The New Student Finance Package - what's it all about?

Click here to watch Martin Lewis talk about the new fee system

Martin Lewis is a TV financial expert who also heads up the Independent Task Force for Student Finance. This clip (lasts 6 mins) is well worth viewing if you are unsure about how the new system works and what will be the financial committment. It goes a long way to reassure you about the loans and repayments, together with some great practical advice.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE STUDENT FINANCE CALCULATOR 

Hereford College of Arts Tuition Fee

The tuition fee for 2013-14 has been set at £8,000 for all courses. Students from low income households may be eligible for a partial fee reduction (see NSP and Fee Waiver Bursary below). In addition to the tuition fees, there may be some extra costs involved such as course books or materials.

Support Available From Student Finance England (SFE) and the Student Loans Company (SLC)

Tuition Fee Loan
A loan is available for British students & students from European Union member states to cover your tuition fees in full. The amount you borrow does not depend on your household income. SLC pays this directly to the College.

Maintenance Loan
All English students studying for a first degree are entitled to a Maintenance Loan to help with accommodation and other living costs (how much you get depends on where you live, study and your household income).

Both of the above Loans have to be repaid but you will not start paying them back until you have graduated and are earning over £21,000 per annum. The amount you repay is 9% on earnings above £21,000 and the repayment is made through the UK tax system using your National Insurance number. For example, if you are earning £25,000 per year, you would repay 9% of £4,000 which would be around £30 per month.

Higher Education Maintenance Grant (HEMG)
You can apply for a Maintenance Grant if your household income is £42,600 or less. The maximum award you can receive is £3,354 and as with other grants, this does not have to be repaid.

Disabled Students' Allowance
Disabled Students' Allowance (DSAs) may be available if you have a disability or specific learning difficulty including dyslexia. DSA's are intended to help with the purchase of specialist equipment and non-medical helpers. We advise that you apply and have your DSA in place before you start your course. How much you receive does not depend on your income or that of your family. You will not have to repay this allowance. For more information, please contact Learning Support on (01432) 845348 or email learningsupport@hca.ac.uk.

For more information/useful guides or to download forms about loans, grants, DSAs etc, please visit www.gov.uk/studentfinance

Students from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Students who normally live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland will receive financial support for Higher Education from the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government or the Northern Ireland Executive. For more information, please visit:
www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
www.student-support-saas.gov.uk (Student Support Scotland) www.studentfinanceni.co.uk (student Support Northern Ireland)

Support Available From Hereford College of Arts

 
Access to Learning Fund
The purpose of this fund is to provide exceptional support to students who are experiencing financial difficulty and whose access to learning might be inhibited by financial restraints. The support may provide assistance with travel, material costs, childcare or general living expenses. Students requesting assistance will be required to complete an application form detailing their financial circumstances. Applications are assessed each term and not all applications will be successful as the College has a limited fund available.

National Scholarship Programme (NSP)
The National Scholarship Programme is a government programme designed to benefit students from disadvantaged backgrounds as they enter higher education in Autumn 2013.  The College will award these scholarships to ensure that the students with the greatest financial need receive this targeted support. To be eligible for a scholarship a student must meet the following eligibility criteria:
• The student must be ordinarily resident in England or the European Union
• The student must be liable to pay the tuition fee of £8,000
• The student must be a new undergraduate starting Higher Education for the first time in 2013 and have made a firm acceptance of a place on a Hereford College of Arts Higher Education course.
• To be eligible a student must have a declared residual household income of less than £25,000.

As there are a limited number of scholarships one or more of the following criteria will be used by the College to assess entitlement if applications exceed the number of scholarships available:
• The students household income
• Students with dependants
• Students who are care leavers
• Students with a diagnosed and statement supported disability who have applied for a Disabled Students Allowance.
These students will receive a fee waiver of £3,000 in their first year only, which means their tuition fees will be reduced to £5,000 for their first year.

Fee Waiver Bursary
Students who fulfil the eligibility criteria to apply for the National Scholarship Programme and whose household income is £25,000 or below but have not qualified for a scholarship may still be eligible for a Fee Waiver Bursary. A fee waiver of £1,500 will be offered to all full time undergraduate students whose household income is £25,000 or less. The actual tuition fee for these students will be £6,500 for their first year only.

Progression College Bursary
All students who have studied either at Hereford College of Arts or one of its Progression Partner Colleges on a Further Education course within the last 2 academic years are eligible for a Progression Bursary of £1,500 in their first year only. This bursary is paid directly to students in 3 instalments, one each term. Satisfactory work, attendance and progress during the year are required to ensure all payments are made.

Our Progression Colleges include:

Bournville College  

Cirencester College

City of Bristol College

Coleg Gwent, Pontypool     

Dudley College

Gloucestershire College,

(Comprising Royal Forest of Dean Campus and Gloucester Campus)

Halesowen College 

Hereford Academy 

Hereford Sixth Form College

Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College     

Ludlow College

New College Swindon     

New College Telford       

Newent Community School Sixth Form

Plumpton College: (Artist Blacksmithing only)                                                            

South Worcestershire College -

(comprising Evesham Campus and Malvern Hills Campus)

Stratford Upon Avon College

South Gloucestershire College (comprising campuses at Stroud College and Filton College, and Queens Road,  Clifton)

Telford College of Arts and Technology      

Worcester 6th Form College

Contact:

For more information about tuition fees, bursaries or scholarships please contact Finance on (01432) 273359 or email funding@hca.ac.uk

For any other information or enquiries about Higher Education, please contact Dawn Pemberton on (01432) 845327 or email headmin@hca.ac.uk.

Useful websites include:-

www.gov.uk/studentfinance
www.directgov.co.uk (European Union Students and general information and guidance for all students look in the Education and Learning section)
www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk
www.ucas.com

 

Support for Part-time Study

Hereford College of Arts Part-timeTuition Fee

The tuition fee for 2013-14 has been set at £4,000 for all part-time courses, there may be some extra costs involved such as course books or materials.

Support Available From Student Finance England (SFE) and the Student Loans Company (SLC)

Tuition Fee Loan
A loan is available for part-time students to cover their tuition fees in full. The amount they can borrow does not depend on household income. Student Loans Company pays this directly to the College. Part-time students will become liable to start repaying their loan from the April four years after the start of their course or the April after they leave their course - whichever comes first. However, students will only start making repayments if their income is more than £21,000 and repayment is made through the UK tax system using their National Insurance number. For example, if you are earning £25,000 per year you would repay 9% of £4,000 which would be £30 per month. To download an application form, please visit www.gov.uk/studentfinance.

Part-time students are not eligible for any maintenance loans or grants.

Disabled Students' Allowance
Disabled students' allowance (DSAs) may be available if you have a disability or specific learning difficulty including dyslexia. DSA's are intended to help with the purchase of specialist equipment and non-medical helpers. We advise that you apply and have your DSA in place before you start your course, and how much you receive does not depend on your income or that of your family. You will not have to repay this allowance. For more information, please contact Learning Support on (01432) 845348 or email learningsupport@hca.ac.uk.

.
Support Available From Hereford College of Arts

Access to Learning Fund
The purpose of this fund is to provide exceptional support to students who are experiencing financial difficulty and whose access to learning might be inhibited by financial restraints. The support may provide assistance with travel, material costs, childcare or general living expenses.

Students requesting assistance will be required to complete an application form detailing their financial circumstances. Applications are assessed each term and not all applications will be successful as the College has a limited sum available.

Learner Support Funds do not have to be repaid. For more information, please contact Finance on (01432) 273359 or email funding@hca.ac.uk

Useful websites include:-
www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk
www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
www.gov.uk/studentfinance
www.ucas.com