Investing In Your Future #1D52B

Investing in Your Future Information on Home/EU Undergraduate Tuition Fees and Financial Support for 2010 Entry Welcome We can arrange for this material to be transcribed into an accessible format such as Braille, large print, E-text (compatible with screen-reading software) or digital audio such as CD. Please contact Fees and Bursaries on 01274 236637, email: s.l.verbickas@bradford.ac.uk The University of Bradford is going places. An increasing number of students have realised the benefits of applying to a University that: will provide you with the most complete package of financial support available to help you succeed on your chosen higher education programme is committed to excellence in teaching and learning with dedicated staff who are passionate about their subject offers an exciting range of courses with new subjects being introduced each year because you have told us that you want to study them will help you get the job you want, being ranked the number one university for graduate employment in Yorkshire* is forward thinking - investing in its campus and facilities for a more sustainable future * The Times Good University Guide 2009 The University of Bradford - Confronting Inequality: Celebrating Diversity™ The University of Bradford is committed to promoting equality, diversity and an inclusive and supportive environment for students, staff and others closely associated with the University in conformity with the provisions of its Charter. Government figures at the date of publication of this brochure may be subject to change and you are advised to consult the websites mentioned for the current figures relevant to your application. The contents of this publication are correct at the time of printing. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described in this booklet without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study. Admittance to the University is subject to the requirement that the student complies with the University’s admissions procedures and observes the Charter and Statutes and the Ordinances and Regulations of the University. Produced by Marketing and Communications, University of Bradford Print Production: Inprint and Design, University of Bradford 571/8,000/10/09 CONTENTS Introduction Investing in Higher Education - what you need to know Tuition Fees Getting More for Your Money - Investing in your Future Supporting you while you study Help available from the Government Help available from the University of Bradford Applying for Financial Support Other Financial Support Case Studies The bigger picture - balancing the books Earn While You Learn FAQs Useful Contacts 2 3 3 4 5 5 8 10 11 12 16 17 18 21 Investing in Your Future 1 Introduction Higher education is one of the greatest investments you will ever make. The knowledge and skills that you graduate with will open doors to a brighter and potentially richer future. The information in this booklet is for students who will be starting courses at the University of Bradford after September 2010. It will also be useful for their families and advisers. This booklet will help you to understand the various costs associated with higher education and the financial support that is available to you from the Government and from the University of Bradford. Not all students will be eligible for the support listed in this booklet as it mainly applies to fulltime undergraduate students from England and those from the EU who have been living in England for the three years prior to the start of their course (“home” students). The support that is available to EU students without home status is clearly highlighted. It is important to note that the package of financial help available will be different if you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. For more information go to www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance. However, you will still be entitled to the University of Bradford Bursary. The list of useful contacts on page 21 will signpost you to further information both from the University of Bradford and nationally. If you are an international student please go to www.bradford.ac.uk/international or email international-office@bradford.ac.uk; if you are a postgraduate student please go to www.bradford.ac.uk/university/pgpros Funding and support is also different for students on Health Studies courses who will usually have their fees paid by the NHS. For further details go to www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students. For more information about courses in the School of Health Studies at the University of Bradford visit www.bradford.ac.uk/health, call 01274 236367 or email soh-recruitment@bradford.ac.uk 2 Investing in Your Future Investing in Higher Education - what you need to know Type of course Standard Undergraduate (not foundation year) Thick Sandwich Undergraduate* Thin Sandwich Undergraduate* Foundation Year (except Clinical Sciences) Foundation Year in Clinical Sciences Foundation Degree * A thick sandwich course contains one long placement. A thin sandwich course contains two shorter placements. Sandwich year Second sandwich period £3,290 £1,200 £650 Tuition Fees Pay when you earn, not when you learn. In September 2006, the Government introduced a new system of variable fees. The University of Bradford, like the majority of other universities in England, decided to charge the maximum fee per year for its full-time undergraduate degree courses - which is £3,290 in 2010. You do not have to pay these fees whilst you are studying. If you want to you can apply for a loan to cover these costs which you will pay back when you finish your course and are in employment (for more information see page 5). The table above illustrates the tuition fees for the different types of courses available at the University of Bradford for home and EU students in 2010/11. Students undertaking a second degree may have to pay a higher level of fees – you will need to confirm this with your university. Investing in Your Future 3 Getting More for Your Money - Investing in your future The University is already making huge strides to address environmental sustainability through its Ecoversity project, which we are implementing not only through our multimillion pound estate regeneration, but also through our teaching - bringing sustainability into the curriculum and allowing students and staff to reinforce its importance to their friends and colleagues Professor Mark Cleary Vice-Chancellor Tuition fees have been introduced to increase much-needed funding for universities and colleges. At Bradford, the income from fees will be used to re-invest into student facilities and your learning experience. We have an ongoing building and estates strategy and will be spending £75 million to improve existing buildings and create new ones. The strategy is ambitious and exciting and has the student’s learning experience and the University community at its centre. The first major project to be completed was The Atrium. This £5 million Eden Project style development at the heart of the University campus forms an exciting social space for students, staff and visitors. The Atrium and its furniture are made out of environmentallysustainable materials and have numerous ecofriendly features - even the catering is Fairtrade. Incorporated into The Atrium is The Hub - our fully-integrated Student Support Centre. This is a one-stop-shop for all student enquiries and transactions. You can call into The Hub to enquire about a course, ask about accommodation or find out about financial support. If you have a question about any aspect of your experience at the University of Bradford, someone in The Hub will be able to answer it or point you in the right direction! The University is currently developing a major new accommodation complex which will be complete for the academic year 2011/12. This £35m campus development is one of a number of major projects which demonstrate the University’s ongoing commitment to improve facilities and provision for its students. This Sustainable Student Village will be a self-contained area designed to create truly sustainable living. Accommodation will include a mix of ‘townhouses’ and around 1,000 cluster flats. The University is also planning to invest £11 million in state-of-the-art IT facilities to support a wireless and web-based campus, student access to online services such as registration, payment and information systems, and access to learning environments (physical and online) that enhance the distinctive learner experience at Bradford. Students also have free Ethernet connection in all University-owned Halls of Residence. 4 Investing in Your Future Supporting you while you study Help available from the Government Loans for Fees In 2010 full-time higher education is free at the point of entry for all home and EU students. New and continuing home and EU students are able to take out a fee loan to cover all or part of their tuition fees. This loan for fees is paid directly to the University by the Student Finance Service. You will only start repaying your loan in the April after you have left higher education, assuming you are in work and are earning over £15,000 per year. Repayments are linked to the amount of money you are earning and are designed to be small and affordable. In one year you will pay back 9% of the difference between your salary and £15,000. So, for example, if you graduate and get a job with a salary of £20,000 per year you will pay back 9% of £5,000 in that year, which works out at £8.65 per week. There is a small amount of interest on the loan, but this is linked to the rate of inflation, so in real terms you will only pay back what you borrowed. Your employability and the type of job you can get when you graduate will be important criteria when you are deciding where to study. The University of Bradford was ranked No. 1 in Yorkshire for graduate employment in the Times Good University Guide 2009 League Tables. If you would prefer to pay some or all of your fees yourself – perhaps using your Maintenance Grant and bursary – then the University does offer the option to pay by direct debit instalment plan. Loans for Maintenance Loans to help with maintenance (living costs) for home students are only available from the Student Finance Service. They also have a very low rate of interest, linked to inflation levels. In September 2009 the interest rate was 0%. The maximum loans available in 2010/11 are shown below: living away from parents (outside London) £4,950 living with parents (under 25 yrs old) £3,838 Not all students will receive the maximum maintenance loan. All eligible students are entitled to 72% of the maximum figure, with the remaining 28% depending on your family income and the amount of Maintenance Grant that you receive. If you are eligible for a Maintenance Grant (see below), the amount of maintenance loan which you can receive may be reduced by up to £1,453, as up to £1,453 of the Maintenance Grant is paid in substitution for part of the maintenance loan. This has the effect of reducing the overall amount of debt for students from lower income households. The Student Finance Service will calculate the amount of maintenance loan and Maintenance Grant that you are eligible to receive. Loans are usually paid in three instalments - one at the start of each term. Maintenance loans are repaid along with the loans for fees when you are in employment and earning over £15,000 per year. Any outstanding loan balances (except arrears) will be written off after 25 years. Our degree programmes are highly focused on employment with around a quarter of our students on 'sandwich' courses and many others involved in placements, work-related learning and having a general commitment to developing employability within themselves Ron Harle Head of Careers Investing in Your Future 5 Supporting you while you study The table below shows the support you can get from the Government per year based on different levels of income (figures are for 2010/11): You do not have to pay this back Household Income (residual) You pay these back after you finish your course Maintenance Loan Maintenance Loan (living at home) (living away from home) Maintenance Grant £2,906 £1,906 £1,106 £711 £381 £50 £0 £0 £0 Fee Loan £3,290 £3,290 £3,290 £3,290 £3,290 £3,290 £3,290 £3,290 £3,290 Up to £25,000 £30,000 £34,000 £40,000 £45,000 £50,020 £50,778 £55,000 £60,000 £2,385 £2,885 £3,285 £3,483 £3,648 £3,813 £3,838* £2,994 £2,763 * Maximum value of loan £3,497 £3,997 £4,397 £4,595 £4,760 £4,925 £4,950* £4,106 £3,564 Maintenance Grants From September 2010, new full-time home students from lower income households are eligible for a means-tested, non-repayable Maintenance Grant of up to £2,906 a year. The amount you receive will depend on your family’s residual income - this is the total value of gross taxable earnings left after deductions have been made for pension payments and other dependent children. If that income is less than £25,000 you will be eligible for a full grant worth £2,906. The amount of grant is then decreased on a sliding scale with students whose residual family income is £50,020 receiving the minimum grant of £50 per year. At a residual income above this figure, students will receive no support. Grants are payable in three instalments - one at the start of each term. This grant can be used for living costs or put towards the payment of your tuition fees if you do not want to take out a tuition fee loan. If you have any previous study at university, this may affect your eligibility for Government funding - you will need to check this with the Student Finance Service. Students with an underlying eligibility for benefits, e.g. lone parents or students with disabilities, will recieve a Special Support Grant. This is of the same value as the Maintenance Grant, the main difference being that students on the maximum Special Support Grant can have a full maintenance loan, without the £1,453 deduction. 6 Investing in Your Future Supporting you while you study Part-Time Students Support is available from the Government if you choose to study part-time. The amount of grant you can receive depends on your income and the percentage of full-time study that you complete in that year. For 2010/11 the fee grants are: 50% to 59% = up to £820; 60% to 74% = up to £985; 75% or more = up to £1,230. An annual course grant of up to £265 towards the cost of studying will also be available to lowincome students. Part-time students are not eligible for any bursaries, but additional money from the Access to Learning Fund (ALF - see page 11) will be targeted at part-time students and can help towards fees and other costs such as childcare. students must be studying at least 50% of a fulltime course. DSAs are available to both undergraduates and postgraduates and do not have to be repaid. They can be used towards specialist equipment, non-medical helpers (e.g. note-takers or sign language interpreters), or additional costs such as travel expenses. Students with disabilities may also apply to the Access to Learning Fund for additional support (page 11). Support for Students with Dependants There is a range of support available from the Government for students with children or adult dependants, such as the Parents’ Learning Allowance or the Adult Dependant Grant. If you pay for registered childcare you may be eligible to receive up to 85% of the cost through the Childcare Grant. Students with children can also claim Child Tax Credit - for further information go to www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits The total support package available is not easy to understand, and is tailored to each individual, so for more information you will need to go to the Student Finance Service. You can call them on 0845 300 50 90. For more details about support for part-time students and those with disabilities or dependants go to www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance Support for Students with Disabilities If you have a disability you may be able to get extra support. This support will depend on your needs and not your income. The Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) will help with costs you incur in attending your course as a direct result of your disability. The DSAs are available to full-time and part-time students with disabilities, although part-time Investing in Your Future 7 Supporting you while you study We are proud of our long tradition of seeking a more inclusive society through a commitment to diversity in our students Professor Geoff Layer Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Learning and Teaching Help available from the University of Bradford Our students come from many different backgrounds, walks of life and countries. With a high proportion of students now choosing to live at home and study, the fact that Bradford has students from 110 countries means that you don’t need to travel far to experience an exciting and diverse mix of cultures. Our commitment to diversity goes hand in hand with the support we offer to students to allow them to access higher education if they want to - regardless of their background or financial situation. We are one of the top universities in the UK for social inclusiveness and work hard to maintain this. University of Bradford Bursary Package for 2010/11 Students with a family income of up to £60,000 can receive a University of Bradford Bursary in 2010/11. As a new home or EU full-time student, you are entitled to a University of Bradford Bursary if your family income is assessed as being under £60,000 a year. The Student Finance Service will assess your income when you apply for your Maintenance Grant and student loan. When you complete your student support application form, you and your sponsors (usually your parents or guardians, or your spouse or partner if you are over 25) must give consent to share information so that the University can determine if you are eligible to receive a Bursary. You will not need to fill in any additional forms to receive your Bursary and the payment will be made to you automatically on 18 March in each year of your course. If you are eligible, the Bursary you will receive will depend on your family income. See table below. The University of Bradford Bursary Scheme - giving more support to students A bursary is a type of financial support, usually linked to income, that you don’t need to pay back. According to the Government, if you receive the full Maintenance Grant and you are on a course charging the maximum £3,290 fee, you will also be eligible for at least £329 in financial support from your university, which may take the form of a bursary. Some universities will provide more support than this, so it will be important to speak to the university that you are applying to and find out what it offers. Bursary for family income up to £40,000 Foundation Year First Year Second Year Third and Subsequent Years £500 £500 £700 £900 Bursary for family income between £40,001 and £60,000 £400 £400 £500 £600 8 Investing in Your Future Supporting you while you study Bursary Payments We’ve structured the Bursary payments in this way because our students tell us that it is helpful to have additional support in the final years of a course when you’re busy thinking about projects, dissertations and exams. The Bursary is paid on condition that a student is fully “engaging” with their course. This means attending the compulsory elements of the course, e.g. tutorials, workshops or seminars, and submitting coursework on time. Individual Schools may have more specific criteria for the payment of the Bursary and these will be communicated to students in writing. It is important to make the financial support application to the Student Finance Service, even if you don’t intend to take out a tuition fee loan or a student loan. You may find that you are eligible to receive the non-repayable Maintenance Grant, and we need to know your income assessment to be able to pay your University of Bradford Bursary. The University of Bradford Bursary is not paid to students on sandwich courses for the year of their course that they pay the lower placement fee of £650. They can receive the Bursary in the other years that they are paying full fees. Students who are studying to be health professionals and who are funded by the NHS will not be eligible for the University of Bradford Bursary as they usually do not have to pay their own course fees. For more details on NHS bursaries visit www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students. English students training to be social workers may also be eligible for a bursary from NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), as well as the University of Bradford Bursary. Further details are available from www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students or 0845 610 1122 Investing in Your Future 9 Applying for Financial Support The Compact Award The Compact Scheme provides students with a range of activities which are designed to help them make decisions about their future, support advanced-level programmes of study and assist them with their university applications. In addition to our University of Bradford Bursary we also offer a Compact Award. If you are a student who has registered with our Compact Scheme for partner schools and colleges and have attended one event at the University, e.g. a masterclass or the Summer School, you will be eligible for a one-off payment of £300 in the first year of your degree programme. The Compact Award, like the Bursary, is non-repayable. This is available to all students regardless of income. Students on NHS-funded courses are also eligible for the Compact Award. For more information go to www.bradford.ac.uk/compact Applying for Financial Support Don’t miss out on financial support that you could be entitled to - here’s how to apply for loans, grants and bursaries: Apply online at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance or www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk for students living in England Print the form from the web, or: Contact the Student Finance Service for a financial support application form (the PN1 form), complete the form and return it by the deadline. Examples of the information that you will require: National Insurance Number Bank account details Birth certificate / passport Household income details (students of 25 or over) IMPORTANT - to be assessed for the University of Bradford Bursary you and your sponsors (the other people on your form whose income details you submit) must consent to share their information. This means reading carefully the relevant section on the PN1 form and NOT signing to opt out of sharing your information. To be paid the Bursary you must have submitted your bank details. EU students will need to fill in the form for financial support on www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance (EU10N form). You must consent to share your information on the form by carefully reading the relevant section. When you have submitted this application you will be sent a further form (EU10B) which will allow you to provide income details for yourself or your parents/guardians. This allows the University to assess if you are eligible for a Bursary. You will also need to provide proof of identity and your UK bank account details. University of Bradford Scholarships The University of Bradford has developed a comprehensive range of scholarships that provide additional, non-repayable financial support to students throughout their course. As well as scholarships offered within different subject areas, the University has three main scholarship schemes: Investing in Excellence and Community Scholarships for students excelling in Sports, the Arts and Volunteering Academic Excellence Scholarships Countries in Crisis Scholarships (for international students). For more information and application details go to www.bradford.ac.uk/scholarships 10 Investing in Your Future Other Financial Support Once you are studying at the University of Bradford you might occasionally find that you need a little bit of extra financial support, perhaps if your loan payment is late or your budgets aren’t quite covering what you have to spend every month. We do have some means of helping you: Access to Learning Fund (ALF) This is available to full-time and part-time home students who are on either undergraduate or postgraduate programmes. If you are considered eligible for the fund, you will need to have accessed all other means of support available to you, i.e. applied for your full maintenance loan. The fund can be used to support full-time students with living and course-related costs (not fees) but parttime students can also apply to the fund for help towards their course fees. Support can either be made in the form of a loan (which is paid back to the University), or as a non-repayable grant. ALF is funded by the Government and several groups of students are prioritised: Students with children Mature students with existing financial commitments Part-time students on the full support package Students from low-income families Students with disabilities Students who are care leavers or from Foyers specific grants available Students in their final year of study help with your University application. For further information please email careleavers@bradford.ac.uk or call Anwar Ayub on 01274 236066 - all enquiries will be completely in confidence. Financial Relief Fund This support is funded by the University and usually takes the form of a loan to be paid back at an appropriate time. It is available for all full-time home, EU and international students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, who can demonstrate that they are suffering hardship for reasons beyond their control. Charities and Trusts We have a small amount of money in the Elizabeth Howard Trust Fund that is used to assist full-time female students who need extra support. There are also national sources of charitable funding such as the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust which will support full-time UK students who are studying for their first degree. To be eligible for this funding you must be the child or spouse of a commercial traveller, chemist or grocer. Scholarships are up to £3,000 per year and are aimed at students in financial hardship. For more information about the Trust please go to www.leverhulme-trade.org.uk, however, it is important to note that any applications for this scholarship must be made through your university. For more information about the additional financial support in this section please email hubsupport@bradford.ac.uk or call 01274 236504. Care Leavers The University of Bradford has made a firm commitment to supporting students who are care leavers in higher education. As a result of this commitment, the University has been awarded a Quality Mark from the children’s charity The Frank Buttle Trust. If you are a student who has been in care and has Leaving Care Status, then there will be extra financial help for you available through our Access to Learning Fund (ALF). There is also a package of additional support available which includes year-round living accommodation and Investing in Your Future 11 Case Studies The examples below and on the following pages are designed to show you the kind of support that you might be entitled to, depending on your financial situation, when you study at a higher education institution. They also illustrate how you could use this support and look at the repayments once you have completed your course. The figures are all for study in 2010/11. It is important to note that fees will rise slightly each year (in keeping with inflation) but that the amount of financial support available will also increase. Indra Indra is 18 and lives with her family in Bradford. She wants to go to the University of Bradford to study Biomedical Sciences. The family’s residual income is assessed by Student Finance England to be £30,000 a year. Indra went to school in Bradford. When she was in the sixth form, she signed up with the University’s Compact Scheme and visited the University to attend a taster day in Biomedical Sciences to make sure that it was the right choice of course for her. Indra will continue to live at home while she does her course. The course fees are £3,290 per year and Indra can take out a fee loan to cover the cost of her course if she wants to. The table opposite gives an idea of the support that Indra can receive throughout her course and how much she will have to repay when she finishes. Indra won’t start paying back her loans until she gets a job and earns over £15,000 per year. Employment prospects are good for students on Indra’s course and if her first job has a starting salary of £21,000 per year she will pay back 9% of the difference between £21,000 and £15,000 in that year, which is £10.38 per week. This payment will be the same regardless of how much she owes. It will just take longer to pay off the larger loan. If Indra’s salary did not rise above this level, her loan would be written off after 25 years as she would not have repaid the full amount. However, her salary is likely to increase. Indra will keep paying back the same 9% of the difference between her salary and £15,000, but her payments will increase as her salary gets bigger and the loan will be paid off more quickly. If she wanted to, she could make overpayments to pay the loan off even quicker. 12 Investing in Your Future Case Studies Support Indra will get Tuition Fee Fee Loan (Repayable) Money owed at end of course Financial Support Available (Non-Repayable) Financial Support Available (Repayable) Option 1: Option 2: Using nonTaking out full fee repayable support loan towards fees £3,290 per year* Government Maintenance Grant University of Bradford Bursary Compact Award Student Maintenance Loan (Living at home) £3,290 per year* £1,906 per year* £500 year 1 £700 year 2 £900 year 3 £300 year 1 £2,885 per year* Totals: £9,870 £9,870 £8,118 Could be used to cover cost of fees £8,655 £8,655 £18,525 * Will rise by inflation each year Investing in Your Future 13 Case Studies Charlotte Charlotte is 18 and lives in London with her family. She plans to go to the University of Bradford to study Law. The family’s income is assessed as £45,000 a year. The tuition fees for Charlotte’s course are £3,290 per year. She can take out a fee loan to cover her tuition fees. The table below shows the support that Charlotte can receive throughout her course and how much she will have to repay when she finishes. Charlotte won’t start paying back her loans until she gets a job and earns over £15,000 per year. If her first job has a starting salary of £20,000 she will pay back 9% of the difference between £20,000 and £15,000 in that year, which is £8.65 per week. Charlottes’ salary should rise significantly, allowing her to pay back more of her loan. Again her payments will depend on how much she earns, not how much she owes. Support Charlotte will get Tuition Fee Fee Loan (Repayable) Money owed at end of course Financial Support Available (Non-Repayable) Financial Support Available (Repayable) Would need to take full fee loan if no other means of support is available £3,290 per year* Government Maintenance Grant University of Bradford Bursary Student Maintenance Loan (Living away from home) £3,290 per year* £381 per year* £400 year 1 £500 year 2 £600 year 3 £4,760 per year* Totals: * Will rise by inflation each year £9,870 £9,870 £2,643 £14,280 £24,150 14 Investing in Your Future Case Studies Ben The course fees are £3,290 per year and Ben can take out a fee loan to cover the cost of his course if he wants to. The table below shows the support that Ben can receive throughout his course and how much he will have to repay when he finishes. Ben won’t start paying back his loans until he gets a job and earns over £15,000 per year. If Ben’s first job has a starting salary of £18,000 year he will pay back 9% of the difference between £18,000 and £15,000 in that year, which is £5.19 per week. At this rate, Ben’s loan will be written off after 25 years. However as his salary is likely to rise significantly he will pay off more money per week. If you want more information about the support that you might be entitled to at the University of Bradford please email bursaries@bradford.ac.uk Ben is 21 and lives at home in Leeds with his mum, whose income is assessed as £16,000 a year. Ben wants to do Media Studies with Computer Animation at university and is thinking of going to the University of Bradford. He would continue to live at home while he studied. Support Ben will get Tuition Fee Fee Loan (Repayable) Money owed at end of course Financial Support Available (Non-Repayable) Financial Support Available (Repayable) Option 1: Option 2: Using nonTaking out full fee repayable support loan towards fees £3,290 per year* Government Maintenance Grant University of Bradford Bursary Student Maintenance Loan (Living at home) £3,290 per year* £2,906 per year* £500 year 1 £700 year 2 £900 year 3 £2,385 per year* £10,818 Could be used to cover cost of fees Totals: £9,870 £9,870 £7,155 £7,155 £17,025 * Will rise by inflation each year Investing in Your Future 15 The bigger picture - balancing the books Expense Accommodation (41 weeks) Food (35 weeks) Study Costs (35 weeks) Laundry Phone TOTAL Per week £64.90 £30 £7 Total £2,661 £1,050 £245 £175 £275 £4,406 Going to university is not just about getting a good degree - it prepares you for the world of work and your life to come, giving you many transferable skills that will be invaluable to you every day. Budgeting and managing your money will be key skills that you will develop during your time in higher education. It will be important to look at all the costs involved in your education and make sure that you are getting the best value. The University of Bradford is consistently rated as one of the least expensive places for students to live in the UK - this means your money will go further and, with less time spent worrying about your finances, you can concentrate more on your course and all the other exciting activities that student life has to offer! A Sample Budget Typically during an academic year at university and living in Halls (41 weeks) you will need to allow for the main expenses in the table above. You will also have to budget for: Socialising Sports and hobbies Clothes and toiletries Travel home (if applicable) Make sure you keep track of how much money you are spending each week - check this carefully against the amount of support you have left either from your loan or Maintenance Grant. If you do realise that you won’t be able to make it to the end of the month, then the Access to Learning Fund (see page 11) may be able to help you out with a temporary loan. For more information and help with budgeting visit www.bradford.ac.uk/hub/MoneyMatters/ BudgetAdvice/ 16 Investing in Your Future Earn While You Learn Part-Time Work You may also want to think about getting a part-time job. For many students, part-time or vacation work has become an integral part of student life. As well as easing financial pressures, a wellchosen job can provide excellent work experience. It can give you a taste of different working environments, and provide a competitive edge for when you leave university and enter the workplace. However, it is important to be realistic and balanced in your approach to part-time work. Working for too many hours during term-time will affect your ability to produce good academic work. It is recommended that students do not work more than 15 hours per week. You may be exempt from paying income tax on money earned through part-time work, so make sure that your employer is aware that you are a full-time student. Any money that you earn while you are studying will not count in your income assessment and so will not affect the level of support, i.e. grants and loans, that you are entitled to from the Government. The University of Bradford JobShop The JobShop helps University of Bradford students find part-time or vacation work. The jobs range from bar or manual work through to course/career-related vacancies such as Support Assistants and Web Designers. They can last for just one day or be permanent part-time. For the vacation periods the JobShop also advertises vacancies throughout the UK and abroad. You will need to register at the JobShop to be able to find out about the vacancies available - you do this by calling into the JobShop and filling out an application form where you can say what type of work you're looking for and what skills you have. Once you are registered you can find details of jobs either at the JobShop or via the Jobs Online database. The database gives you access to a list of vacancies including local part-time and casual work, jobs on campus, and vacation work opportunities. Each job advert gives you details of the type of work available, the location and how to apply. You can also set up a search so you can receive emails when a job is added to the database which matches your interests. Investing in Your Future 17 Frequently Asked Questions I’m a student from Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales - what do I need to know? There are different fee and support arrangements in place for students from these countries - please go to www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance for more information. For details on support from the University of Bradford visit www.bradford.ac.uk/tuitionfees I’m an EU student - what do I need to know? EU students are treated similarly to home students - you will pay the same fees, be eligible for the fee loan and the University of Bradford Bursary (if you meet the income criteria). However, you will not be able to receive a Maintenance Grant or a student loan towards living costs unless you have home status, i.e. have been resident in the UK for three years prior to the start of your course. For more information go to www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance I’m an international student - what do I need to know? You will continue to pay the current rate of fees applicable to international students, and the support outlined in this booklet is generally not available to you. However, there are other scholarships and means of financial help available. For more information visit www.bradford.ac.uk/international or email international-office@bradford.ac.uk I’m a mature student - what do I need to know? You will be eligible, depending on income, for the same support as those coming to university straight from school, i.e. fee loans, student loans for living costs and the Maintenance Grant. If you have dependants (adults or children) you may be eligible for additional financial help. I’m a student with disabilities - what do I need to know? You will be eligible for all the usual support - one difference is that instead of a Maintenance Grant from the Government you will receive a Special Support Grant, which is the same value as the Maintenance Grant, but enables you to access a full student loan for living costs, not one that is capped. You will also be eligible to receive Disabled Students’ Allowances. Visit www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance for more information. You can also contact our Disability Service on 01274 233739 or email disabilities@bradford.ac.uk 18 Investing in Your Future Frequently Asked Questions I’m a part-time student - what do I need to know? The changes will not affect fees for part-time students, however, the level of support that you are entitled to has increased. Visit www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance for more information. I only get a small Maintenance Grant from the Government - am I entitled to a University of Bradford Bursary? You can get a University of Bradford Bursary if you have a family income of under £60,000 a year. We anticipate that around 80% of our students will be able to benefit from our bursary scheme. You may also be eligible for the £300 Compact Award in the first year of your course if you registered with and participated in the University’s Compact Scheme during your time at school or college. How do I apply for a University of Bradford Bursary? There is no separate application form - it is all done through the application for financial support that you submit to the Student Finance Service (the PN1 form). You and your sponsors (usually your parents if you are under 25) must consent to share your information for bursaries. This ensures that your details are then passed on to us so we can assess if you are eligible for a Bursary and then make a payment to you. I’m an EU student - can I get a University of Bradford Bursary? You will be eligible for a University of Bradford Bursary if your family income is under £60,000 a year, as assessed by the EU team in Darlington. When you fill in your application form for support (the EU10N form), you will need to consent to share your information so that the EU team will contact you to perform an income assessment. Without this, we will not be able to assess if you are eligible for a Bursary or make a payment to you. What happens if I need to resit a year of my course for some reason? You can get funding, i.e. a grant, fee loan and student loan, for the duration of your course plus one year - so if you are doing a three-year degree you can access four years of funding. If you need any extra, you will have to go to the Student Finance Service and put forward a special case to receive additional support. How do I repay my loan? You will automatically repay your loan through the tax system (PAYE) when you are in employment and earning over £15,000 per year. Payments will be deducted straight from your wages. If your salary drops below this level or you are not in work, your payments will stop. Any outstanding loans will be written off after 25 years. If you leave a course early you will still pay any loan that you owe in the same way. What is the level of interest? Interest is very low - usually at the rate of inflation, so in real terms you will be paying back what you borrowed. Interest will be added to your maintenance loan from the time you start University; it will be added to your fee loan from the February after you start your course. I don’t really like the idea of taking out a loan or being in debt? It is important to remember that the debt from a student loan is not like the debt from a credit card or bank loan. You only ever really pay back what you borrow and the repayments are linked to what you earn and therefore what you can afford - most students say that they don’t notice the repayments going out of their wages each month. The key issue is that you have used this money to make an investment in yourself and improved your chances of getting a great job and the career that you have always dreamed of. Investing in Your Future 19 Frequently Asked Questions How do I make sure that I get my loan at the start of my course? You will need to apply to the Student Finance Service via a paper form or online, as soon as possible. If your application is received by the end of June, the Government guarantees that you will get your money when you start your course. You will need to make sure that you provide your National Insurance Number and bank details without these they cannot process your application or make any payments to you. How will I know how much support I am entitled to? Once your application has been assessed you will receive a letter called a ‘Support Notification’ from the Student Finance Service. This will tell you the amount of fee loan and maintenance loan you will receive, how much Maintenance Grant you will get and if you are entitled to any additional grants. You will receive a letter from the University, usually in February, telling you if you will get a University of Bradford Bursary. Students who are applying for a second degree will need to check with the University the level of fee that they are expected to pay. When will I get my Bursary? Your Bursary will be paid to you on 18 March, provided that you are still attending the University of Bradford and fully participating in your programme of study, i.e. attending all compulsory elements of the course such as tutorials, workshops or seminars, and that you have submitted all end of Semester One coursework and/or participated in your examinations. Students have told us that this is a time of year when there is extra financial pressure on them, and a welltimed Bursary payment would go some way to alleviating these pressures. I’m not entitled to any financial support from the Government as I have been to university before - is there any other help out there for me? If you already have a degree or have even studied at university for a year, then you may only be entitled to a reduced package of financial support from the Government, or you may have to fund the course yourself. You will have to look at your finances very carefully and at any bursaries or scholarships that the University may offer. You may be able to access the University of Bradford Bursary if you are eligible, but you will need to be income assessed by the Student Finance Service. They may do this for you even if you are not entitled to financial support from the Government. For major expenses such as fees and accommodation there are some specific loans available. Go to: www.direct.gov.uk/en/ educationandlearning/adultlearning for more information. 20 Investing in Your Future Useful Contacts University of Bradford Bursary Enquiries T: 01274 236637 E: bursaries@bradford.ac.uk Tuition Fees Enquiries T: 01274 236637 E: tuitionfees@bradford.ac.uk www.bradford.ac.uk/tuitionfees The Hub – Student Support (financial advice, including Access to Learning Fund) T: 01274 236504 E: hub-support@bradford.ac.uk www.bradford.ac.uk/hub Disability Service T: 01274 233739 E: disabilities@bradford.ac.uk www.bradford.ac.uk/disability Accommodation Office T: 01274 234883 E: halls-of-residence@bradford.ac.uk www.bradford.ac.uk/accommodation Other Sources of Information Government Support: www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance English Students: www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk Welsh Students: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk Scottish Students: www.saas.gov.uk Students from Northern Ireland: www.studentfinanceni.co.uk Student Loans Company www.slc.co.uk Hotcourses Hotcourses features a comprehensive guide to everything you need when planning and organising your student finances www.hotcourses.com Uniaid The website of this student charity has case studies and a student budget calculator, teamed with a game that allows you to virtually experience life as a student www.uniaid.org.uk Investing in Your Future 21