Money - UK Part-time Students
Introduction
This information outlines the various forms of financial support available to those following a part-time undergraduate course at the University of Nottingham.
Please note this information is not for part-time postgraduate students; students attending a full-time undergraduate course on a part-time basis; students attending for less than 50% of an equivalent full-time course or students following part-time ITT courses. If you fall into one of these categories, please contact the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
This information is for UK students. If you are an international student, your status may be affected if you claim any public funds. European students may be able to claim some public funds, but this depends on circumstances. The first thing to do if you are worried about money, is to speak to someone about your concerns. Initially, this could be the Student Advice & Representation Centre or Student Services.
Course and Fee Grant
Part-time undergraduate students studying at least 50% of an equivalent full-time course can apply for a Course Grant of £250. The maximum amount of Fee Grant you can be awarded is based on how intensive your course is as a percentage of the equivalent course.
Your family income must be below a certain threshold in order to be entitled to the Course and Fee Grant.
You can apply for the Course and Fee Grant by contacting your Local Education Authority (or the Student Loans Company if you live in an area trialling new financial support arrangements).
The Access to Learning Fund
Part-time students can apply to the Access to Learning Fund for assistance with general living costs. Eligibility will depend on students being able to demonstrate a shortfall between their annual family income and expenditure. In order to qualify for assistance, students must have applied for the Course and Fee Grants, if eligible to do so. They must also meet the necessary attendance and residence conditions. If your tuition fees are greater than the amount of support available, you may be able to get help towards your fees from the Access to Learning Fund.
Download an Access to Learning Fund form
Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
Disabled part-time students (who are studying at least 50% of a full-time course) are eligible for the Disabled Students Allowance to meet the cost of any support necessary to help them attend their course of study. You should seek advice from Academic Support (part of Student Services) if you have such support needs (Tel: 0115 951 3710).
Career Development Loans
As a part-time student, you may be able to apply for a Career Development Loan of up to £8,000 if you meet certain conditions. The Government manages CDLs through a partnership of high street banks. Further information is available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre or by ringing the CLD Information Line on Freephone 0800 585505.
Employment
The University's Employer Services Team can help put part-time in touch with employment vacancies, which fit around your study requirements. They are based in the Centre for Career Development, Portland Building Level D West (Tel: 0115 951 3680).
Welfare Benefits & Tax Credits
Part-time students are not ineligible for welfare benefits on the grounds of their student status. However, the fact that they are studying may affect their entitlement to benefits in other ways.
If you are a lone parent or foster parent; student with a disability; aged over 60 or in receipt of a training allowance you should not be required to 'sign on' and may be eligible for Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
If you do not fall into one of these categories it is likely you will have to 'sign on' to claim Job Seeker's Allowance.
Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA)
Part-time students have to meet the qualifying criteria for JSA , by being available for work, actively seeking work and possessing a valid job seeker's agreement. A student's attendance on a course could affect their availability for work. There are numerous factors considered when looking at your availability for work. Jobcentre Plus will almost certainly look at the amount of any fees you have paid to the University, along with the duration of study and whether the timetable can be re-arranged at a personal level if a job were to come up. Ultimately they will also be looking at whether you would be willing to abandon the course in order to take up employment.
However, there is a concession under the JSA rules that relate to part-time students. It is advisable to seek further advice on these to see if you qualify. For example, it may be possible to agree restrictions with the Department for Work and Pensions on the hours that you will be available for work, to accommodate your study. Likewise, you may be eligible to claim under New Deal criteria.For
Trusts and Charities
Most trusts and charities will only help postgraduate students in exceptional circumstances and usually towards the end of a course. The Student Advice & Representation Centre subscribes to the Funderfinder
database - we can do a search of such possible sources of income. You could also try going through the Educational
Grants Advisory Service to find possible sources of help from trusts and charities
Budgeting
When you are living on a low income, budgeting is a necessary tool to enable you to manage your money. Click here for basic information on budgeting and helping your money last. More information on budgeting is available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
Repeating your full-time course on part-time basis
If you are currently attending on a part-time basis, but the course on which you are studying is a designated full-time undergraduate programme, you will not be eligible for any of the support outlined in this section. However, you could be eligible for support as a full-time student. For more details, contact the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
Other Welfare Benefits/Tax Credits
When it comes to benefits such as Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Invalid Care Allowance, Child Benefit and tax credits such as Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, studying part-time does not exclude you from claiming as long as you satisfy the general rules of qualification. For more details, contact the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
If you are currently claiming certain benefits (e.g. JSA or Incapacity Benefit) then starting a part-time course constitutes a change of circumstances and you are obliged to notify the Benefits Agency. This may trigger the Benefit Agency to look again at your entitlement to benefit and you are urged seek advice if you are questioned about the impact of part-time study on your entitlement to benefits.
As mentioned above, entitlement to certain benefits, mean that you may be automatically passported to other forms of financial support for part-time undergraduate students.
Help with NHS Costs
You may be able to claim menas-tested help with NHS costs (e.g. dental treatment and health prescriptions) if you are on a low income (and not getting any of the passporting benefits/tax credits to these). HC1 forms to apply are available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre and local medical centres.
Student Crisis Fund
The University's Student Crisis Fund can give discretionary help to students in financial difficulty. To be eligible for assistance, your difficulties must have resulted from a change of your circumstances after commencing your course. Help is given by way of small interest-free loans. You will need to complete an application form available from Student Services, on which you will need to explain your financial circumstances. In some instances, students are asked to attend an interview.
Emergency Loan Scheme (Students' Union)
The Student Advice & Representation Centre administers a short-term loan scheme, which enables registered students to borrow up to £50 for up to a month if an emergency arises. If you wish to borrow, bring your cheque book (and cheque guarantee card if you have one) and your Smart card to the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
Child Care Support Scheme
The University's Child Care Support Scheme can offer eligible students some financial assistance towards meeting the costs of childcare. Part-time students who incur childcare costs (e.g. at day nurseries; childminders etc.) can apply. As funds are limited, the University adopts a selective approach to allocation of payments, so that those students who are most in need will benefit from the scheme. If you are eligible to apply to the Hardship Fund, you should apply for this first.
Trusts and Charities
You may be able to trusts and charities for additional financial help. However, most can only offer limited help with specific needs. The Student Advice & Representation Centre subscribe to 'Funderfinder' computer package, which means we can do a search for you. Alternatively, students can go through the Educational Grants Advisory Service - you can download a student questionnaire from their website.
Sponsorship
You may be able to obtain sponsorship from employers or prospective employers to study part-time. You could approach your own employer or visit the Centre for Career Development to see what is on offer.
Budgeting
When you are living on a low income, budgeting is a necessary tool to enable you to manage your money. Click here for basic information on budgeting and helping your money last. More information on budgeting is available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
University of Nottingham Students' Union
Portland Building, University Park , Nottingham NG7 2RD
Tel: + 44 (0)115 846 8800 Fax: + 44 (0)115 846 8801
© 2005 University of Nottingham Students' Union