Welcome To Wirral

Full time Undergraduate Study

Means-tested assistance is available to help with the payment of tuition fees to students attending full time Designated courses at University or Colleges of Higher Education. Student maintenance loans are also available; the first 25% of the student maintenance loan is means-tested. In addition some students may be entitled to supplementary grants. Students receiving a means-tested NHS Bursary can apply for a 50% non-means-tested student loan. Students living on the Wirral should apply to their Local Authority the address is given above.

Fees

Students will be charged tuition fees of up to £1,255. You may be entitled to a grant for all or part of your tuition fees. How much you will get will depend on your and your households income.

From September 2006 students will not have to pay fees before they start university or while they are studying. Instead, they will be able to apply for a student loan to cover the cost of any assessed contribution. The SLC will pay this amount direct to your university or college. Students will repay the loan once they have left university and are earning over £15,000 per year.

Higher Education Grant

Full time students who started their course in 2004 or later will be able to apply for the Higher Education Grant of £1,000 The grant is assessed on your and your household’s income. The Higher Education Grant does not have to be paid back.

Maintenance Loan

In addition to the Higher Education Grant maintenance loans are also available. The amount of maintenance loan available will depend on the following

• Where you live and study
• Which course you study
• Which year of the course you are on
• How much you and your family are expected to contribute

Students will repay the loan once they have left University or College and are earning over £15,000 per year.

Supplementary Grants

Some students will be able to apply for extra help depending on their circumstances, these include,

• Disabled Student Allowances. These allowances are not means-tested.
• Adult Dependants Grant. Means-tested support available to students with adult dependants
• Child Care Grant. Means-tested support available to students with dependant children
• Parent Learning Allowance. Means-tested support available to student parents
• Travel Grant. Means-tested support available to students who incur travel costs in certain circumstances.

Supplementary grants do not need to be paid back.

Further information and application forms are available from March each year from the LA, address given above. You can apply on line or download application forms from the following web site, http://www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk