Student Financial Support Arrangements

There are currently two statutory financial support arrangements in place for undergraduate and PGCE students in higher education, the `old system´ for students commencing study before October 2006 and the `current system´ for those commencing after October 2006. `Current system´ students are charged the variable rate tuition fee (£3070 in 2007-08) but have access to a more generous maintenance grant. The maintenance loan and grant package available to students is means tested although a basic loan is available to all regardless of income. Also regardless of income all students can now take out a tuition fee loan with the Student Loan Company, in order to defer payment until after graduation and once they are in employment.

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills produces a publication 'A guide to financial support for higher education students´ which provides an overview of the student support arrangements, this is also available online via the Student Loans Company and the DirectGov (Student Finance) websites. Information on financial support for health care students is produced separately in the Department of Health´s booklet Financial Help for Health Care Students available online via the NHS Student Bursaries website. A variety of financial literature is also available to students from Student Services Information Desk.

The University offers `current system´ undergraduate students bursaries of between £255 and £3070 depending on household income, `A´ level (or equivalent) results, subject of study and whether the student is entering through an outreach scheme.