Funding
your studies
2016 entry
intRoduction
this guide will help you understand the cost of studying and
living in london. it also covers what help is available from the
uK government and from imperial if you choose to study here.
money matters
Home students whose household income remains below this level automatically qualify for an imperial Bursary for every year of their course. see pages 14–15 for details.
£60,000
iMPeriaL
Measures
the amount of support provided by imperial for undergraduate scholarships in 2015–16.
£1 MiLLion+
an internationaLLy
recognised QuaLification
We’re ranked the joint second-best university in the world in the Qs World university rankings 2014.for graduate prospects by The Complete University Guide 2016. imperial is also one of the top 10 most-oft en targeted universities by The Times top 100 graduate employers looking for new recruits (the graduate market in 2015).
ranKed no. 1
Living in London:
the reaLity
P4–5, 8–11
thousands of students choose to invest in a university education in london every year. see our guide to living costs at imperial and how it’s possible to enjoy life in the capital without blowing your budget.schoLarshiPs and
usefuL resources
P16–19
our president’s undergraduate scholarships scheme is for students of any nationality; we also off er a number of other scholarships and useful resources to help you plan for student life.tuition fees
and funding
P6–7, 12–13
find out how much it costs to study at imperial and information about the funding available from the uK government. this includes tuition fee loans for Home and eu students and maintenance loans for Home students.iMPeriaL bursary
for hoMe students
P14–15
the imperial Bursary is one of the most generous schemes of its kind of any uK university, providing support for Home students with annual household incomes up to £60,000 for every year of their course.
London is ranked as the best student city in the UK and third best in the world in the QS Best Student Cities 2015 rankings. Find out why it remains such an attractive choice for students on pages 4–5.
why london?
each year, thousands of
students come to london.
Here are some of the reasons
why they decide investing in
a university education in the
capital is worth every penny.
The reputation of London’s
graduates came joint top in a
Qs survey* of employers worldwide, who were asked to identify the universities they believe produce the best graduates.*Qs Best student cities 2015
No.1
you’ll be ideally placed to attend interviews for work placements and graduate roles. Britain’s top graduate employers expect to fill 31% of their 2015 entry-level positions with graduates who have already worked for their organisations, either through paid internships, industrial placements or vacation work experience.
the graduate market in 2015 High fliers report
you don’t just have to rely on the academic facilities within the college, you’ll also have access to world class facilities across the city, including over 380 public libraries and over 170 museums. three of the world’s best museums are on imperial’s doorstep (the natural History, science, and Victoria & albert museums) and all have free entry.
Home students studying in london are entitled to bigger living cost loans from
the uK government than students elsewhere in the uK. the imperial Bursary – in addition to this – is one of the most generous in the sector. see pages 14–15.
london is a truly global city, welcoming students from over 200 nations who contribute to the city’s mix of over 300 languages. you’ll have the chance to develop a global friendship network, while the huge choice of shops, restaurants and cultures means that no matter where you’re from, it’s easy to find the comforts of home.
83% of graduate vacancies
in the uK are based in London
a capital investment
cLose ProXiMity to
britain’s toP eMPLoyers
no. 1 for
graduate
eMPLoyMent
in The Guardian University Guide 2016 for the percentage of our recent graduates who found graduate-level jobs or entered further study within six months of graduating (89.9%).
our close proximity to so many of the world’s top employers paves the way for guest lectures from top industry experts, in-course placements, industry-inspired project work and exciting careers. you’ll also have a head start over students in other cities as you start to build a network of useful contacts.
london
on V
tuition fees
fee status
the main criteria for Home student status (set by the uK government) are:
fyou’re a uK national
or have ‘settled status’ (no restrictions on how long you can stay) on 1 september of the year of entry; and
fyou’ve been living in the uK
for three years continuously before starting your course, providing that wasn’t solely for the purpose of receiving full-time education. for the latest information
see our fees and funding website:
www.imperial.ac.uk/ fees-and-funding/ug
* some degrees may include compulsory field trips, which carry an additional cost for accommodation and transport – contact the department for details.
fees for hoMe/eu
students
tuition fees for Home/eu undergraduate students are regulated by the uK government – see left.
overseas
student fees
overseas student fees vary per course – see our fees and funding website for details. We also recommend contacting your ministry of education or British council education advisor for information on what funding your government may be able to provide towards your tuition fees or living costs.
no fees to Pay
uPfront for hoMe
and eu students
Tuition Fee Loans are available to
all Home and EU students from the UK government to cover every year of study; repayments only start after you graduate, are in employment and earning over £21,000/year – see page 13. This is paid directly to your chosen university by the Student Loans Company each year you apply for a loan.
tuition fee discounts
The College offers significant discounts on its tuition fees for study abroad years which directly replace time at Imperial. Reductions also apply for years in industry and research. See the Tuition Fees section within our Fees and Funding website for details (see link left).
aLready coMPLeted
a degree?
Home/EU students who have already completed an undergraduate degree may be classed as an Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) student. ELQ students are not entitled to government support and may pay a higher tuition fee rate. Certain exemptions apply to some students and subjects, including many at Imperial. We will assess your ELQ status as part of the admissions process. Imperial does not currently charge higher fees to ELQ students.
www.educationuk.org
www.imperial.ac.uk/ study/ug/apply/ fee-status
per year is the tuition fee for Home and EU students starting at the college in 2016.
is the standard length of imperial
undergraduate courses; we charge tuition fees for every year that your course lasts.
4 years
Tuition fees cover everything you
need to gain your degree*. This ranges
from the cost of teaching from expert
staff to 24/7 library facilities and
trained librarians who can help you
make the most of them.
tuition fees
living costs
WeeKly 39 WeeKs
accommodation and utilities:
college halls of residence*
or private-sector housing £168† £155 £6,552 £6,045 food £50 £1,950 travel≠ £28 £888
personal and leisure £50 £1,950 Books and course costs £10 £390
Total £293 or £306 £11,223 or £11,730
Approximate living costs
Below is a rough guide to the costs involved in living at imperial in relative comfort for one academic year (39 weeks). don’t forget that this cost does not include your tuition fees. tuition fee loans are available for all Home and eu students so you do not need to have the money upfront – see page 6.
in reality how much you spend will depend on your lifestyle, whether you’re living at home or away, and how good you are at sticking to a budget. your budget needs to be sufficiently detailed to avoid any unwelcome surprises, including allowing for inflationary rises in costs such as rent and travel.
52-week contracts are standard in private accommodation so you will need to budget for the entire year (not just
39 weeks) if you’re not staying in college accommodation or you’re not planning to go home during the holidays.
* Based on prices for 2015–16. costs for 2016–17 will be displayed on our website once confirmed.
† this £168 average cost includes a £2 weekly contribution to the activities fund. ≠ Zones 1–3 with 18+ student oyster photocard.
Living costs cover
things like your rent,
food, books, travel and
leisure activities while
you’re studying.
living costs
for tips on managing your money see:
www.imperial.ac.uk/ fees-and-funding/living-costs
is the maximum means-tested Maintenance Loan amount available to help Home students
with their living costs – see page 12.
of undergraduates choose to live in our halls of residence in their first year, with 63% of college rents costing less than the average in private-sector housing.
90%+
why london?
Make the most of London’s huge choice of free cultural activities, from a trip round one of the city’s 850+ art galleries (many with free entry) to a day out at one of its free festivals, including Europe’s largest street festival, the Notting Hill Carnival.
you’ll get a 30% discount on certain
season tickets and travelcards with an 18+ student oyster photocard.
Your student card gives you access to discounts across the city. Use sites like www.studentbeans.com for a round up of the best deals.
Nine of the UK’s top 10 visitor attractions are in London. eight
of them are free to visit including: the British museum, national gallery, natural History museum, science museum, Victoria and albert museum and somerset House.
association of leading Visitor attractions (alVa), 2014
With close to 800, London is home to a fi ft h of all of the UK’s cinema screens so you’ll be spoilt for choice. But if money’s
tight, you can catch the latest blockbusters at our very own cinema on campus at a discounted rate. the imaX cinema at the neighbouring science museum is also free for imperial students at non-peak times.
Secure discounted theatre tickets by
hunting out the West end theatres that off er heavily discounted tickets on the day of the performance. shakespeare’s globe theatre on the south Bank also off ers standing tickets from £5. All Imperial students
enjoy free access to on-campus gym and swimming facilities. A one-off induction fee (£40 in 2015–16) applies if you wish to use the gym.
Budget london
With access to hundreds of
discounts, being a student in
london is one of the most cost
eff ective ways to do it. and with
sensible planning it’s possible
to enjoy much of what the
capital has to off er without
blowing your budget.
there are many 24-hour bus routes and a 24-hour weekend tube service from 2015 so nights out rarely require a taxi home.
london on V iew london on V iew london on V iew london on V iew london on V iew
eXaMPLe
* the government is currently holding a consultation on freezing the repayment threshold for five years.
† Home, eu and overseas students, dHle survey march 2015
funding
maintenance grants will no longer be available for lower income students from england from 2016. instead they will be replaced with more generous means-tested Maintenance Loans that
are 10.3% higher than the maximum
maintenance grant and loan support available for eligible students from low income households in 2015–16. grants (which don’t have to be paid back) will still be available (Home students only) in 2016 for disabled students, full-time students who financially support an adult (adult dependants) and students requiring childcare so it’s worth exploring the full range of help that you may be eligible for.
if you receive a tuition fee loan (see page 6), a means-tested maintenance loan (see left) or both from the uK government via the student loans company you only need to start paying it/them back once you:
fhave graduated fare in employment fare earning over
£21,000 per year
what you earn,
not what you owe
the amount you pay back each month is linked to how much you’re earning above the repayment threshold, not on the combined amount of the loans themselves. this means that how much you owe in total, including
any interest added over time, will have no effect on your monthly repayments.
the loans will attract a small rate of interest, even while you’re studying, but the rate is more competitive than commercial loans.
current aVerage starting
salary for imperial graduates £29,428/year†
amount you’re earning
oVer tHe tHresHold £8,428
amount you repay
(9% of £8,428) £63.21/month
government funding
rePaying your Loans
Student loans repayment
Current threshold for repayment:
£21,000*Repayments:
calculated at 9% of the amount you’re earning over the threshold
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 < £16k £25k £30k £35k £40k £42.6k £45k £50k £55k £60k 5,000 15,702 14,702 14,181 13,658 13,136 12,862 12,590 9,440 8,865 10,702 10,702 10,181 9,658 9,136 8,862 8,590 8,014 7,440 6,865 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 2,000 11,014 imperial Bursary
government maintenance loan cost of living in london (£11,522)
from 2016 the maximum loan amount for Home students studying in London with
household incomes of £25,000 or less a year will be:
f£10,702 per year if you’re
studying away from home
f£6,904 per year if you’re
living at home
f£9,391 per year if you’re
studying overseas as part of your course
these loans are paid direct to your bank account by the student loans company in three instalments (one per term) each year.
funding
annual HouseHold
income are eligiBle for (per year)amount Home students £0 – £16,000 £5,000 £16,001–£50,000 £4,000 £50,001–£55,000 £3,000 £55,001–£60,000 £2,000
Imperial Bursary 2016–17
please note: graduate medicine students are not eligible for the imperial Bursary. exclusions also apply to repeat years of study and nHs-funded years for medical courses.
imperial Bursary
baLancing the cost
of London Living
the imperial Bursary is designed to ease the cost of london living by providing support on a sliding scale to Home students with
household incomes up to £60,000 per year.
the Bursary is based solely on financial need to make sure that finance is not a barrier to any Home student who has the potential to succeed at imperial. as long as your household income remains below £60,000, you will automatically qualify for a Bursary for every year of study. the Bursary is designed to complement government’s funding so it’s paid on top of any government loans to
which you’re already entitled. unlike government funding, which is normally paid in three annual instalments, the Bursary is paid in equal monthly instalments throughout the year.
how do i aPPLy?
there is no separate application process – the college uses the financial information you provide to your regional funding body e.g. student finance england for students from england to assess what bursary you may be eligible for.
More than 45%
of first year Home students received
an imperial Bursary towards their living costs in 2014–15.
does it need to be rePaid?
no.
is there a deadLine?
We must receive your household income information from the student loans company by 1 may after the start of the academic year e.g. 1 may 2017 for students starting in october 2016.
www.imperial.ac.uk/ fees-and-funding/ imperial-bursary
unlike government loans, the imperial Bursary does not have to be repaid, and with monthly instalments throughout the academic year your budget will receive a regular boost.
bursaries are awarded
autoMaticaLLy for every
year your course Lasts
as long as your annual household income remains below £60,000.funding
scholarships
Rewarding academic potential
the president’s undergraduate scholarships are designed to reward the most talented students of any nationality, by providing £1,000 for every year that their course lasts. each department will nominate their best candidates for consideration based on their academic potential as demonstrated in their ucas application and interview/test performance (where relevant) – there is no separate application process.the scholarship will be paid direct to your bank account in one go at the start of the academic term (from 7 november onwards).
does it need to be rePaid?
no.
£1,000
for every year that yourcourse lasts.
are available in 2016–17 – scholarships will be awarded to the most promising students in each department.
£1 MiLLion+
the amount of support provided by imperial for undergraduate scholarships in 2015–16.
112 awards
www.imperial.ac.uk/ fees-and-funding/ presidents-scholarshipsPresident’s undergraduate
schoLarshiPs scheMe
oPen to aLL
Applicants of any nationality are eligibleto be nominated for a scholarship.
a president’s scholarship has
encouraged and enabled me to broaden my
horizons at imperial and pursue my interests,
both academically and otherwise.”
student finance caLcuLator
an online tool for Home students to help you estimate the imperial Bursary and government support you’re eligible for:
www.imperial.ac.uk/ fees-and-funding/calculator
ProfessionaL advice
and guidance
available at imperial before and after you arrive – see the back cover for contact details. current students can also drop by imperial college union’s advice centre for confidential advice from an independent advisor.
student suPPort fund
emergency, one-off help up to £2,000 to cover unexpected costs and bills for students who experience an unforeseen change in their financial circumstances.
schoLarshiPs search tooL
search all our scholarships in one place:
www.imperial.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/ scholarships-search
subject
schoLarshiPs
our academic departments offer a range of scholarships. the amount offered varies depending on the award. eligibility criteria also usually apply.
ash Music
schoLarshiPs
exceptional musicians (grade 8 distinction) may be eligible for an ash music scholarship for the chance to have instrumental or vocal lessons at the neighbouring royal college of music.www.imperial.ac.uk/sports/ studentsport/scholarships www.imperial.ac.uk/ arts/music/ musicawards search our scholarships: www.imperial.ac.uk/ fees-and-funding/ scholarships-search
useful resources
sPorts schoLarshiPs
students who are aspiring to be, or already are, competing at national or international level may be eligible for a sports scholarship. these cover a mixture of financial and practical support. www .m ar athon-p hot os.c om
iMPeriaL hoMe soLutions
an imperial-owned property search site exclusively for our students:
www.imperialhomesolutions.co.uk
London rents MaP
plan ahead with this useful overview of rent rates across london:
www.london.gov.uk/rents
through the scholarship
i got access to a personal
triathlon coach throughout the
year. it’s also helped with race
entry fees to bigger races, such
as the geneva european sprint
championships in July 2015.”
imogen simmonds, gBr triathlete and imperial topsports scholar
got a Question?
Contact Imperial
scholarships, bursaries and
government-funded fi nancial support
t
+44 (0)20 7594 9014 [email protected] tuition feest
+44 (0)20 7594 8011 [email protected] www.imperial.ac.uk/ fees-and-funding/ugthe information in this guide is current at the time of going to press (september 2015). the fi gures provided are for guidance purposes only – the latest information is available at:
www.imperial.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/ug
alternative formats of this guide are available on request from [email protected]
Regional funding bodies
student finance englandt
0300 100 0607www.gov.uk/student-fi nance student finance northern ireland
t
0300 100 0077www.studentfi nanceni.co.uk student awards agency for scotland
t
0300 555 0505 www.saas.gov.uk student finance Walest
0300 200 4050www.studentfi nancewales.co.uk funding advice for eu students student finance services non uK team
