University Level

Full-time students

Tuition fees

Fees for full-time Leicester College courses for 2010 are £1,310 and from £1,310 to £3,290 if you were on a course run in conjunction with other universities. You will not be expected to pay these fees before you start a course or whilst you are studying. If eligible, you will be able to apply for a "Student Loan for Fees" to cover these costs. This means that fees will be paid directly to the College on your behalf. This loan has to be repaid after you leave your course and when your earnings are over £15,000.

Grants

Full time students will be able to apply for a non-repayable maintenance grant of up to approximately £3,000. How much you get will depend on your income and that of your household. If it is around £25,000 or less you are likely to be eligible for a full grant of approx £3,000. Partial grants are likely to be available for those with a household income of between approx £25,001 and £50,020. These grants will be paid in three instalments, one at the beginning of each term. You will need to apply to Student Finance England for assessment of your entitlement to a maintenance grant and for your tuition fee loan. You can access all the information you need from www.direct.gov.uk

Bursaries

In the past Leicester College has offered generous bursaries to offset the cost of fees. We expect this to continue. If you attend a course run in conjunction with De Montfort University, you will be able to apply for this type of support. For more information, please enquire at the Student Advice Centres.

Student Loans for Maintenance

Financial help towards your living costs is also provided in the form of a Student Loan. The amount available depends on where you will be living while you study and your household income. The loan is paid in three instalments, one at the beginning of each term, directly into your bank account. You can find out more about the amount of loan available to you and how entitlement is assessed at www.direct.gov.uk

Learners with disabilities

If you are a full or part-time learner with a disability eg hearing or visual impairment, dyslexia, mental health problems, physical disability, etc, you may be eligible for additional support in the form of a Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). There is an assessment process and you should ring 0116 224 2240 and ask for precise information about this. When an assessment has been completed and an allowance approved, any support provided will be funded by Student Finance England. You will need to complete a form DSA1 which you can download from the Student Finance England website www.direct.gov.uk

Repayment

You will not start paying back any of your loans until your earnings are above £15,000 (subject to government approval). Payments will be made through the tax system. The current percentage is set at 9%, therefore someone earning £20,000 a year will only have to repay £8.65 per week. Your LA will send more detailed information about the terms and conditions for your Student Loan, please contact them, or Student Services on 0116 224 2035 for more information.

Banking

If you do not already have a bank account you should arrange a student account with one of the high street banks as soon as you have a confirmed offer of a place on your course. We recommend shopping around. Things to consider include accessibility to a branch in Leicester (and home town if necessary), overdraft limits, interest rates and repayment terms after graduation.

Part-time learners

There is a national scheme of grants towards part-time Higher Education course expenses. Please contact Advice and Guidance on 0116 224 2035. All of these grants are means-tested and to qualify you must be studying at least 50% of a full-time course. For more information about assessment and exact amounts you should access the HE link at www.direct.gov.uk

Other support

Welfare Advisers at the College will be able to tell you about any additional support available including the Access to Learning Fund. It is recommended that all prospective Higher Education learners talk to a Welfare Adviser before enrolling to maximise any potential entitlement to financial support. The welfare service is accessible all year-round and can advise on funding, banking, welfare benefits, fee status, debts or other financial matters.. It is recommended that you check www.direct.gov.uk for the most up-to-date information. In general, individuals who are subject to any immigration control will not qualify for fee or living-cost support. The regulations concerning fee status are complex – please call our Welfare Advisers on 0116 224 2240 for advice on personal circumstances.

Overseas Learners

If you are a European Union (EU) national and have lived in the UK for three years (not as a learner) prior to the start of your course, you will be eligible to apply for tuition fee and living-cost support and you should apply to Student Finance England. If you are an EU national but do not fulfil the residency requirements, you will be charged the same fees but will not be eligible for living-cost support. You should check information on the Student Finance England website.

Asylum Seekers are not eligible for any Higher Education funding. Refugees who have been granted “indefinite leave to remain” are classed as “Home Learners” and are eligible for fee and living cost support. Refugees apply to Student Finance England the same way as other UK learners. If you have been granted exceptional leave to enter or remain in the UK, you must have been resident in the UK for at least three years before the start of the academic year to qualify for assistance. Other learners from outside the UK or EU, please refer to the Overseas Learner section.