Tuition Fees Information 2012/13
Education and learning 2012/13 tuition fees and student finance If you’re starting a higher education course at university or college after 1 September 2012, you may pay more for tuition. You can apply for student grants and loans to help you with your tuition and living costs. Find out what types of financial help are available.
Full-time students Tuition charges From September 2012, most universities and colleges can charge new full-time students £6,000 per year. They can charge a maximum of £9,000 but need to meet strict conditions to ensure that students from all income groups can access their courses.
Before applying for a full-time course you should check how much your tuition will cost with the university or college you're interested in.
If you take a gap year and start your course in 2012/13 instead of 2011/12, your tuition charges will be at the 2012/13 higher rate.
If you’re already on a higher education course your tuition charges will not be as high.
To find out more about tuition charges in 2010/11 and 2011/12 see ‘How much will university or college cost?’.
How much will university or college cost?
Tuition loans A loan to cover tuition charges is available. This is paid directly to your university or college each year of study, once you've registered on your course.
If you’re an EU student from outside the UK studying in England you can apply for a tuition loan if you meet certain conditions. See ‘EU students: what type of finance could you qualify for?’ for further information.
You can apply online for 2012/13 finance from late 2011.
For information about the student loans available in 2010/11 and 2011/12 see ‘Student loans'.
Living Cost Loans A Living Cost or Maintenance Loan is available to help with living costs each year of your course. This is paid into your bank account at the start of each term, once you've registered on your course.
The amount you get depends on where you live and study and your household income.
The maximum Living Cost or Maintenance Loan for students starting in 2012/13 is:
Student Loans
Living Cost Grants
You can also apply for a Living Cost Grant to help you with your living costs each year. You don’t have to pay grants back.
You’ll be entitled to a full grant of £3,250 in 2012/13 if your household income is £25,000 or under.
You’ll be entitled to a partial grant if your household income is between £25,000 and £42,600.
The Living Cost Grant is paid into your bank account at the beginning of each term once you've registered on your course.
For information about the student grants available in 2010/11 and 2011/12 see ‘Student grants'.
Student Grants
Scholarships, bursaries and awards Many universities and colleges offer extra funding that you don’t have to pay back. This includes scholarships and bursaries which are available if you meet the conditions set by your university or college. Some charities and educational trusts also offer grants and awards.
From 2012/13 there will be a new £150m National Scholarship Programme to help students from lower income families. This is still to be finalised.
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants and awards and what is available in 2010/11 and 2011/12 see ‘Bursaries, scholarships and awards’.
Bursaries, scholarships and awards
Extra financial help If you’re disabled or have dependants you may be able to get extra financial help. See ‘Student finance: getting extra help’
Student finance: getting extra help
Part-time students Tuition charges There is currently no maximum rate that universities or colleges can charge for part-time tuition. From 2012/13 a maximum rate will be introduced subject to the approval of Parliament.
Before applying for a part-time course you should check with your university or college how much your tuition is likely to cost.
To find out more about tuition charges in 2010/11 and 2011/12 see ‘How much will university or college cost?’.
How much will university or college cost?
Tuition loans From September 2012 new part-time students can apply for a tuition loan, subject to the approval of Parliament. This will not be dependent on your household income.
Eligibility depends on the 'intensity' of your part-time course being at least 25 per cent of a full-time course. For example, if your course takes six years to complete and the full-time equivalent takes three, the intensity will be 50 per cent. Ask your university or college if you’re not sure.
If you’re on a part-time course that started before 2012/13 you won’t be able to apply for a loan. Instead, you can continue to apply for a Fee Grant and Study Grant, if your household income is under £50,020.
To find out about the student loans and grants available in 2010/11 and 2011/12 see ‘Student loans’ and ‘Student grants’.
Eligibility for student finance To find out if you're eligible for student finance see 'Eligibility for student finance'.
Eligibility for student finance
Repayment of student loans When repayments start Full-time students begin repaying student loans in the April after finishing their course, if they earn over £21,000. From 2017 you will be able to earn more than £21,000 before you begin repaying your loan.
Part-time students studying for more than three years start repayments in the April after they’ve finished three years of study, if they earn over £21,000. This applies even if you are still studying. If you study for less than three years you start repaying your loan in the April after your course finishes if you're earning over £21,000.
If you leave your course early you still have to pay back the loan if you earn more than £21,000, starting in April 2016.
What you’ll pay back If you’re starting a course in 2012/13 you only start paying back your loan when you earn over £21,000. This is subject to the approval of Parliament. If you earn less than £21,000 you don’t make any repayments.
Once you earn over £21,000 you pay nine per cent of your income above £21,000. So if your salary is £25,000, you pay nine per cent of £4,000 which is £30 a month.
Repayments are normally taken automatically from your salary with tax and National Insurance. Separate arrangements are in place with HMRC if you’re self-employed.
How long it takes you to repay the loan depends on the size of your loan and how much you earn. If you haven’t paid the loan off after 30 years you won’t need to make any further repayments.
If you started your course before 1 September 2012 you are not affected by these changes.
Find out more about how and when to repay your student loan in 2010/11 and 2011/12 in ‘Repaying student loans’.
Repaying student loans
Loan interest rates Interest is charged on your loan while you’re studying. Until you start repaying the loan, interest is charged at the rate of inflation plus three percent.
When you're due to start repaying your loan the amount of interest you're charged depends on how much you earn.
You will be charged the following rates of interest:
Education and learning 2012/13 tuition fees and student finance If you’re starting a higher education course at university or college after 1 September 2012, you may pay more for tuition. You can apply for student grants and loans to help you with your tuition and living costs. Find out what types of financial help are available.
Full-time students Tuition charges From September 2012, most universities and colleges can charge new full-time students £6,000 per year. They can charge a maximum of £9,000 but need to meet strict conditions to ensure that students from all income groups can access their courses.
Before applying for a full-time course you should check how much your tuition will cost with the university or college you're interested in.
If you take a gap year and start your course in 2012/13 instead of 2011/12, your tuition charges will be at the 2012/13 higher rate.
If you’re already on a higher education course your tuition charges will not be as high.
To find out more about tuition charges in 2010/11 and 2011/12 see ‘How much will university or college cost?’.
How much will university or college cost?
Tuition loans A loan to cover tuition charges is available. This is paid directly to your university or college each year of study, once you've registered on your course.
If you’re an EU student from outside the UK studying in England you can apply for a tuition loan if you meet certain conditions. See ‘EU students: what type of finance could you qualify for?’ for further information.
You can apply online for 2012/13 finance from late 2011.
For information about the student loans available in 2010/11 and 2011/12 see ‘Student loans'.
Living Cost Loans A Living Cost or Maintenance Loan is available to help with living costs each year of your course. This is paid into your bank account at the start of each term, once you've registered on your course.
The amount you get depends on where you live and study and your household income.
The maximum Living Cost or Maintenance Loan for students starting in 2012/13 is:
- £5,500 if you live away from home and study at a university or college outside London
- £7,675 if you live away from home and study at a university or college in London
- £4,375 if you live at home
Student Loans
Living Cost Grants
You can also apply for a Living Cost Grant to help you with your living costs each year. You don’t have to pay grants back.
You’ll be entitled to a full grant of £3,250 in 2012/13 if your household income is £25,000 or under.
You’ll be entitled to a partial grant if your household income is between £25,000 and £42,600.
The Living Cost Grant is paid into your bank account at the beginning of each term once you've registered on your course.
For information about the student grants available in 2010/11 and 2011/12 see ‘Student grants'.
Student Grants
Scholarships, bursaries and awards Many universities and colleges offer extra funding that you don’t have to pay back. This includes scholarships and bursaries which are available if you meet the conditions set by your university or college. Some charities and educational trusts also offer grants and awards.
From 2012/13 there will be a new £150m National Scholarship Programme to help students from lower income families. This is still to be finalised.
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants and awards and what is available in 2010/11 and 2011/12 see ‘Bursaries, scholarships and awards’.
Bursaries, scholarships and awards
Extra financial help If you’re disabled or have dependants you may be able to get extra financial help. See ‘Student finance: getting extra help’
Student finance: getting extra help
Part-time students Tuition charges There is currently no maximum rate that universities or colleges can charge for part-time tuition. From 2012/13 a maximum rate will be introduced subject to the approval of Parliament.
Before applying for a part-time course you should check with your university or college how much your tuition is likely to cost.
To find out more about tuition charges in 2010/11 and 2011/12 see ‘How much will university or college cost?’.
How much will university or college cost?
Tuition loans From September 2012 new part-time students can apply for a tuition loan, subject to the approval of Parliament. This will not be dependent on your household income.
Eligibility depends on the 'intensity' of your part-time course being at least 25 per cent of a full-time course. For example, if your course takes six years to complete and the full-time equivalent takes three, the intensity will be 50 per cent. Ask your university or college if you’re not sure.
If you’re on a part-time course that started before 2012/13 you won’t be able to apply for a loan. Instead, you can continue to apply for a Fee Grant and Study Grant, if your household income is under £50,020.
To find out about the student loans and grants available in 2010/11 and 2011/12 see ‘Student loans’ and ‘Student grants’.
Eligibility for student finance To find out if you're eligible for student finance see 'Eligibility for student finance'.
Eligibility for student finance
Repayment of student loans When repayments start Full-time students begin repaying student loans in the April after finishing their course, if they earn over £21,000. From 2017 you will be able to earn more than £21,000 before you begin repaying your loan.
Part-time students studying for more than three years start repayments in the April after they’ve finished three years of study, if they earn over £21,000. This applies even if you are still studying. If you study for less than three years you start repaying your loan in the April after your course finishes if you're earning over £21,000.
If you leave your course early you still have to pay back the loan if you earn more than £21,000, starting in April 2016.
What you’ll pay back If you’re starting a course in 2012/13 you only start paying back your loan when you earn over £21,000. This is subject to the approval of Parliament. If you earn less than £21,000 you don’t make any repayments.
Once you earn over £21,000 you pay nine per cent of your income above £21,000. So if your salary is £25,000, you pay nine per cent of £4,000 which is £30 a month.
Repayments are normally taken automatically from your salary with tax and National Insurance. Separate arrangements are in place with HMRC if you’re self-employed.
How long it takes you to repay the loan depends on the size of your loan and how much you earn. If you haven’t paid the loan off after 30 years you won’t need to make any further repayments.
If you started your course before 1 September 2012 you are not affected by these changes.
Find out more about how and when to repay your student loan in 2010/11 and 2011/12 in ‘Repaying student loans’.
Repaying student loans
Loan interest rates Interest is charged on your loan while you’re studying. Until you start repaying the loan, interest is charged at the rate of inflation plus three percent.
When you're due to start repaying your loan the amount of interest you're charged depends on how much you earn.
You will be charged the following rates of interest:
- if you earn less than £21,000 – interest at the rate of inflation
- if you earn between £21,000-£41,000 – interest at the rate of inflation plus up to three per cent
- if you earn over £41,000 – interest at the rate of inflation plus three per cent