Financial help for those entering full time higher education in 2014

1. Financial help for those entering full time higher education in 2014

2. Overview Expenses and financial support whilst at university fall broadly into two categories: • Tuition fees • Living costs - maintenance grant - maintenance loans

3. Tuition fees The majority of course fees have been set at: • £7,500 to £9,000 • Check the university website • Fees will vary course to course and university to university • May go over £9,000 with inflation

4. Help with Tuition fees Student loan for fees • All Students are eligible for tuition fee loans • No income assessment • Fees will be paid directly to the university • Tuition fee loans will be repayable once students have graduated and are earning more than £21,000 a year

5. Help with living expenses • Includes Maintenance Grant Maintenance Loan Bursaries (may be)

6. Help with living expenses Maintenance Grant • Worth up to £3,387 a year • Income assessed – based upon household income • Grant paid by instalments • Does not have to be paid back

7. Household income For most school leavers based on: • Gross taxable income of one or both adults in the house – parents \ partners \ step parents • Less some deductions for payments into pension funds etc and £1,130 each for other dependent children in the household • Based on tax year 2012-13

8. Help with living expenses Maintenance grant thresholds • Household income < £25,000 Full £3,387 grant • HI between £25,001 & £42,620 Partial grant • HI of £35,000 could give rise to a £1,494 grant 2010 Starters

9. Help with living expenses Maintenance Loans • To help with general living costs such as rent, food and books • Available to all students • Added to the tuition fee loan • Re-payable once earning in excess of £21,000

10. Help with living expenses Student Loans for Maintenance • Balanced against grants – if eligible • Assuming HI = >£42,620 • No grant • £5,555 loan - outside London • £4418 loan - living at home • Loan goes down with increasing HI • Use the student finance calculator to get a clearer idea of the support available

11. Guide to grant and loan support

12. Repayments • Start in the new financial year after graduating, if earning more than £21,000 • Repayment is 9% of earnings over £21,000 • Interest = RPI plus a % on a sliding scale up to 3% for a salary of £41,000 + • Interest starts accruing as soon as loans are drawn • Written off after 30 years • Repayment for graduate earning £25,000 will be approx £30 per month

13. Repayments

14. Additional Help with living expenses • Bursaries linked to £9k fees and lower HI - check university web sites • Parents’ Learning Allowance • Childcare Grant \ Adult Dependants’ Grant • Disabled Students’ Allowance – a range of help is available which is not dependent on household income • Student Union

15. NHS Support Tuition fees for nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, and similar, are paid by the NHS. All eligible students are entitled to a £1,000 NHS bursary There are means tested bursaries from NHS You have to apply for tuition fees and bursaries Eligibility for Student Finance loans are not affected by the bursary Link from www.gov.uk/student-finance/overview

16. All the information you need Google “student finance” and go to: www.gov.uk/student-finance/overview

17. Some Good News • HECSU’s What Do Graduates Do? Report, the average salary for UK graduates in full-time employment six months after graduation range between £18,000 - £24,000 • www.graduates.co.uk • Website also shows average salaries by sector

18. Income Assessment Same information - two methods: • One application with all required details – opt to continue on the same form • Financial information provided separately – opt to supply information separately and send form when prompted. You will be given a reference number to use during registration

19. Evidence required • Proof of identity – valid passport • No passport – original birth certificate • National Insurance Number • Bank Account details • Course details (inc start dates) • Student Finance may ask you for: • P60, self assessed tax return, evidence of separation • Deadline – 31st May 2014

20. Birmingham University Living costs 2010 Starters

21. Getting started • Deposit to go with hall fees • Insurance • Rail cards • Bedding • Kitchen – how much do you need? • Books – need to know what is essential 2010 Starters

22. Banks • They can offer a lot of money - £1,000 in the first year, going up by £250 a year thereafter • Their main aim is to recruit a long term customer • Beware - they will just assume students have graduated and switch to a regular overdraft – with charges! • Banks do write and students ignore the letters because they bank on line! • Use Debit not Credit cards 2010 Starters

23. Living out in years 2 and 3 • Often sorted out in January of first year • Use student union approved agents • Student union will advise on safe areas and contracts • Often, one student has to be a lead tenant • Bills included v Pay your own bills • Parents may be required to act as guarantor • Agents can no longer hold deposits

24. Budgeting Advice Martin Lewis student finance at www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/student-guide Most university websites have budget advice