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Student Finance Jargon

What types of financial support are available to undergraduates?

• Tuition Fee Loan
• Student Maintenance Loan
• Maintenance Grant OR Special Support Grant
• University Bursary
• Parent Learning Allowance
• Adult Dependent Grant
• Childcare Grant

To find out how much you could be entitled to financially, why not use our Financial Calculator OR download a copy of our Finance Guide.  

How and when do I apply for this financial support?

Complete a Student Finance form on-line by visiting www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance or download and print this if you want to submit a paper copy. You can also request a paper copy by calling the Student Finance England Contact Centre on 0845 300 5090. Once you have submitted this form, you will be assessed by Student Finance England for the financial support that you are entitled to. Prior to starting each following year of study, you will need to complete another Student Finance form.

If you wish to apply to be assessed for the Childcare Grant, you will also need to complete a CCG1 form which Student Finance England will send you if you have said on your Student Finance form that you have registered or accredited childcare costs.

If you wish to apply to be assessed for the Disabled Student Allowance, you will need to complete a DSA1 form which you can obtain from Student Finance England.

To apply for the Social Work Bursary, download a form from the NHS Business Services Authority website. Do this as early as possible prior to starting your course.

How do I apply for the Staffordshire University Bursary?

Once you have applied to Student Finance England to be assessed for your student finance, they will automatically pass on your details to the University (unless you have ticked the box on the form asking them NOT to do this) so that you can be assessed for a University Bursary. You should then receive a letter from the University a couple of months after you have enrolled on your course advising you whether or not you have been awarded a Bursary and if so, when this will be paid into your bank account. Whether or not you receive a Bursary depends upon your parents household income. The University Information Centre on the first floor of the Flaxman Building on the College Road Campus or the University Information Centre opposite Dolche Vita in the Beacon Building on the Stafford Campus issue the University Bursary letters.  

What types of support are available for Nursing students and how do I apply ?

If you are a Nursing Student wanting to apply for any of the types of support listed below, download a form from the NHS Business Services Authority website. www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students Do this as early as possible prior to starting your course.

• Non-means tested Bursary or Means-tested Bursary
• Dependents Allowance
• Parents Learning Allowance
• Childcare Allowance
• Initial Expenses Allowance
• Two Homes Grant 

Degree Nursing students and Seconded Nursing Students can also apply for a Student Maintenance Loan from Student Finance England. See www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

What if I’ve already started my course? Can I still apply for financial support?

Yes, you can apply for financial support up to 9 months from the beginning of each academic year (01st September). However, it is advisable to apply for financial support as early as possible each academic year so that you are assessed in time for the start of the academic year.

What does 'income assessed' mean?

This is where Student Finance England looks at your parents/step-parent's/partner's income in order to decide how much financial support you are entitled to. If you parents are separated/divorced, only the income of the parent you live with will be taken into account. You can ask to be "non-income assessed" but you will then only be assessed for the tuition fee loan and the part of the student loan that doesn't take your parents/partner's income into account. This means you may miss out on money you may be entitled to as you will not be assessed for a maintenance grant/special support grant, university bursary or parent learning allowance.     

How will my parents/partner's income be calculated?

For 2010-11 starters, it will calculated using gross (before tax) taxable household income in the 2008-09 tax year (unless the parent/partner is self-employed).

Deductions are then made for any other dependent children and for some types of pension payments (the types are listed on the student finance form). Any parental/partner contribution is based upon this final figure.

NB: If gross income has dropped by 15% or more since the 2008-09 tax year, do inform Student Finance England of this and ask if they will use your parents/partner's income details from the 2010-11 tax year instead. 

When will my parents income be ignored?

Your parents income will be ignored if you are classed as an independent student. This applies if you are over 25 OR are married OR have a child (born before the academic year for which you are applying for finance) OR your parents have died Or you are estranged from your parents OR you have supported yourself financially for at least 3 years prior to the start of the course (1st September).  

If you are an independent student according to the definition above and are living with a partner, your partner's income will be taken into account. 

If you are NOT an independent student according to the definition above and are living with a partner, your parents income will be taken into account until you qualify for independent status.      

What if I have previous Higher Education study?

If you have done previous Higher Education study (of even a few weeks), it is very important that you seek advice prior to beginning or transferring onto a new course as your entitlement to further funding may be affected. If personal difficulties led to you withdrawing, repeating, or transferring onto a different course, it is very important that you make Student Finance England aware of this in writing and provide evidence as this may mean you may be entitled to an additional year's funding.     

What will happen once I’ve applied?

Once you have been assessed by Student Finance England and/or the NHS Business Services Authority, you will receive a financial assessment form. This will tell you what financial support you’ve been given.

Non-nursing students will also receive a payment schedule from the Student Loans Company. This will state when monies will be paid into your bank account. Nursing students will have this information on the back of their financial assessment form.

Please note: Do keep the documents mentioned above – don’t throw them away. You’ll be amazed at how many people will need to see these over the course of the academic year.

What will I have to repay and when?

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