What support is available this year 09/10?

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

Since academic year 06/07 the National Assembly for Wales has powers to decide what levels of tuition fees and student support will apply in Wales.

This Section will set out the different forms of Financial Assistance to which you may be entitled.

Student loans

Help with your tuition fees

Grants and other assistance

Bursaries

Part time students

Gap year students

Postgraduate students

Open university students

Student Loans

The loan rates for your final year are lower since you complete Higher Education at the end of the Summer term.

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

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Help towards your tuition fees

You will be charged tuition fees of up to £3,225. You may be entitled to a grant for part of your tuition fees.

Student Loans for Tuition Fee Contributions

You will not have to pay fees before you start studying, or while you continue your course.

Eligible students will be able to apply for a Student Loan for Fees to cover the cost of any assessed contribution towards your fees. You can borrow any amount up to the full amount of fee charged. This may be the difference between the total fee charged and the amount of fee grant awarded.

These will be paid directly to your place of study and will be repaid like any other student loan, once you have finished studying and are earning over the repayment threshold.

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Higher Education Grant

If you started your course between 1 September 2004 and 1 September 2006, you may qualify for a Higher Education Grant, You must be on a full-time undergraduate, sandwich or part-time ITT course.

How much you get depends on your household income, and will be calculated by your Local Authority when you make your application. The tables below will help you estimate your entitlement:

If you are from Wales, and your household income is below £5,750 you will also receive £500 from the ALG scheme.

For further information contact your contact your Local Authority.

Assembly Learning Grant (HE) for continuing students

The Assembly Learning Grant (HE) (ALG) continues to provide extra support for students from low-income families. Students may apply for an ALG from their Local Authority on top of a student loan and other forms of support.

This information is only relevant to students who enrolled on a course of higher education before 2006/07, and are already in receipt of an Assembly Learning Grant (HE) and remain eligible until such time as they complete that particular programme of study.

To qualify for an ALG (HE) this year, you or your family’s or household income must be £17,250 or less.

For further information contact your Local Authority.

How much you get depends on your household income, and will be calculated by your Local Authority when you make your application. The table below will help you estimate your entitlement:

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Bursaries

Bursaries are extra financial help for students which are provided by the college or university that you attend.

There will be a National Bursary Scheme operating for students in Higher Education in Wales. Further details are available at the Welsh Bursaries Scheme home page.

Part-time students

Fee Grant

Part-time undergraduate students studying at least 50% of an equivalent full-time course (your college will be able to tell you if your course qualifies) are entitled to receive a Fee Grant.

There will be three different rates of fee grant depending on how intensive your course is. For example, if you study at a rate equivalent to 75% of a full-time course, you could qualify for a higher fee grant than a student studying at a rate equivalent to 50% of a full-time course. The table below sets out the maximum fee grant that you could get:

You can also apply for assistance with course related costs worth up to £1,075. If you are on a part-time teacher-training course, you are not eligible for part-time grants but you may qualify for full-time support.

Students who already have a degree cannot normally apply for this support.

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Course Grant

You can apply for assistance with course related costs worth up to £1,075.  If you are on a part-time teacher training course, you are not eligible for part-time grants but you may qualify for full-time support.  Students who already have a degree cannot normally apply for this support

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Grants for dependants 

Part-time undergraduate students studying who have adult or child dependants may also qualify to receive additional grants.  You must be studying at least 50% of an equivalent full-time course.  See 'What Additional Support is Available'

Gap Year Students

If you wish to take a Gap Year, you must receive written confirmation that your chosen institution agrees to this by September 2008.

Further information will be avaliable on the fee you will be charged and the student support avaliable when you begin your studies on or after 1 September 2010.

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Postgraduate students

In general, there is no mandatory support for postgraduate study centrally funded by the Welsh Assembly Government for students who normally live in Wales; an exception to this are PGCE studies for those wishing to become teachers.

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The Open University deals with applications for the fee grant, the course grant and Disabled Students Allowance from its own students. If you are studying with the Open University (OU) and you need any information, you should contact them on 01908 653411, or e-mail them at reg-fees@open.ac.uk for more details. If you are a disabled student studying at the Open University, you should contact your OU regional centre and ask about the conditions of eligibility for Disabled Students Allowances and how you should apply for them.

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