Funding options for university

Student Loans are just the tip of the iceberg - check out the range of funding options available to you if you want to study at university.

"All eligible students can get help with tuition fees and living costs through Student Loans."

Full-time HE students

Student Loans

All eligible students can get help with tuition fees and living costs through Student Loans. You'll be able to take out two Student Loans per academic year – one for tuition fees and another for maintenance, which covers day-to-day expenses and accommodation. How much you get depends on your household income. Student Loans have to be paid back, but you don't have to start making repayments until you've left your course and are earning over £15,000. If you start making repayments from April 2012, you'll have the option of taking a repayment break of up to five years. Read our full guide to student loans to find out more.

Maintenance Grant and Special Support Grant

These grants, which don't have to be repaid, are to help with accommodation and other living costs while you're on a full-time higher education course. If you qualify, you'll receive either one or the other – more often then not it will be a Maintenance Grant. However, you could qualify for the Special Support Grant if you receive Income Support or another means-tested benefit, such as Housing Benefit. The maximum you can get for either grant is £2906 in academic year 2009/2010.

Bursaries

Bursaries are extra sources of help from your university or college that don't have to be repaid. Institutions in England will offer at least a minimum bursary payment if you're getting the full Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant.

Grants

A number of organisations offer grants on top of the student finance package provided by the Government. You can find information at most public libraries, or you can ask a student advisor at your college or university. Useful publications include: the Educational Grants Directory; the Charities Digest; the Grants Register; and the Directory of Grant Making Trusts.

Extra help

You may qualify for extra help on top of Student Loans, grants and bursaries if you're disabled, or you have a mental health condition or specific learning difficulty. Extra help may also be available if there's a child or an adult who depends on you financially.

Help for disabled students

If you have an impairment, health condition (including a mental health condition) or specific learning difficulty, like dyslexia, you may be entitled to claim extra financial help. This is paid on top of anything you get through the standard student finance package and includes:

Disabled Students' Allowance: Grants to help with extra costs you may face as the direct result of an impairment, health condition or learning difficulty. These allowances don't have to be repaid and are not affected by your household income. Read our guide on support for disabled students for more information about what financial help is available.
Access to Learning Fund: A fund for full- or part-time students in England who are in hardship. You may be able to get help with course costs, living costs, childcare costs and emergency payments.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA): A tax-free benefit for children and adults who need help with personal care or have walking difficulties because they are physically or mentally disabled. DLA isn't affected by savings or income and doesn't have to be paid back.
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): People claiming this allowance have access to a trained personal advisor and are expected to take steps to prepare for work. Read our full guide to ESA here.

Funding options for part-time HE students

Fee grant and course grant

Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to apply for the part-time Fee Grant (for help with tuition fees) or Course Grant (to help study with books, materials and travel). How much you get depends on your household income and personal circumstances. For the most intensive courses, the maximum available through the Fee Grant and Course Grant combined is £1470 in academic year 2009/2010. If you're getting certain benefits, you'll qualify for the maximum automatically. Otherwise, how much you can get depends on your personal circumstances and household income. You don't have to pay back these grants.

NHS bursaries

If you are in training for social work, medicine or certain areas of healthcare, you may be able to get a bursary through the NHS. DirectGov outlines the help available to students ordinarily resident in England. In some cases this help is paid on top of the standard finance package available to other higher education students, and in other cases instead of it.

Funding for Initial Teacher Training courses

There is a range of financial help available both during and after teacher training. Read this guide if you are in England, or this guide for Welsh students.

By Emma Rubach.

Jargon Buster

Bursary:: A monetary award to help with an individual's education which doesn't have to be paid back.
Grant:: Any kind of financial aid which doesn't have to be paid back.

Find out more about student loans and budgeting on Lifetracks.
See how much you could borrow for studying with this calculator.
Consider setting up two different bank accounts – one for everyday essentials which your loan will help cover, and one for treats, like holidays.
Use Uniaid's Student Calculator to work out exactly how far your money will go.
You may need to get a part-time job to support yourself through higher education.

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