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University Awards - Frequently Asked Questions - Bursaries & Scholarships 2011-12

The information below applies to students who qualify for these financial awards in 2011.

New UK students meeting the scholarship scheme criteria in 2011-12 receive a scholarship for their first year only. The bursary scheme is applicable to all years of study. Continuing students remain on the scheme which applied to their year of entry.

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The FAQ's below relate to the above centrally administered University awards dealt with post registration by the Student Funding Service. Students with any queries regarding these awards should contact The Base, A-Floor, University House (next to reception) where a member of staff will consult a student funding adviser.

IMPORTANT:-

i) We automatically assess for financial awards where we have the information necessary to calculate an award. Email confirmation is usually sent out to students at the end of week 2 of the first term (See Q12)

ii) You must register with the University in each academic year for us to be able to calculate and notify you of any award eligibility.

iii) All awards are paid in one instalment in February 2012.

iv) We reserve the right not to pay any award at our discretion. Any award paid in error is repayable and may be reclaimed.

v) University policy on these financial awards may be subject to change.

vi) If you are in your first year with us your student loan assessment with Student Finance England/NI/Wales/Scotland must be Final.  (See Q19)

vii) You and your parent(s)/sponsor(s) must not opt out of data sharing between the Student Loan Company and University on your Government funding application.(See Q12)

viii) These awards do not apply to students undertaking medicine.

Q1) What awards are available?
Q2) Which students are eligible to receive the new awards?
Q3) Are non-UK students eligible for these awards?
Q4) How many awards can I receive at once?
Q5) How will I know if the subject I choose to study attracts an LU Subject award?
Q6) How will I know what I have to do to gain and retain a scholarship?
Q7) How will I know whether I will get an LU Bursary?
Q8) What happens if I defer entry?
Q9) How much is each award per year?
Q10) What can I use the award money for?
Q11) If I fit the award criteria do I need to apply?
Q12) When will any awards be confirmed and paid?
Q13) How will any awards be paid?
Q14) What happens if I change course?
Q15) What happens if I restart, intercalate, or withdraw from my course?
Q16) What if I am a mature student with non-traditional entry qualifications - will I still be able to receive these awards?
Q17) What happens if there is changing or UNVERIFIED income for bursary purposes?
Q18) Can I receive an LU Bursary if consent to share income data is not given or I choose not to be financially assessed?
Q19) What happens if the financial assessment is provisional? (not final)
Q20) What if I am on a year abroad or placement as part of my course - will i still receive any award to which I would normally be eligible?
Q21) What happens if I have University debt which is outstanding and overdue and I am due to receive an award(s)?
Q22) Where can I read general guidance / award regulations?
Q23) What if I have further questions?

Q1. What awards are available?

A: There are two main awards to help eligible new UK students meet study related costs. These are LU Bursaries and LU Scholarships.

There are also a small number of other awards detailed at: www.lancs.ac.uk/funding

Q2. Which students are eligible to receive the new awards?

A: Selected students entering from 2006 who satisfy the award conditions below and pay £3000+ tuition fees.

Bursaries are income based awards available to UK undergraduate students taking first degrees with verified assessed household income between the relevant thresholds.

Scholarships are academic merit based awards available to UK undergraduate students taking first degrees in the specified subjects, who make the University their UCAS firm choice (CF) AND who meet the scholarship grade levels. Students who enter through clearing are not eligible for these awards. All grades must be achieved at the first sitting and instance of A-level or equivalent exams (see also FAQ6 remarks). Grades must exactly match the scholarship offer letter, equivalent points will not be accepted. For example a scholarship offer AAA requires AAA from any three A-Levels, if you achieve A*AB (points eqivalent) you would not qualify.

NB:

a) Islands students - (students from the Isle of Man and Channel Islands) are not eligible for bursary awards, but are eligible for scholarships.

b) Students who have already completed a degree and therefore do not qualify for repeat Government funding (ELQ students) are ineligible for these University scholarships and bursaries.

Q3. Are non-UK students eligible for LU Bursaries or LU Scholarships?

A. No, non-UK (i.e. Other EU & International students) students do not eligible for these awards. For details of other awards see: www.lancs.ac.uk/funding

Q4. How many awards can I receive at once?

A: Two - Potentially a LU bursary AND an LU Scholarship, providing you meet the conditions for each.

Q5. How will I know if the subject I choose to study attracts an award?

A: The Undergraduate prospectus has information on the financial assistance available. From 2009 when applying through UCAS you can apply for financial support and use "My Fact Find" to see awards offered by the Universities you wish to apply to.

From 2008 onward all Lancaster undergraduate full time courses carried LU Scholarships for new UK full time students who make the University firm UCAS choice and meet the scholarship grade conditions.

The Undergraduate Admissions Office will send you a financial award offer letter detailing financial awards and conditions. Awards will be confirmed by email post entry by the the Student Funding Service, Colleges and Student Life, University House. (also see Q11)

(Bursaries are not subject specific.)

Q6. How will I know what I have to do to gain and retain a scholarship?

A: The grades required for the LU scholarship will be specified in the financial awards offer letter sent to you by the Undergraduate Admissions Office at Lancaster University.

For students who started in 2011 and who who met the scholarship grade levels specified and made the University firm choice the value of the scholarship was an annual award of £1,000 in the first year only.

For previous year entrants a test of satisfactory academic progress applies.

Scholarship grade levels may vary between courses and entry years and do not always remain the same.

• Grades acheieved must exactly match the scholarship offer letter, equivalent points will not be accepted. For example a scholarship offer A*AA requires A*AA from any three A-Levels, if you achieve A*A*B (points equivalent) you would not qualify. However A*A*A* would qualify as it exceeds the scholarship offer criteria.
• Grades acheieved must exactly match the scholarship offer letter, including any subject specific result (if specified) For example a scholarship offer A*AA including A* Maths requires A* in Maths and AA in two other subjects. Getting A* in the two other subjects but not in Maths would not count and a scholarship would not be awarded.
• All grades must be achieved at the first sitting and instance of A-level or equivalent exams. If you later re-sit a paper and achieve a higher grade this will not count towards any scholarship.

If you do not achieve the scholarship grades required, but later have a paper re-marked, meaning you do meet the scholarship grades, then you will usually qualify. In this case please make an appointment after enrolment to see a student funding adviser in the Student Funding Service, via The Base, A-Floor, University House. Bring official evidence of your re-mark and original scholarship offer letter with you.

Student qualifying for a scholarship prior in 2010 or before - Retaining your scholarship - to retain your award you must make satisfactory academic progress each year. This is currently (10-11) 55% at part 1 and 58% in all year during part 2 (also see award regs Q22).

The average is the weighted average of all assessed units undertaken in the relevant year. When you check your University exam results online it will say whether you have achieved the necessary average to retain your scholarship.

Q7. How will I know whether I will get an LU Bursary?

All Universities charging the maximum tuition fee are required to UK pay students a minimum 'statutory bursary' equal to 10% of the full fee rate. (2011 10% x £3,375 = £338.) Lancaster University bursaries include, and far exceed, this statutory minimum shown in red next to the bursary amount.

*Important Notes:

1) Students retain award conditions (e.g. award rates, income thresholds, frequency of award) which applied to their entry cohort throughout their studies. Income assessment is an annual Government process.
2) Both students and parents must not opt out of income data sharing (See Q18) so that the University can receive verified (see Q17) income data from the SLC and assess bursary eligibility.

Q8. What happens if I defer entry?

This depends on your award type:

i) Scholarships - your award is based on your year of entry, rather than application. So if you defer entry you would be entitled to the award scheme that applies to your entry cohort.

ii) Bursaries - your award is based on SLC assessment for your year of entry.

If you wish to defer entry please contact Undergraduate Admissions.

Q9. How much is each award per year?

A: Bursary amounts vary depending on year of entry - see above.
The Scholarship amount is £1,000 per year.

The most you can receive would be a bursary and a scholarship. The maximum total award over a three year degree would vary depending on your year of entry.

Q10. What can I use the award money for?

You can use the money towards anything you like - there are no conditions!

First work out how much money you expect to receive from the Government funding for living costs and also from the University. Second work out how much your maintenance expenses will be.

Finally compare the two and see if they balance. If your income exceeds your expected expenditure you might be able to reduce borrowing. However if your expected expenditure exceeds your income, you may need to think about cutting costs if you can, or supplementing income by part time work, a bank overdraft, or extra help from parents. For further guidance see: www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/costsandbudgeting.htm

Q11. If I fit the award criteria do I need to apply?

A: No, all awards are automatically assessed by the University.

The LU Bursary will be based on the verified annual household income assessment made by the relevant assessment authority (E.g. SFE, SFW, SAAS, SFNI).

The Scholarship will depend on you remaining registered on the course of study on which you entered and meeting progression rules that apply to your entry cohort.

Q12. When will any awards be confirmed and paid?

A: This depends on when we receive all the information necessary to calculate and pay a financial award(s).

For awards to be calculated students must have completed the University registration process and we must have received all the information necessary to calculate any award.

For us to pay calculated awards you need to have nominated a direct credit bank account.

Where we have the information to calculate award eligibility we will send a confirmation email to your University email address on

1. Friday, 21st Octctober 2011.(end of week 2)
2. Thursday, 1st December 2011
3. Monday, 6th February 2012

These emails will confirm the award type(s), amount and payment date(s) and ask for your for bank account nomination by the end of the first term - 16th December 2011. (Unless your eligibility changes they should all be the same)

• Bursary awards will be paid by midnight on Thursday, 23rd February 2012*.
  
• Scholarship awards will be paid by midnight on Thursday 23rd February 2012*.

*If you did not nominate in the first term the last cut off date is by 5p.m. on Thursday 9th Feburary 2012 (2 weeks prior to payment date). At this time awards amounts are passed through to Credit Control who offset University debt outstanding and overdue, see FAQ 21.

If we calculate a bursary (received household income data from the SLC) after the 23rd February 2012 there are a series of future dates when the Student Funding Service will pass award payments to our finance department for payment. Students need to have nominated their bank account by the time/date below for awards to be paid the following Thursday.

*NB: Our online system records the exact time/date of nomination. The deadline for any award payment for the 11-12 academic year is Thursday 26th July 2012. Even if you meet award criteria no award will be payable for the 11-12 academic year after this date.

Q13. How will any awards be paid?

A: Awards will be paid directly into your nominated bank account by BACS (Bank Automated Clearing System). You can nominate an account by exactly following the instructions at:

www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/account.htm

Please ensure you keep the University informed of any changes to your bank details by updating the details if your bank details change.

Q14. What happens if I change my course?

A: You will still be eligible to receive the bursary but your entitlement to the scholarship may change.

Scholarships - students having qualified for a scholarship on entry who transfer to another scholarship subject (major) will retain the scholarship if they meet the scholarship grade conditions for the subject into which they transfer. These will be the scholarship conditions which applied to the new course in the year of entry for their cohort.

E.g. 1) Music course for 2009 entry. Offered course entry grades BBB. Scholarship offered only if Lancaster firm UCAS choice and scholarship grades of AAA achieved. Student achieves AAA to gain scholarship for Music in 2009. (Year 1 of course). If there is a change to programme of study for second year (2010) from Music to Religious Studies (scholarship level AAB - 2009 entry) the student would retain scholarship.

E.g. 2) Combined science course 2009 entry. Offered course entry grades BBC. Scholarship offered only if Lancaster firm UCAS choice and scholarship grades of AAB achieved. Student achieves AAB to gain scholarship for Combined science in 2009. (Year 1 of course). If there is a change to programme of study for second year (2010) from Combined science to History (scholarship level AAA - 2009 entry) the student would forfeit the scholarship.

NB: Students not receiving a scholarship on entry who change their registration to a scholarship major will not become eligible for a scholarship (even though they made the University firm UCAS choice and meet the scholarship grade criteria for the new subject) because a scholarship was not held prior to the change.

Information and Advice - Students who change course are advised that awards have been suspended pending review by the Student Funding Service and that they will be contacted if their new course DOES NOT attract a continued financial award. Students are encouraged to seek advice directly from the Student Funding Service, Colleges and Student Life, University House, in advance of course changes if they are unsure of whether a financial award will be retained. Email studentfunding(at)lancaster.ac.uk

Q15. What happens if I re-start, intercalate or withdraw from my course?

For University awards you are permitted only one award per academic year of study.

E.g. You start your course in Oct 2011 and receive an award(s) in Feb 2012. If you then restart in Oct 2012 you would not qualify for any award(s) for your [second] first year of study.

Government (statutory) funding is different. Usually UK undergraduate students undertaking first degrees can get UG funding for the ordinary duration of their course, plus one additional year of the course if necessary. If there is a compelling personal reason (CPR) for not completing, another CPR year of funding could be available (in additional to the +1). To check eligibility students should contact the Student Loan Company - 0845 300 50 90

Q16. What if I am a mature student with non-traditional entry qualifications - will I still be able to receive these awards?

A: LU Scholarships are the only awards that depend on the subject studied and the results on entry. If your course carries LU scholarships the Undergraduate Admissions Office will be able to give you advice on any equivalent levels of achievement you will need to qualify for this award. For contact information please see:
www.lancs.ac.uk/admissions/undergrad/study/how.htm

The bursary will be based on household income and your entry qualifications will not affect your entitlement.

Q17. What happens if there is changing or UNVERIFIED income for bursary purposes?

A: CHANGED INCOME

The award is based on the annual (SLC, SAAS etc) assessment of household income. If the level of income exceeds the level where a bursary is awarded you will not be eligible to this award for that year.

However if income has dropped between the assessment year being used by the SLC and the current year the SLC can make an assessment on what is known as a current income basis. If an income re-assessment is made within the year then providing the Student Funding Service receives new income data information from the Student Loan Company, prior to Friday 19th July, the bursary award will be re-assessed. It cannot be re-assessed after this point.

For information on re-assessment see the text on this page : "If you're expecting your household income to drop"

A: UNVERIFIED INCOME

The Student Funding Service cannot calculate any bursary entitlement for new students without a verified income figure from the relevant assessment authority. (e.g. SLC) Unverified income can exist where information is being awaited, for example final annual accounts for self employed parents, by the assessment authority. Contact the SLC on 0845 300 50 90 for advice.

Parents (or students) need to resolve any outstanding information required by the LEA / SLC so that income data becomes 'verified'. Once the verified income data is received by the University we can calculate and send an award notification, this data must be received from the SLC by the University prior to the annual end of year final award payment deadline.(See FAQ 12)

Q18. Can I receive an LU Bursary if consent to share income data is not given or I choose not to be financially assessed for Government funding?

A: No - We cannot assess for a Lancaster Bursary in any year where we do not receive the assessed (and verified) household income figure from the Student Loan Company (SLC) by the end of the relevant academic year.

For the University to receive income data you must be financially assessed and there must be no objection to data sharing from either yourself or your parents.

Providing YOU do not object (i.e. do not opt out to data sharing) on your Government funding (PN1 or online application) we will receive a data record.

Providing YOUR PARENTS do not object (i.e. do not opt out of data sharing) the record we receive will have a household income figure given. (otherwise the field will be blank)

If you have objected to data sharing but now wish to consent to share income data both parents and students need to call the SLC on 0845 607 7577.

Please make an appointment with a student funding advisor in the Student Funding Service, Colleges and Student Life, University House, no sooner than 5 days, following consent and we will check information has been received and calculate/confirm bursary award eligibility.

Q19. What happens if the financial assessment made by the assessing authority is only provisional? (not final)

A: We will not be able to pay your bursary until the financial assessment has been completed and finalised. The annual cut off date, after which we do not process bursaries any further bursaries for that year, is usually the end of July - see FAQ 12.

Q20. What if I am on a year abroad or placement as part of my course - will I still receive any award(s)?

A: Yes, you will still receive any award for which you usually qualify if you undertake a study year abroad or a placement as part of your course, providing you meet any conditions for that award (e.g. for scholarship meet the required % results at the end of previous year to retain it See Q22)

Scholarships - If the year abroad contains academic works which counts towards your Lancaster marks then it may affect scholarship retention if you fail to attain the necessary level. If there is no assessed work on the year abroad which counts your scholarship will continue.

Bursary - The University must receive assessed income from the Student Loan Company to assess for a bursary for any year where a student is on a year abroad or other placement.

Q21. What happens if I have University debt which is outstanding and overdue and I am due to receive an award(s)?

A: Under the award regulations below any University debt that is outstanding and overdue up to 10 days prior to the February payment date will be offset from awards by Credit Control. You can view payments due/overdue at

https://www.webpayments.lancs.ac.uk/Logon.aspx

If deductions are made to an expected payment and you have a query you need to contact Credit Control (not the Student Funding Service) by speaking to a member of staff at the Cashiers Desk in University House or by calling 01524 (5)92050.

Q22. Where can I read general guidance / University award regulations?

A: The FAQ's on this page are provided as general guidance. Please read these in association with the award regulations at: www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/UniversityAwardRegulations.pdf

Q23. What if I have further questions?

A: If you have not yet enrolled contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office who send out award offer letters.

If you have enrolled please call into The Base, A-Floor, University House. A member of staff will put you in contact with an adviser from the Student Funding Service. Alternatively please telephone the student funding helpline and speak to advice staff directly. Tel:- 01524 594848.