Read this page aloud What is Recite? skip to content
Quick Links Hints



Part Time Undergraduates

Financial support available

Undergraduate students who study part-time do not normally receive the same statutory financial support as full-time students (an exception to this is if you are repeating a full-time course on a part-time basis). The financial support you receive as a part-time student depends on household income and intensity of study.  

Part-time students who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for the following support:

Fee Grant & Course Grant

Part-time students on programmes that are 50% or more of an equivalent full-time course can apply for support towards their fee and programme costs in the form of aFee GrantandCourse Grantfrom Student Finance England*.

The Fee Grant is partly based on how intensive your programme of study is and there are three levels of Fee Grant up to a maximum of £1,230.

A £265 Course Grant to help with the cost of travel, books and other programme costs.

Entitlement to both grants will depend on your income and that of your spouse/partner. Student Finance England* will work out how much you are entitled to.  

Who is eligible?

Your eligibility for a Fee Grant and / or Course Grant depends on:

  • Where you live
  • The type of programme you are studying
  • Your personal eligibility

In order to qualify you need to meet the UK ‘ordinary residence’ requirements and undertake a designated part timeundergraduateprogramme of study which is at least 50% of the full time equivalent programme.  Your programme must also last for at least one year.  You will not receive part time support for more than one programme at a time or if you already have a degree. There are no age restrictions on part-time support. 

These guidelines provide a brief overview of the eligibility criteria for part time support.  For a more detailed explanation please see the information for part time students which is available from Student Finance England* or in hard copy from Student Services.  

Income criteria

Both the Fee Grant and the Course Grant are means tested, so the amount you are awarded depends on your household income: 

·      Single students with no dependants who have an income of less 
 than  £16,845 will qualify for full support.

·      Students with an income of less than £25,420 or less will qualify for partial support.

·      A higher income threshold may apply for students who have partners 
 and/or dependants.

·      Students with partners have £2000 of income ignored. 

·      Students with dependent children have £2000 for the eldest child 
 ignored, and £1000 for any further dependent children. 

So, for example, a student with a partner and two children will receive full support if their household income is below £21,845 and partial support if their household is above that amount and less than £33,066.


Check how much you might be entitled to with the
Part Time Student Finance Calculator

 

How much is available?

The table below sets out the maximum (the actual amount will depend on income) Fee Grant and Course Grant you can get, depending on the intensity of your programme: 

 

How intensive is your programme?

Maximum Fee Grant

  Maximum Course Grant

Total support

50% to 59% of a full-time programme

£820

£265

£1,065

60% to 74% of a full-time programme

£985

£265

£1,230

75% or more of a full-time programme

£1,230

£265

£1,470


 

How to apply

Application forms (PTG1) will be available to download from Student Finance England* (usually from August). Forms may also be available to collect from the Student Support and Wellbeing Centre around the same time.

You can only apply once have enrolled and are attending your programme.

 

How is it paid? 

Student Finance England* will pay any Fee Grant you are awarded directly to the University. The Course Grant will be paid to you as a single payment.

 

Additional Fee Support Scheme (AFSS)

The Additional Fee Support Scheme allows additional fee support for low income part time students where Student Finance England* are not meeting the full cost of fees.

 

Eligibility for AFSS

In order to apply you will need to meet the UK ‘ordinary residence’ requirements. However, students from European Union countries also qualify as long as they have been resident in the EEA or Switzerland for the 3 years immediately before the start of their course. 

Students must also be undertaking a part-time undergraduate programme of study which is at least 50% of the equivalent full time programme.


You should qualify for AFSS if: 

You receive maximum part time fee support from Student Finance England* and have a shortfall between the Fee Grant awarded and the actual cost of fees. OR

·      You already have a degree but can justify why there is a need to do 
 a second.

·      You are in receipt of a means tested benefit, or have a low income,
 see below OR

·      You are disabled and haven’t qualified for the Fee Grant because you are 
 only attending 25% of your programme. In this case, you must
 be studying at least 25% of a full time programme and be in receipt of
 a means tested benefit or have a low income, see below, OR

·      You are not eligible for statutory support on income grounds but
 the panel feels that you would benefit from support to enable you
 to access or remain on your programme.

Income criteria

Unless you are in receipt of means tested benefits, if your income is above £15,700 (single person) it is only in exceptional circumstances that this fund will be able to assist you. (Please note, the income thresholds are higher for students with a partner and / or children). 

How to apply

Application forms are available from the Access Funds Centre, City Campus and Student Support and Wellbeing Centre, Coach Lane Campus from 1st September.

  

     Benefits

If you are unemployed and in receipt of Income Support (IS) you can continue to claim benefit whilst studying part-time.

If you are in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) you can continue to claim as long as you are available for work and you are actively seeking employment, you must be willing to arrange your course around employment.

Some part-time students on a low wage may qualify for Housing / Council Tax Benefit.

See our Benefits & Tax Credits page for more information and useful links

  



Share this page |