1. Student Finance for full time undergraduates starting BSc Social Work in September 2012 By Harj Singh Student Services

2. Student Finance Tuition Fees Tuition Fee Loans Grants for living costs Loans for living costs Additional grants Social work bursary National Scholarship Programme Repayment terms on loans Top tips

3. Tuition Fees Institutions can charge up to £9,000 for the year in 2012/13 BCU proposes three separate fee bands of £7,500, £8,200 and £9,000 per annum for full time undergraduate degree courses BSc Social Work is charged at £7,500 per annum

4. Tuition Fee Loans You don’t have to pay for your course upfront Tuition Fee Loan available Apply through Student Finance England Must meet the residential & previous study requirements Interest rate 3% plus inflation Salary threshold £21,000 Written off after 30 years

5. Grants for living costs Maintenance Grants and Loans available for living costs Maximum maintenance grant available of up to £3,250 if household income is less than £25,000 Partial maintenance grant available if household income is between £25,000 and £42,600 Alternative special support grant of up to £3,250, for those eligible for means tested benefits, such as some single parents.

6. Loans for living costs Loan for living costs available in addition to the Tuition Fee Loan Maximum amounts living in parental home - £4,375 living away from parental home - £5,500 65% is an automatic entitlement 35% is means tested on your household income

7. Examples Household Income Maintenance Grant Student Loan Total £25,000£3,250£3,875£7,125 £30,000£2,341£4,330£6,671 £35,000£1,432£4,784£6,216 £40,000£523£5,239£5,762 £45,000£0£5,288 £50,000£0£4,788 £55,000£0£4,288 £60,000£0£3,788 £65,000 or more £0£3,575

8. Additional Grants Adult Dependants’ Grant - up to £2,642 Childcare Grant - up to 85% of costs Parents’ Learning Allowance - up to £1,508 Disabled Students’ Allowance specialist equipment - up to £5,161 for course non-medical helper - up to £20,520 per year other disability related - up to £1,724 per year

9. Social Work Bursary Non repayable bursary of up to £4,575 per year Funded by the NHS Business Service Authority Not income assessed Apply separately to NHS Grants Unit; http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/825.aspx

10. National Scholarship Programme We will also be offering National Scholarships to over 370 students from the lowest income backgrounds who demonstrate excellence in academic achievement, performance or potential These will be worth £3,000 each and will be awarded as a fee waiver Further details will be available later in the year. Please check website for updates

11. Repayment terms on loans Loans are repayable from the April after graduation and earnings are above £21,000. From the April after you leave university if you are earning below £21,000, interest will reduce to just the rate of inflation Graduates earning between £21,000 and £41,000 will be charged interest at the full rate of inflation plus interest of up to 3 per cent. Graduates earning above £41,000, will be charged interest at the full rate of inflation plus 3 per cent.

12. Repayment Examples Annual Earnings Annual Repayment Weekly Repayment Monthly Repayment £15,000Nothing £16,000Nothing £21,000Nothing £22,000£90£1.73£7.50 £30,000£810£15.58£67.50 £40,000£1,710£32.88£142.50 £50,000£2,610£50.19£217.50

13. Top tips Explore all funding you are eligible for Apply in plenty of time www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance Think about part time work Prepare a budget plan http://www.bcu.ac.uk/studentcalculator

14. Telephone: 0121 331 5588 Email: student.services@bcu.ac.ukstudent.services@bcu.ac.uk Ask Us Service: www.bcu.ac.uk/askus Web: www.bcu.ac.uk/studentservices www.facebook.com/bcussv www.twitter.com/bcussv We have dedicated staff who can help you with: Budgeting Money Management Debt Counselling Alternative sources of funding Access to Learning Fund Student Services