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Student finance

Entry Fees, bursaries and financial support

• Tuition fees
• Equivalent or lower qualifications (ELQs)
• Living Costs, Student Loans and Financial Support
• Bursaries
• Further Information
• Nursing, midwifery and other Healthcare Students
• Council Tax
• European Union students
• Postgraduate and Post-Experience Students
• Part-time Students
• International Students

There are two main costs involved in going to university - tuition fees and living costs.

Tuition Fees

September 2006 saw the introduction of 'variable fees' for UK and EU students starting a full-time undergraduate course at a UK university. This means that all universities can charge these students fees of up to £3,145 per year for their course. Undergraduate courses include first degrees, HNDs and Foundation Degrees. These fees will not have to be paid until you graduate – instead you will be able to take out a loan to cover the cost up to the full amount being charged which will be paid back through your earnings once you are working.

A summary of the course fees at the University:

* Students who are subject to pre-2006/07 variable tuition fees should contact their Faculty direct or Academic Registry at simon.ells@bcu.ac.uk to confirm their fee.

** Please contact simon.ells@bcu.ac.uk for the fee band definitions for Island students (Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man).

Equivalent or lower qualifications (ELQs)

Following a change in government policy, from 2008/09 onwards students who already have a higher education qualification at the same level will not be eligible for public funding unless the course they are taking has been exempted by the government (programmes of initial teacher training are exempt for example). This means that in future these students will be expected to pay all the costs of their studies. The change does not apply to continuing students. Further explanation of the Government’s proposed changes to funding arrangements for these students can be found at the HEFCE site. . During 2008/09 students in this position who commence courses offered by the Birmingham School of Acting or Birmingham Conservatoire will be required to pay the full cost of their course. For further details regarding the cost of these courses please contact the Birmingham School of Acting or Birmingham Conservatoire or Academic Registry at simon.ells@bcu.ac.uk.

During 2008/09 the University does not intend to introduce a higher fee for students who already have an equivalent level qualification who are taking other courses. However, this policy may change for students who join the University in 2009/10. The University’s website will be updated as further information becomes available.

Living Costs, Student Loans and Financial Support

Support for living costs may come in different forms: grants (of up to £2,835 for students from lower income households), additional grants for students with particular needs or circumstances, bursaries, loans and the Access to Learning Fund.

You will need to contact the Local Authority (LA) in the area that you live (not the LA in the area where you will be studying) for an application form or apply via Student Finance Direct at www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk. Your LA will tell you whether you qualify for any grants and how much loan you can take out to cover your tuition fees and / or living costs. Any grants and loans for living costs will be paid directly into your bank or building society account, usually in three instalments. If you opt to take out a student loan for fees this will be paid direct to the University to cover the cost of your tuition fees. If you opt not to take out a student loan for fees you will need to make arrangements to pay the University yourself.

You do not need to wait until you receive an offer of a place before you apply to your LA for financial support. Your LA will tell you what you have to do to get help in time for the start of your course.

Bursaries

During 2008/09 Government legislation requires all institutions charging variable tuition fees of £3145 to provide a support bursary of £310 for eligible undergraduate students.  Full-time undergraduate and PGCE students who qualify for a full maintenance grant must receive this bursary.  To qualify for a full maintenance grant a student’s household income must be £25,000 or less. Students who are not paying variable fees are not eligible for this bursary, neither are EU and international students, NHS contract students or students who have previously received government support for a higher education qualification.

The University has decided to provide more support for its new and continuing students by offering a non-repayable bursary of up to £525 and by also making it available, on a sliding scale, to students who qualify for a partial maintenance grant, not just those who qualify for a full grant.  To qualify for a partial maintenance grant a student’s household income must be £60,005 or less.

How do I apply for the bursary?

You do not need to apply directly to the University for this bursary or complete a separate application form, but you must make sure that you do not opt out of sharing financial information with the University when completing your ‘Application for Student Finance 2008/09’ (form PN1). This form is available from your Local Authority or Student Finance Direct

When will the bursary be paid?

If you start your course of study in September 2008 you will normally receive your bursary payment at the end of February 2009 as long as you’re still in attendance (June 2009 for students starting in January 2009). Our bursaries will be paid separately and are intended to provide support for books, equipment and/or travel. 

Is my course eligible for a bursary?

Eligible courses include all full time undergraduate and PGCE courses whose tuition fees are £3,145 for the academic year 2008/09.

I am already a student studying at the University, what are the arrangements for my bursary?

As an existing student of the University, provided that you still meet the eligibility criteria and you started your study in September 2007, your 2008/09 bursary will be paid in one lump sum, in accordance with the arrangements outlined above.

How much could my bursary be?

The table below shows the structure of the University’s bursary scheme for the academic year 2008/2009.

Other Financial Assistance

The University has an Access to Learning Fund to provide support to students in need, in particular to help them access and remain in higher education. Other funding may also be available depending on an individual’s circumstances.

Student Services is also able to provide help and support with a range of financial issues including money management.

For up-to-date information on all these services, please contact the Academic Registry, Student Services or your Faculty Office.

Further Information

A University guide to fees and funding for 2008/09 can be downloaded here.

Detailed information on fees and student financial support is available on the Aimhigher website: the direct.gov website: and from your Local Authority.

In addition the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) publishes a guide which sets out the financial support arrangements for those entering higher education. The guide is published annually and is circulated to schools and colleges. Copies are available by calling the Student Support freephone information line on 0800 731 9133, quoting reference S/FSHE/V8 or by downloading it from the direct.gov website. Advice on financial support arrangements is also available on this telephone number or by calling Student Finance on 0845 602 0583.

Our Student Financial Advisers will be giving further information and guidance on our fees, bursaries and other student financial support at all Open Days and visit days. Alternatively, you can contact them on 0121 331 5588.

Nursing, Midwifery and Other Healthcare Students

Eligible students on the Diploma course in Nursing will continue to receive a bursary from the Department of Health. The bursary includes payment of tuition fees and a non-means-tested maintenance award towards living costs.

For students undertaking BSc (Hons) degrees in Nursing, Midwifery, Radiography, and Speech and Language Therapy, the Department of Health will pay the course fees and a means-tested bursary. A loan is also available to pay for additional living costs.

Application forms and further details will be sent to appropriate applicants before starting the course.

Further information on financial help for healthcare students visit the NHS student grants site.

Council Tax

This is a local tax comprising a 50% property element and a 50% personal element.

In many cases students will be discounted from the Council Tax. However, a student may be required to provide evidence that s/he is in full-time education at the University. Student certificates are available on request from the appropriate Faculty Office.

European Union students

If you are a national of a European Union (EU) country you will be able to apply for a loan to cover your tuition fees. If you apply through UCAS you will be sent an application form when you are offered a place on a course. If you do not apply through UCAS you will be able to get an application form either from your college or you will be sent one from the University. Further details are also available from the Direct Gov site.

At the time of writing, EU students are not eligible for support for living costs through grants, student loans or from the Access to Learning Fund unless they have been resident in the UK for the three years before the start of their course. You should check the direct.gov website for up-to-date information.