Loans, Grants & Fees

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Support for New Students

Support from the Government

Fee loans

The University of Leeds charges £3,070 yearly fees for most undergraduate courses. You can apply for a loan of up to £3,070 to pay for these fees. This is not means tested, so your household income is not taken into account.

There is no longer a requirement to pay fees up-front, but you must remember to apply for this loan. Your fees are paid to the institution by the Student Loans Company and the loan is repaid, along with the loan for living costs after you graduate and are earning over £15,000 per annum.

The Higher Education Grant

This is a grant for students from lower income families. The maximum of £2,765 is payable where the family income is below £25,000. A partial grant will be payable where household income is between £25,000 and £60,000.

Up to £1,200 of the new grant will be paid in substitution for part of the student loan for maintenance. This has the effect of lessening the debt on graduation for students from lower income households.

Special Support Grant

Students who have an underlying entitlement to some benefits will get the special support grant paid in place of the Higher Education Grant. This is similar to the Higher Education Grant, but it does not reduce the student loan in cases where more than £1,200 is payable.

Student Loans

75% of the Student Loan is available to all students. The remaining 25% will be 'means tested', where family income is above £37,900 , i.e. the amount you get will depend on your parents' income. This year the maximum loan amounts will be as follows:

Full year students	Full amount (£)
Parental home	3,495
Elsewhere	4,510

Maintenance loan entitlement for maintenance grant recipients will be reduced by up to £1,200.

Repaying the Student Loan
The Student Loan Company will start requesting payment the April following graduation. If you are earning under £15,000 per year you will not have to begin repayment, but you will have to complete a deferment form. As an example, if you were earning £20,000 you would make annual payments of 9% on £5,000, or £450 per year. This is deducted from earnings by the Inland Revenue, who pay the SLC, but this is not a graduate tax. The loan can be paid off sooner if you can afford it, and for 2006 starters, the loan is written off over 25 years.

University of Leeds Bursaries and Scholarships

If your family income is £25,000 or less and you are from the UK, you will automatically receive a Leeds bursary. To get these bursaries it is vital that you give the LEA permission to share your financial details with the University. For more information see the University pages about Bursaries

The table below shows the income brackets for the Leeds Bursary:

Household income (per year)	Bursary
£18,000 or less	£1,330
£18,001 - £18,500	£1,200
£18,501 - £19,500	£1,070
£19,501 - £20,500	£940
£20,501 - £21,500	£820
£21,501 - £22,500	£690
£22,501 - £23,500	£560
£23,501 - £24,500	£430
£24,501 - £25,500	£310

There are also a number of other scholarships and bursaries available, these include Leeds Scholarship, paying a maximum of £3,000 where family income is £16,000 or below. There are also other funds for people from specific areas or studying specific subjects.
Visit the University's page on scholarships

Supplementary grants for certain students

Certain students are eligible for additional support for their particular needs. These are outlined below.

Disabled Students Allowance

Substantial financial assistance is available for disabled students to help with additional costs incurred in attending your course as a direct result of your disability. This can cover equipment, travel and cost of non medical helpers. DSA is available for full and part time students. It is not means tested and does not have to be repaid. If you are coming to the University of Leeds, you are strongly advised to contact the Disability Services team well in advance of the start of your studies. They can assist with your application for DSA.

Go to the Disability Services website for more information.

Help for students with children

Help is available for students who have children both through the LEA in the form of the Parents Leaning allowance and the Childcare Grant and also through the Inland Revenue in the form of Child Tax Credit. Have a look at our page Financial Assistance for those with families.

Other supplementary grants

Help is also available if you have an adult dependant or if you are a care leaver. For information on these supplementary grants please contact your LEA or the Student Advice Centre.

Calculation of household income

Parental income
If you live with only one of your natural parents, the income of step-parents will be taken into account in assessing the household income. The income considered by your LEA is your parents' 'residual income'. This is their gross income minus certain disregards such as payments into a pension scheme which qualify for tax relief, and allowances for other dependents or if a parent is also a student. Anything that is considered taxable under Inland Revenue Taxation Acts is counted as your parents' income, such as their salary, taxable income from their self employed business and interest on any stocks and shares.
Your LEA will usually look at your parents' income for the tax year before the start of your course, so if you plan to start your course in September 2007 they will look at the tax year April 2006 to April 2007. If your parents'income has fallen significantly since the previous tax year your parents can ask your LEA to consider looking at their income for the current year (ie from April 2007).

Your own income
Certain income you have is taken into account when calculating household income. This does not include income from casual work during the course, but may include certain benefits.

Independent students
If you are classed as an independent student your parents' income is not taken into account when assessing the award. Generally you are independent if:

You are above 25 years old before the start of your program of study; or
You have fully supported yourself for three years; or
You are married or in a civil partnership; or
You have care of a child; or
You have no living parents.

You can also be classed as an independent student if your LEA consider you to be irreconcilably estranged from your parents. This rule is only used in exceptional circumstances and the onus is on the student to show this is the case and provide evidence (such as a social worker report or a letter from a counsellor or therapist).
For new system Independent students you residual income is assessed with the same thresholds as household income in other cases. If you have a partner their income will be also taken into account when calculating the residual income.

Other Sources of Income

Part time work

Many students do part-time work alongside their studies. Leeds University Union has a job shop, Joblink, advertises appropriate part-time jobs with local employers.

Parental contribution

If your parents are able to assist consider asking them to set up a standing order - avoid lump sums. Ensure that tuition fees are paid as a priority.

State benefits

Very few students are eligible for these, however, if you have a disability or dependants you should check your entitlement. Contact The Student Advice Centre for details.

Access to Learning Fund

All HE institutions are given a pot of money each year for students in hardship. Further details available from our page on ALF .

Bank overdrafts

Banks are very keen to get student custom. Incentives such as railcards, cash and money-off vouchers are useful. However, good interest rates, low charges and facilities for graduates are better in the long term.

Useful Contacts

LUU Student Advice Centre, Leeds University Union, PO Box 157, Leeds, LS1 1UH, tele: 0113 380 1300, email: advice@luu.leeds.ac.uk

Information on fees and student support from the University of Leeds

Department for Education and Skills (DfES), tel: 0845 607 7577 (student support helpline or 0800 731 9133 (student support publications), website: www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance.

Student Loans Company Limited, , 100 Bothwell Street, GLASGOW, G2 7JD, General Enquiries tel: 0845 026 2019, website: www.slc.co.uk.

University of Leeds Accounts Receivable (fees office)