STUDENT FINANCE ADVICE

Student Financial Support for 2011 higher education entrants Student finance is available so you can make the most of your time at university or college without having to worry about money.

Do I qualify? There are three main conditions you have to meet: £ You must be personally eligible; £ Your course must be eligible; £ Your university or college must also be eligible.

What can I get? £ Tuition Fee Loan; £ Maintenance Loan; £ Maintenance Grant; £ Extra support if you have special circumstances.

Tuition Fee Loan £ To help with the cost of tuition fees to a maximum of £ 3,290: £ Available to all eligible students; £ Not based on household income; £ Paid by Student Finance England direct to university or college; £ Repayable when you finish your course, and you must £ Apply every year.

Maintenance Loan To help with living costs - entitlement depends on: £ Household income (72% not dependent on household income, 28% of dependent on household income); £ Where you live while you are studying ; £ Year of course; £ Repayable when you finish or leave your course; and you must £ Apply every year.

Maintenance Grant To assist students from lower & middle income backgrounds: £ Non-repayable; £ Amount depends on your household income; £ Will reduce the amount of Maintenance Loan you can get; £ Maximum £ 2,906.

Special Support Grant £ Paid instead of Maintenance Grant for some students; £ But does not reduce amount of Maintenance Loan; £ Non-repayable; £ Amount depends on your household income.

£ University and college bursaries; £ Support for part-time courses; £ Extra help for students in special circumstances, for example students with a disability or with dependants; £ Certain courses attract their own funding, for example NHS and Social Work courses. Other Support

How do I apply? £ Use the student finance calculator to work out how much you can get and the application process online at £ Apply as early as possible – you don ’ t have to have a confirmed place; £ Student Finance England will assess your application and let you know what you can get; £ You can track your application online.

How do I get paid? £ Register at your university or college, usually in the first week of your course; £ Your university or college will tell Student Finance England when you have registered; £ Student Finance England pay your maintenance Loan and grants into your bank account in three instalments – one at the start of each term; £ Tuition Fee Loans will be paid direct to your university or college; and £ Your university or college will let you know when they will pay any bursary or scholarship you are entitled to.

Repayment facts £ Interest is charged from when loans are taken out until they are repaid in full; £ Repayment begins the April after you finish or leave your course (as long as earnings are above £ 1,250 a month or £ 15,000 a year); £ Repaid through tax system; £ Any outstanding balance written off by government after 25 years.

Loan Repayment Income each year before tax Monthly salary Approximate monthly repayment up to £15,000Below £1,2500 £16,000£1,333£7 £18,000£1,500£22 £21,000£1,750£45 £24,000£2,000£67 £27,000£2,250£90 £30,000£2,500£112

For more information on student finance please visit cewww.direct.gov.uk/studentfinan ce – You can follow Student Finance England on – facebook.com/SFEngland – twitter.com/SF_England