What support is available in Academic Year 08/09?

This page applies to Academic Year 08/09. You can find information regarding support available in Academic Year 09/10.

Tuition Fees

Maintenance Grant

Special Support Grant

Student Loans

Bursaries from Higher Education Institutions

Help towards tuition fees

Universities and colleges of higher education in Northern Ireland and England can now charge up to £3,145 a year for courses for new students (different fee arrangements apply to universities in Scotland and Wales). The amount charged may vary between courses, as well as between places of study – check the UCAS website (www.ucas.ac.uk) or your university / college’s prospectus. It is expected that the amount will increase each year in line with inflation.

Student Loans for Tuition Fees

Eligible full-time undergraduate students starting from September 2006 onwards will not have to pay fees before they start their course or while they are studying.

Instead, you will be able to apply for a Student Loan for Fees to cover these costs. You will repay these loans once you have left university and are earning over £15,000.

There are no upper age limits imposed for students loans for fees.

Maintenance Grant

Students who start their course in September 2006 or later can apply for a Maintenance Grant.

The maximum amount of support available is £3,335, and how much you get will depend on your income and that of your household. The Maintenance Grant does not need to be repaid.

How much you get depends on your household income, and will be calculated by your ELB when you make your application for support. The table below is a guide to how your entitlement will be calculated:

This is usually paid in three instalments, one at the start of each term, with your other support and you do not have to repay it. Note: Up to £1,760 of the new maintenance grant will be paid in substitution for an element of the student loan for maintenance. This means that your eligibility for the student loan will be reduced by up to the amount of grant you are paid.

Special Support Grant

A Special Support Grant is available for new students who start their course in September 2006 or later and who are eligible to receive Income Support and other means-tested benefits such as Housing Benefit.

It will cover additional course costs such as books, equipment, travel or childcare that result from attending a course. The amount of support, the income assessment arrangements and the payment arrangements are the same as for the new Maintenance Grant.

New students who are receiving the Maintenance Grant, existing students and gap-year students will not be entitled to receive a Special Support Grant.

Student Loans

Loans are available to help with your living costs, e.g. course materials, accommodation, food, clothes, travel etc. Interest is charged at the rate of inflation, so the amount you repay will be equal in value to the amount you borrow.

Your loan is usually paid in three instalments, one at the start of each term, directly into your bank account. Student Finance NI will issue a payment schedule letter to you which will explain what amounts will be paid and when.

Loan Rates

Loan Rates	Maximum available
London	£6475
Elsewhere	£4625
Overseas	£5510
Living with Parents	£3580

Loan Rates are slightly higher for students living in London (and not in their parental home) to accommodate the higher cost of living there. Your Education and Library Board (ELB) will decide whether you will be entitled to the London loan rates on the basis of the post code of study. If you are unsure whether you come into this category, your ELB will be able to advise you.

Entitlement Calculator

We can estimate your 08/09 entitlement for you, using our online calculator.

Bursaries from Higher Education Institutions

Bursaries are a form of extra financial help for students which are paid by the university or college you attend.

Universities and colleges who opt to charge fees for some or all of their courses may provide extra financial help to lower income students who are entitled to the full Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant. Universities and colleges who charge tuition fees of £3,145 are required to provide extra financial help for students who are entitled to the full Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant.

Students who receive partial Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant may also get bursaries from higher education institutions.

The amount you are entitled to receive will vary from institution to institution and you should contact your university or college to find out more.