Fees and student finance for M Law / LLB programmes
This provides an important overview of the financial implications of studying these
programmes.
For
more
information
please
see
the
website:
www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance or speak to the Student Finance Customer Service Office
0845 300 5090. Further information can also be obtained from Northumbria Welfare &
International
Service
www.northumbria.ac.uk/welfare;
email
sv.welfare@northumbria.ac.uk; telephone (0191) 227 4127.
Fees
Tuition fees - All students on the programmes are charged the standard maximum tuition
fee which is set nationally each year by the Government. For 2011 entry the fee is £3,375.
All eligible students can take out a Tuition Fee Loan to cover this amount and the fee is paid
directly to the university. Students can obtain a tuition fee loan for the duration of each
programme. Students that proceed to the M Law (Solicitor) degree are charged 0.5 tuition
fees for their final year as they will be completing a work-based placement in their final year
(but see # below).
Additional fees - In addition, students pay an additional, non-refundable fee. This fee
reflects the additional skills and vocational elements of the programme and is currently
£900 per year (this fee remains the same for the duration of the programme). Students
who continue on the M Law programmes continue to pay this fee until the end of their
programme (again, at a 0.5 rate in the final year of the M Law Solicitor degree). Students
who decide to graduate after 3 years with an honours degree do not pay the additional fee
in their final year but are not entitled to a rebate for amounts paid in previous years. Note
that the £900 additional fee does not qualify for a Tuition Fee Loan and students need to
fund this fee themselves. This is the case for students who would not normally be required
to pay the tuition fee (e.g. students from the Isle of Man). However, there are potential
savings to be made compared to the typical three year LLB degree plus the LPC (M Law
graduates are exempt from the Legal Practice Course which is charged at a commercial rate
and does not qualify for tuition fee loans or maintenance loans or grants).
# Final year of the M Law (Solicitor) degree – Students who successfully proceed onto the
fifth year of the M Law (Solicitor) will be learning in the workplace, employed by an
approved placement provider. This is a full time paid placement but is part of the student’s
academic programme. Students will have a university based work based learning reviewer
and will also complete their research project and optional module. The fact that students
will be in receipt of a salary could impact on whether the final year of study qualifies for
state support for tuition fees. Students who are interested in this route should note that it
could affect the amount of fees the University needs to charge students for the final year
of this programme. Further information will be provided in advance of any student decision
to proceed on this route.
Equivalent level qualifications - Our University disregards the ELQ rule for M Law students
who have an undergraduate degree, and these students would be charged the same fee as
students without an undergraduate degree. This is not the case with Student Finance
however. Students with an ELQ would not be eligible for any student loans or grants and
would have to arrange to pay their fees directly to the university.
Student finance
There is a range of potential sources of student financial support. This section provides only
a very brief overview.
Eligible students may apply for a Maintenance Grant (means tested and non repayable) or a
Maintenance Loan (repayable) or a combination of both. Eligibility for a maintenance grant
depends on the student’s or family income with full entitlement applicable for an income of
less than around £25,000 and no entitlement for an income of over around £50,000. Grant
entitlement reduces the amount that a student can claim by way of maintenance loan. The
amount of maintenance loan a student can secure also depends on their or their family
income. At income levels over around £50,000 students are eligible for only 72% of the
maximum loan. Students that have an underlying eligibility for means tested benefits may
be eligible for a Special Support Grant.
A University bursary (non repayable) is paid to any student who is in receipt of the
maximum maintenance grant or special support grant.
A University scholarship (non repayable) is paid to students who pay tuition fees. It is an
annual scholarship of £250. In the first year, all home students who meet the entry
requirements set out in their offer letter will automatically receive the scholarship. From
Year 2 onwards, the full scholarship is awarded to students who score more than 60%.
Depending on circumstances some students may be able to claim additional non-repayable
allowances: the Childcare Grant; the Parents’ Learning Allowance; the Adult Dependants’
Grant; and the Disabled Students’ Allowance. Further information is available from the
above web pages. All are means tested except Disabled Students’ Allowance. Some
students (such as lone parents, disabled people, pensioners and students with dependant
children) may retain eligibility for some state benefits.
The Access to Learning Fund is a government fund distributed by the University to eligible
students in financial hardship. Application forms available from the start of academic year.
Applications relating to student finance need to be made to students’ relevant awarding
body as follows:
•
•
•
•
England – Student Finance England
Scotland - SAAS
Northern Ireland - Library Board or Student Finance NI
Wales - Local Authority or Student Finance Wales