Student Wellbeing Services
Student Funding Service
Funding Menu
UK Students - Government Undergraduate Funding
Frequently Asked Questions
Government (Statutory) Funding – 2011 entry
All amounts quoted are correct as August 2011
Q1) What help can I get toward my living costs?
Q2) How much do I need to live on?
Q3) How is my undergraduate student (living cost) loan paid?
Q4) What will the tuition (course) fees cost?
Q5) What support can I get for tuition fees?
Q6) Do I pay interest on my loans for living costs / tuition fees?
Q7) When / how do I have to repay my loan(s)?
Q8) Is there any subject specific funding available?
Q9) What if I run into financial difficulty during the year?
Q10) Will I be classed as an independent student?
Q11) What support is available towards childcare for students at University?
Q12) What University awards are available?
Q13) How long will it be before I here the outcome of my application to the Access to Learning Fund?
Q14) I’ve run out of money, what do I do?
Q15) I haven’t received my student loan?
Q16) Other useful web sites
Q1) What help can I get toward my living costs?
Government help (for new UK undergraduate students 2011)
• Student Loan maximum £4,950 (£3,564 [72%] non-means tested; £1,386 [28%] means tested) for full-time non-final year undergraduates. http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/studentloan.htm
• Higher Education Maintenance Grant (HEMG - non-repayable) It is a means tested grant of between £2,906 and £50 paid on a sliding scale where income is between £25,000 and £50,020. It is paid in 3 instalments with your student loan. http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/livingcosts.htm
• Plus other Grants for students with dependants or a disability.
NB: If you have completed a degree there is no Government help available for 2nd degrees, although there may be some help if you failed to complete your first course. The only exception for students who have completed first degrees and wish to underatke a 2nd degree at Lancaster is for students applying for A105 (Medecine)
Q2) How much do I need to live on?
For living costs and budgeting guidance please see: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/costsandbudgeting.htm
For the academic year we estimate that, for living expenses alone, you will need approximately £6,720 as a single undergraduate student.
Q3) How is my undergraduate student loan paid?
First instalment is paid 3-4 days after confirmation of enrolment from University to the Student Loan Company. Payment is made by BACS (Bank Automated Clearing System) in termly instalments. The payment schedule letter from the Student Loan Company will show the dates and amounts of payments due for your loan and any other grants you are due to receive, e.g. Higher Education Maintenance Grant etc.
Q4) What will the tuition (course) fees cost?
Undergraduates (UK/EU Full-time)
2011 - £3,375 p.a.
Q5) What support can I get for tuition fees?
For UK/EU students there is a non means tested tuition fee loan available. The amount you apply to borrow is paid directly to the University by the Student Loan Company. Please see: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/feeloan.htm You will be responsible for paying the difference between the fee loan borrowed (received by the University) and the total tuition fees payable.
Q6) Do I pay interest on my loans for living costs / tuition fees?
Yes, the interest rate is set annually, currently it is 1.5% (September 2010). Your living cost / tuition fee loans start to accrue interest from the date on which they are paid.
Pease see: http://www.slc.co.uk/statistics/facts/
Q7) When / how do I have to repay my loan(s)?
You only have to start repaying your loan in the April following graduation or withdrawal, providing you are earning above the relevant threshold (UK students = £15,000.) The rate of repayment is 9% of any income above this threshold.
For example
• If you started earning £16,000 you would pay 9% of £1000 = £90 per year or £7.50 per month.
• If you earned £25,000 it would be 9% of £10,000 = £900 per year or £75.00 per month
For EU rates see: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/international/eufeeloan.htm
Q8) Is there any subject specific funding available?
Most Government support for UK students applies equally for all subjects, for exceptions to this please see http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/otherfunding.htm
Q9) What if I run into financial difficulty during the year?
Undergraduate home UK students
ALF (Access to Learning Fund) – please see web page http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/alf.htm
Emergency loans – please contact Student Funding Service (telephone 5-92525 or email us to make an appointment with a Student Adviser.
College loans - please see your College secretary
Undergraduate international students
Student Aid Fund (crisis only – grant or loan) – please contact Student Based Services
Tel: (5) 92524 or email us to make an appointment with our International Student Adviser
Q10) Will I be classed as an independant student?
You will be classed as independant if
- you no longer live with your parents
- you married before the start of the academic year (classed as before 1st September by SFE/SFNI/SFW/SAAS)
- you have no living parents
- have supported yourself for at least three years
- you have a dependant child born before 1st September of relevant academic year
Q11) What support is available towards childcare for students at University?
UK Undergraduate
See: http://www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance or http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/livingcosts.htm
Q12) What University awards are available?
University awards – please see web page
http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/unifunding.htm
For other awards please see: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/funding
Q13) What if I cannot manage on the financial support I receive, where can I get help and how long does it take?
The University has discretionary funds to help students in financial difficulty. This fund is called the Access to Learning Fund (previously called the hardship fund). For full details see: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/alf.htm
(If you a UK student in immiediate difficulty you can usually get help within 24 hours)
Q14) I’ve run out of money, what do I do?
Approach your College Administrator or Student Based Services Office ext. 92525 to make an appointment to discuss an emergency loan.
Q15) I haven’t received my student loan, what can I do?
Check with the SFE/SFN/SFW/SAAS that you have supplied all the correct information. If you still have any problems contact the Student Funding Service at Lancaster University, telephone ext: 94848 or 92525 to make an appointment or to discuss.
Q16) Other useful web sites –
Student finance websites
Direct Gov www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
UCAS www.ucas.com/studentfinance/index.html
Lancaster University - Student Funding Service, based within Colleges & Student Life, Student Based Services: www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding
The Finance helpline: 01524 594848
email. studentfunding(at)lancaster.ac.uk
