of studies,
including interest
Starting Salary of £24,000
Starting Salary of £24,000
Total Repayments = £35,500
Total Repayments = £22,000
Repay full balance in 24.5 years
Balance written off after 30 years
!
Assumptions: 2% salary growth, 3% average inflation. Based on a
report by HEPI on the Government White Paper.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
Since launching the SFE service we have produced a range of resources
each academic year, aiming to:
• Provide practitioners clear policy based information, both for their own
knowledge and for assisting students make informed decisions on
HE funding.
• Engage with and communicate key messages to students and their
families.
12_13
Academic
Year
2010/11
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
Academic
Year
2011/12
Out with the old……..
• Fact Sheets & Quick Guides
• Range of Videos
• Application Demonstration
• Website Resources
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
Available for download and print pre-order:
• How and when to apply
• Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) Key Steps
• What, how and when to repay
• NEW! Student finance explained: For parents of students
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
Comprehensive suite of factsheets covering key areas of
student finance, including:
• Full-time and part-time support
• Eligibility, applications and repayments
• Disabled Students’ Allowances
• Care leavers, study abroad and other support
• Dependants’ Grants
• Information for parents of students
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
New animation:
• Student Finance Explained, with your host
Bob Bamboo!
• (Featuring prospective students’ views and
concerns, with information on student finance)
Teacher’s Pets:
• An interactive learning tool that teaches
students the basics of student finance.
Play online at:
www.slc.co.uk/teacherspets
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• Applications should be made as soon as possible to ensure payments
can be made at start of the academic year
• Applying online is the quickest and easiest way for students and
parents/sponsors
• Only supply additional evidence to support an application if we ask for it
12_13
In the first instance:
• Student identity is checked using passport number supplied online and
verified through IPS
• Household income is verified through submitted National Insurance
numbers via HMRC
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
• Students don’t need to wait for a confirmed offer: they should apply with
their first choice of university/college
• Details can be changed online if necessary (change of course etc.)
• Consent to share information (helps with scholarship/bursary provision)
• Students will be assessed for non-means tested support if there are
any delays in getting household income information
• If unsure of fee amount needed, students should select the maximum.
The fee loan paid will never exceed the actual level charged by the HEI
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
https://www.gov.uk/studentfinance
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk
http://www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk/
• Important they make the right university and course choice, not
letting fee levels affect their decision. Future repayments are linked to a
student’s income, not what they borrow
• Research all finance available – especially bursaries & scholarships
• Apply online & on time – no need to wait for a confirmed place
• Apply for DSAs or other additional support as soon as possible
12_13
• Ensure all details are correct before submitting an application,
and let us know of any changes
• Check and update account online where possible.
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk