Fees and Financial Support Part Time
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Fees and Financial Support: Part Time students
The College has produced a booklet on all aspects of financial support for higher education learners (one for full-time students and one for part-time students). If you have not been given one by your tutor or at interview please refer to the HE part of the website. Once you have read this information if you are unsure what to do next then please make an appointment to see the Information Advice and Guidance Manager. In some cases the Information Advice and Guidance Manager or one of the team can help you to complete an application form (which may soon be an on-line application process).
(Click image left for part-time course fees details)
(Click image left for Funding and Support details)
All students applying for a Higher Education course in 2012 are entitled to take out a student loan. The course fee set is proportionate to the number of credits studied, so normally the more intensive the course, the more it will cost per year. Employers who currently sponsor students may wish to pay a proportion of the course fee and allow the student to pay the other proportion. The student can then take out a student loan to pay their share of the fee.
How to Apply for a Loan
The following student loans are available:
• A tuition fee loan for full-time and part-time students
• The tuition fee loan covers your fees and is paid directly to the College
• A maintenance grant to pay living costs for full-time students only Full-time students can apply for a maintenance grant – this is paid into your bank account at the start of each term. The exact amount which can be borrowed depends on:
• your household income
• where you live
• what year of study you are in
For 2012/13 you can apply online from early 2012 at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
Full-time students begin to pay back the tuition fee loan and living cost loan when earning over £21,000 per year. From 1st September new part-time students start to repay the student loan from April 2016 if they are earning over £21,000 per year.
Loans are paid back at a rate of 9% of your income over £21,000. For example, if your salary is £25,000 a year you pay 9% of £4,000 which is £6.92 per week.
Students who chose not to borrow money and wish to pay for their course may do so in five instalments; students pay 20% of the fee at enrolment and the remaining fee by four equal direct debit instalments over the next four consecutive months.
Bursaries
The College fees for Higher Education are very competitive. Students who study full-time often require some extra help to fund their studies, therefore the College is able to offer all students who study full-time or through the intensive part-time mode a small bursary each year which helps
towards their education. See the table on pages 16 - 17 of the HE Study Guide.
Maintenance Grant
Maintenance Grants are available for full-time students only. These are for living costs such as food, travel or accommodation and don’t have to be paid back. You receive: the maximum grant of
£3250 per year if your household income is £25,000 or less. A partial grant if your household income is between £25,000 and £42,600.
Learning Support
Support for Students with a Disability/Learning Difficulty - We welcome students from a wide range of backgrounds including those with learning difficulties or disabilities. Additional funding to cover the cost of support or tuition is available for those students. If you need financial support to provide evidence of your difficulties eg educational psychologist assessment, this may be available through the Access to Learning Fund but applications will be means tested. You must apply online via Student Finance England for a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) before your course starts. The DSA provides extra financial help if you have a disability, mental health condition or a specific
learning difficulty, like dyslexia. The allowance is paid to Chesterfield College and covers the cost of equipment, extra travel costs, support workers and other associated course costs. To enable us to make appropriate arrangements you should provide any information you wish to disclose about your disability or support requirements as early as possible. We will do our best to ensure
that you receive the help you need to succeed in your studies.
DSA funding can pay for the following assistance to help you whilst you are attending a college course:
• Equipment
• Additional one-to-one support for people with specific learning difficulties
• Interpreters
• Care officers
• Mobility officers, for the visually impaired
• Assessment to find out what your needs are and how best they can be helped
• Assistance with travel
The information given is a guide only, for further information on student support please contact the Additional Learning Support team on 01246 500729, or you can call in for a personal interview (an appointment may need to be made). For more information please visit www.direct.gov.uk and
search for Student Finance.
Access to Learning Fund (ALF)
If you are in hardship and need extra financial support both full-time and part-time students can
apply to the Access to Learning Fund. Students are expected to apply for the standard finance package, a loan and Maintenance Grant before making an application to the ALF. For further
information on the ALF please contact the Information, Advice and Guidance team on 01246 500562.
Childcare
The costs of providing childcare whilst you are studying can be a constraint for some students. Funding is available to meet these costs through a special scheme which is operated by Student Finance England again all applications should be made online and will be dealt with
by a central office.
Child Tax Credits
Parents who are studying, and have children under 19 in full-time education, are eligible to apply
for Child Tax Credits, and should contact their local Inland Revenue Office.
Accommodation
The College does not have any halls of residence but does maintain a register of locally available lodgings or properties for rent. A copy of the list is available from Learner Services and additional advice and guidance is offered to assist students seeking accommodation. Please note: Chesterfield College cannot accept any legal responsibility for the accommodation offered or for
any arrangements entered into by students and property owners.
