Financing your studies
Higher Education Student Support Arrangements in Wales
The information below relates to higher education student support rates for 2009/10 only. It is not possible to provide detailed information about academic year 2010/11 due to the consultation by the Welsh Assembly Government on student support arrangements in Wales. For the latest information, please refer to www.studentfinancewales.co.uk or to www.wales.gov.uk. For students residing in other parts of the UK, please refer to the contacts listed below.
Tuition fee grants
All full-time students from Wales and eligible EU students will have a fee grant of £1,940 which you will not need to repay. There is also a fee grant available for part-time students depending on the number of credits being studied.
Tuition fee loans
No full-time undergraduate student living in Wales and England will have to pay fees before they start university or whilst they are studying. A student loan can be awarded to cover these costs, which is paid directly to the College. Students will repay these loans once they have left the College and are earning over £15,000 per year. Subject to eligibility, students can apply for a tuition fee loan of up £3,225 towards the cost of these fees.
Assembly learning grants (ALG)/Means-tested maintenance grants
Up to £2,909 will be provided to encourage full-time students from low income families to enter HE. Details of eligibility and application forms are available from your Local Authority.
Student maintenance loans
Loans of up to £6,648 are available to most students to help meet living costs. Applications for loans should be made via your local LA at the same time as you apply for support towards tuition fees.
Supplementary allowances
Additional funding is available to students in particular circumstances, including if you are disabled or have dependants, eg Childcare Grants, Parents’ Learning Allowance. The University provides help with applications for the Disabled Student’s Allowance, the Non-Medical Helper’s Allowance and the Equipment Allowance where appropriate.
Access to learning funds/financial contingency bursaries
These are funds available to students to help meet living costs who may otherwise be discouraged from going into higher education. Students can apply for these funds after commencing the course.
Career development loans
You may apply for a Career Development Loan (CDL), to fund any full-time or part-time course as long as it is vocational in nature. CDL is a deferred repayment bank loan which allows you to borrow between £300 and £8,000. For further information look under advice for adult learners at www.direct.gov.uk or call 0800 585 505.
Applying for financial support
Who to contact if you normally live in:
Wales
Student FinanceWales
0845 602 8845
www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
England
Student Finance Direct
08456 077 577
www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk
Scotland
Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS)
www.saas.gov.uk
Northern Ireland
Student Finance ni Contact Centre
0845 600 0662
www.studentfinanceni.co.uk
Another EU country
You may get support for tuition fees on a similar basis to UK students but you will not be eligible to apply for a Student Loan, Supplementary Grants, or Access to Learning Funds. For an application form for help with tuition fees, please contact: The European Team, Dept for Education & Skills (SSD1), Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, Darlington, Co Durham DL3 9BG. Tel: 0141 243 3570.
Trinity runs a Money Doctor’s Scheme to help you manage your money whilst at University. Advice is provided on setting and keeping to your budget so that you avoid financial difficulties.
