Undergraduate
Funding Guide
Content
PLEASE NOTE
The information in this booklet is based on the best information available at the time of publishing. However, such information is subject to change, often with very little notice. Please refer to the websites of the funding providers for up to date information (page 6). To discuss your individual circumstances, please contact the Student Support Centre.
The figures in this booklet relate to English and Welsh domiciled students starting University in 2014-15. However we don’t expect there to be many changes for 2015-16. These figures will give an estimate of the support available in 2015-16. Students from Scotland, Northern Ireland or The
European Union can refer to the following websites for more information:
Students who normally live in Scotland: www.saas.gov.uk
Students who normally live in Northern Ireland: www.studentfinanceni.co.uk Students from non-UK EU countries: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
This guide does not detail funding for NHS courses. If you would like information about funding for an NHS course, please contact the Advice & Money Team February 2014 Edition Tuition Fees 2 Living Costs 3-4 Additional Support 5 Applying 6 Budgeting 7-8
Cost of Living in Cardiff 9
Tuition Fees
Cardiff University will be charging £9,000 Tuition Fees for Full time Undergraduate Courses in 2014/15
Eligible students won’t have to pay tuition fees up-front, or while they are studying. Instead, students will be able to defer payment of fees by taking out a non means-tested Tuition Fee Loan, which they repay in exactly the same way as the Maintenance Loan when earning over £21,000 per year. The Tuition Fee Loan is available to cover the whole amount of fees being charged. The money will be paid direct to the university in 3 termly instalments to cover the cost of the fees. However, if students don’t want to take out the Tuition Fee Loan and want to pay the fees upfront, the university will make arrangements to do this.
Welsh Domiciled Students:
Eligible students who normally live in Wales benefit from a Tuition Fee Grant
wherever they study in the UK. Tuition fees for Welsh domiciled students are the same as English domiciled students. However, Welsh domiciled students will only be liable for the first £3,685 of their fees, for which they can take a Tuition Fee Loan. The Welsh Government pay the remaining fees direct to the university via a non means tested Tuition Fee Grant.
To receive the maximum amount of Tuition Fee Grant, your fee liability must be the maximum £9,000. You need to apply for the Tuition Fee Grant, as this grant is not awarded automatically.
Household Income (sample)
Maintenance Grant
Maintenance Loan Total per year
Up to £25,000 £3,387 £3,862 £7,249 £35,000 £1,494 £4,808 £6,302 £45,000 £0 £5,341 £5,341 £62,132+ £0 £3,610 £3,610 non means tested 62% of max Maintenance Loan English Domiciled Students
Support towards living costs
The amount of support available to you towards your living costs depends on your household income. For students studying in 2015-16, it will be based on the household income in 2013-14 tax year. The support available comes in two forms: a Maintenance Grant (non repayable) and a Maintenance Loan (repayable).
Your Maintenance Loan and Maintenance Grant will be paid to you in 3 instalments, usually in September (once you have enrolled), January and April.
Maintenance Grant
*These figures are based on 14/15 academic year where students are living away from
the parental home and studying outside London.
Welsh Domiciled Students Welsh Government Learning Grant Maintenance Loan
Support towards living costs
The amount of support available to you towards your living costs depends on your household income. For students studying in 2015-16, it will be based on the
household income in 2013-14 tax year. The support available comes in two forms: an Welsh Government Learning Grant (non repayable) and a Maintenance Loan (repayable).
Your Maintenance Loan and Maintenance Grant will be paid to you in 3 instalments, usually in September (once you have enrolled), January and April.
Household Income (Sample)
Welsh Government Learning Grant
Maintenance Loan Total per year
Up to £18,370 £5,161 £2,622 £7,783 £25,000 £3,347 £3,529 £6,876 £34,000 £1,142 £4,631 £5,773 £50,020 £50 £5,177 £5,227 £57,257+ £0 £3,902 £3,902 non means tested 75% of max
** Where the Household Income is higher there is an expectation that parent(s) will contribute towards the students cost of living..
*These figures are based on 14/15 academic year where students are living away from the parental home and studying outside London.
Additional Funding
Additional Statutory Funding
Extra grants are available to students, depending on their individual circumstances. For example, Childcare Grant, Parent’s Learning Allowance and Adult Dependants Grant. These forms of additional support are dependent on household income. To apply, please complete the relevant sections of the PN1 form.
You apply for these extra grants on the same application form as you use to apply for Tuition Fee support, a Maintenance Loan and Maintenance Grant/ Assembly Learning Grant (see page 6).
In addition, there is also Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) which provides funding for extra costs incurred due to a disability or specific learning need. When applying for a course through UCAS please disclose your disability or a specific learning need. The DSA is not dependent on household income.
For more information, check your funding body website or contact the Disability and Dyslexia Service at Cardiff University on
029 2087 4844 or email [email protected].
Cardiff University in 2014/15 will be offering a £1,000 bursary to students who are being charged £9,000 tuition fees and have an household income of under £50,020. Cardiff University Scholarships change each academic year. For up to date information please check the University website:
www.cardiff.ac.uk/scholarships
Students do not need to apply separately for the Bursaries and Scholarships, Student Finance and/or UCAS shares information with us.
Applying
You will need to apply for funding every year of your course. The application process usually opens in January/ February before the academic year you start your course.
You can apply via one of the following funding bodies, depending on where you were normally living prior to starting your course.
You can apply online, download an application form or request a hard copy be sent to you. The form you need to complete is a PN1 form. You have until the end of May of your academic year after enrolment to apply. However, for
funding to be available shortly after you enrol, please apply before the deadlines given by your funding body. (April for Welsh domicile students, May for English domicile students)
Please remember, students need to apply for funding each academic year.
Domicile in England
www.gov.uk/student-finance
Domicile in Wales
www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
Domicile in Scotland
www.saas.gov.uk
Domicile in Northern
Ireland
Budgeting:
Use a budget sheet each week/ month/ term to help plan your finances in three easy steps.
Step 1: Fill in the income section
Step 2: Fill in the essential expenditure section
Step 3: Put your TOTAL INCOME and your TOTAL ESSENTIAL EXPENDITURE figures in to the MATHS section. Take away the expenditure from income. This is your income for fun stuff.
Be honest and realistic about your costs and spending!
Details of Hall Fees are available on the University website: www.cardiff.ac.uk
Step 1: Income
Term
Month
Week
Maintenance Loan
Maintenance Grant
University Bursary (paid in 2
ndterm)
Scholarship (paid Nov & Feb)
Other Grants (PLA, ADG, Childcare)
Part time work
Money from parents
Savings
Other Income
Total Income
Step 2: Essential Expenditure
Term
Month
Week
Hall fees
Insurance
Television Licence
Food
Toiletries & Laundry
Clothes
Books /Stationery/Printing/
Existing debts
Next year’s house deposit
Dentist/Optician/ other
Travel Home
Fresher’s week money
Family Costs (Childcare, dinner
mon-Other
Total Expenditure
Step 3: The Maths
Term
Month
Week
Total step 1
Total Step 2
Total Step 1—Total Step 2 = total to
spend on non essentials
Cost of Living in Cardiff
The table below is based on the average costs for living in Cardiff. The
costs will vary depending on individual priorities, but should give you
an idea of the income you will need to maintain a reasonable budget.
* this is the average hall price for 2013/14 academic year.
Many students work part-time while they are studying as this can be a
good way of increasing your disposable income, and also improving
your CV. Cardiff University recommends that students do not work for
more than 15 hours a week during term-time.
Average Living Costs for an Academic Year:
Halls (incl bills) *
£3,500
Food
£1,300
Toiletries/Laundry
£195
Books/photocopying
£340
Travel (incl. travel home)
£350
Phone, T.V, Insurance
£330
Social/Leisure
£1,150
Clothes
£300
Student Loan Repayment
The Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan are repaid together. The
repayment structure depends on your future earnings, not how much
you have borrowed. You will not start paying back your student loans
until you have left university and are earning over £21,000 (gross) per
annum. Your repayments will be 9% of your income over £21,000.
Repayment Calculator:
Annual Income Monthly repayments
There is interest on the Loan (RPI + up to 3%). The Government will
write off all student loan balances which are left unpaid 30 years after
a student finished or left a course, as long as the conditions of the
original loan agreement are met.
Welsh Domiciled students: Your total Maintenance Loan can be
reduced by up to £1,500 see:
www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk/
Up to £21,000 £25,000 £30,000 £35,000 £40,000 Nil £30 £67.50 £105 £142.50
Advice and Money at the Student Support Centre
We offer advice and guidance on a range of matters including student funding and related academic issues, welfare, housing, childcare, money and additional funding.
We are part of a comprehensive system of support within the university which includes Counselling, Wellbeing, Disability and Dyslexia, International Student Services and The Academic and Skills Development Centre. These services are all available at the Student Support Centre, which helps students make the most of their time at university. Further information can be found on our website:
