Support for New Students
Support from the Government
(Please note, this information is for students beginning a course in the 2012/13 academic year. For students who began a course before this date please get in touch with us directly at advice@luu.leeds.ac.uk) In writing this information we used
www.direct.gov.uk and
www.leeds.ac.uk.
Fee loans
The University of Leeds charges £9,000 yearly fees for most undergraduate courses. You can apply for a loan of the maximum tuition fee amount 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 £21,000 per annum.
A new addition to the fees structure is that part time students are now eligible to apply for tuition fee loans (up to £6,750) through student finance as well. For the University of Leeds part time tuition fees are charged proportionate to your rate of study.
Applying for Student Finance
New students are able to apply for student finance now, the deadline for applications is 31st May 2012. You can apply after this date however it may not processed in time for you to receive payment in September.
Continuing students are able to apply for student finance now, the deadline for applications is 29th June 2012.
Please ensure you apply by the deadline date to ensure you receive your funding in time for the start of term. Only full-time students can get Maintenance Loans and Maintenance Grants for their living costs.
Grants.
Maintenance Grants
This is a grant for students from lower income families. This means Student Loans Company will look at your household income and work out how much money you get for your Maintenance Grant. You can apply for a Maintenance Grant if your family income is below £42,600. A partial grant will be payable where household income is between £25,000 and £42,600. Your household income is your parents’ or partner’s income and your own.
You can get:
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·£3,250 if your household income is £25,000 or under
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£50-£3250 if your household income is between £25,000 and £42,600
These grants are paid into your bank account at the start of each term, once you've registered on your course.
If you get a Maintenance Grant your Maintenance Loan will be reduced. This has the affect of deducing your overall student debt.
You can only get a Maintenance Grant if your household income is assessed.
Special Support Grant
Students who have an underlying entitlement to some benefits will get the special support grant paid in place of the Maintenance Grant. This is similar to the Maintenance Grant, but it does not reduce the student loan.
If you get or qualify for Income Support or Housing Benefit you may get the Special Support Grant instead of the Maintenance Grant. The amount you can get through the Special Support Grant is the same as that available through the Maintenance Grant but it won’t reduce how much you get for your Maintenance Loan.
You are likely to qualify for the Special Support Grant if:
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you’re a single parent
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your partner is also a student
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you have certain disabilities
The Special Support Grant doesn’t count as income when working out if you’re entitled to income-related benefits or tax credits
Loans
Student Loans
The above tool is from the Student Finance site and may help you work out what to apply for in your circumstances.
Your maintenance loan is a means tested loan, similar to the maintenance grant. How much you receive is dependent on your household income. Starting September 2012 the maximum loan amounts will be as follows:
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Full year students
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Full amount (£)
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Parental home
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£4,375
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Elsewhere
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5,500
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Maintenance loan entitlement for maintenance grant recipients will be reduced by the amount of the grant.
Full-time students can apply for a Maintenance Loan to help with living costs. Maintenance Loans are paid into your bank account at the start of each term. Part-time students can’t apply for a Maintenance Loan.
The exact amount full-time students can borrow depends on:
· your family’s income
· where you live
· what year of study you’re in
· what help you get through the Maintenance Grant
Repaying the Student Loan
The Student Loan Company will start requesting payment the April following graduation. If you are earning under £21,000 per year you will not have to begin repayment, but you will have to complete a deferment form.
Payments are 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.
The below tool is from the Student Finance website and may help you understand repayments once you graduate- this is only for Students starting their degree in 2012.
University of Leeds Bursaries and Scholarships
There is a variety of University of Leeds based funding on top of any loans and grants from Student Finance. Information in this section can be looked at in more detail here: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/30507/university_support
You are eligible for some level of University of Leeds financial support if you are:
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a UK student from England, or an EU student, and
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have a household income of up to £42,600, and
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are studying for your first degree, and
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are studying full-time or part-time (if you are studying part time your payment will be proportionate)
If you're an eligible UK student from England, you can choose between:
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a tuition fee discount
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a discount on University-owned accommodation
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a cash sum
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Household income
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Year 1 Support
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Years 2 and above
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Detail
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Assessed as
"no income"
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£6,000*
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£3,000
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In year 1, you can take a maximum of £1,000 as a cash sum - you must take the remaining £5,000 as a fee discount or accommodation discount.
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£25,000 or less
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£3,000
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£3,000
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In year 1, you can choose between a cash sum, fee discount or accommodation discount.
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£25,001 - £30,000
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£2,000
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£2.000
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See above
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£30,001 - £36,000
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£1,500
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£1,500
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See above
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£36,001 - £42,600
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£1,000
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£1,000
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See above |
*£3,000 from the University and £3,000 from the National Scholarship Programme
National Scholarship Programme.
The University of Leeds automatically assesses students eligibility for this, as long as they have applied through Student Finance England. Leeds is using this government funding together with money from the University to fund financial support packages for those most in need.
Scholarships from the University of Leeds.
There are also a number of other scholarships and bursaries available including funds for people from specific areas or studying specific subjects. There is more info on this here: www.leeds.ac.uk/ace/PS/scholarships.html
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.
Help for students with children
Help is available for students who have children both through the LEA/SLC 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 Student Finance 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.
Student Finance 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 2012 they will look at the tax year April 2011 to April 2012. 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.
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:
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You are above 25 years old before the start of your program of study; or
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You have fully supported yourself for three years; or
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You are married or in a civil partnership; or
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You have care of a child; or
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You have no living parents.
You can also be classed as an independent student if your Student FInance 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.
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
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.
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Accounts Receivable Office Manager (Sarah Fabron) tel: 35796
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Fees, student - academic LEA and sponsored - 36056/36059/36063
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Residence - 35965/36054/36055