Student Finance For Dummies by Phil Davis

Author:Phil Davis [Davis, Phil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781119075868
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2016-02-08T00:00:00+00:00

Being aware of exemptions

If you wish to return to study after doing a first degree, obtaining financial support is easier for some courses leading to professions which are prioritised by the government.

Postgraduate initial teacher training courses (full-time or part-time) are an example where previous study is ignored for a further course of study. You’re able to obtain a full package of support equivalent to that which is available to full-time or part-time undergraduate students. This means you can get tuition fee, living cost and targeted support (for dependants and/or disability) as a full-time student, and tuition fee support only as a part-time student. In addition, extensive incentives are available to you in the form of Teaching Bursaries (some as high as £25,000) if you choose to study (either full-time or part-time) for a PGCE qualification in England or Wales. By making this funding available, the government hopes to encourage you to consider a career in teaching (where there are significant shortfalls in recruitment at present).

If you’re a graduate entry medical or dental student, student finance is available on the following basis. You will need to fund the first £3,465 of tuition fees yourself in your first year of study. As long as you satisfy the usual eligibility requirements (covered in Chapter 3) you can access a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £5,535 for the remaining fees. You can also apply for a Maintenance Loan in your first year of study (but not a Maintenance Grant).

After you are in your second year of study, you can access the NHS Bursary scheme for funding that can cover the first £3,465 of your tuition fees, in addition to the Tuition Fee Loan available to cover your remaining tuition fees. From your second year onwards, you can apply for the reduced rate non income-assessed Maintenance Loan usually available to undergraduate NHS students.

In addition to postgraduate teaching, exemptions apply to full-time courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, architecture, social work and undergraduate initial teacher training. In Scotland, similar exemptions apply to Allied Health Profession, Divinity and Theology programmes (you should check for additional criteria with your course provider).

These exemptions open up the opportunity for partial further student financial support. If you’re studying a full-time second degree in one of these subjects, you’re able to access a Maintenance Loan despite you already holding a first degree (or higher level) qualification. Further Tuition Fee Loan support isn’t available to you (but you’re still able to access any targeted support applicable to your circumstances).

In addition to the exemptions applicable to full-time study, the government has also introduced exemptions for part-time Honours degree courses in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) in England. Subject to the usual eligibility requirements, you can obtain further Tuition Fee Loan funding (and a Disabled Student’s Allowance, if applicable) for part-time study in these specific subjects in England. Your part-time course must be an Honours degree and satisfy the subject and designation requirements. You must also be studying at least 25 per cent of the intensity of a full-time equivalent course in each year of study.

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