Part-Time Students Studying in 2011/12

Statutory Support

New part-time undergraduate students on courses in England and Wales who are studying 50% or more of an equivalent full-time course (at least 60 credits per academic year), can apply for financial support from Student Finance England (SFE). If you live in the UK but not in England, you can find further information on the following websites: Student Finance Wales; Student Finance Northern Ireland; Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

You can apply for support for up to eight years. This is because some full-time degrees can take four years to complete, so the equivalent part-time course may take eight years to complete.

Students who already have a degree qualification will not be eligible for a fee grant or a course grant. There is no age limit when applying for support.

A guide to the statutory support available to part-time students can be accessed on-line.

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Course intensity

The maximum amount of support available to part-time students in 2011/12 will be:

The table below shows the summary of support available, depending on how intensive your course is:

Course intensity Maximum fee grant Maximum course grant Total maximum support
50% to 59% of the equivalent full-time course £820 £265 £1,085
60% to 74% of the equivalent full-time course £985 £265 £1,250
75% or more of the equivalent full-time course £1,230 £265 £1,495

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Household income calculation

Your entitlement to the fee and course grants will depend on your own gross income (income before deductions), and may also take into account, where appropriate, the income of your husband, wife, civil partner or someone you live with as if you were their husband, wife or civil partner.

The income thresholds which determine whether students qualify for full, partial or no support will vary depending on the size of the students family. Full details of the income threshold levels can be found in the guide to financial support for part-time students in Higher Education 2011/12.

For example, a single student with no dependants whose income is less than £16,844 or is on income-assessed benefits, would be eligible for the full fee grant and course grant. They would receive partial support between £16,844 and £28,065 and no support at all if their gross income is £28,066 and over.

Whereas a married student with two dependant children qualifies for full fee grant and course grant if their gross income and that of their partner is less than £21,844. They will receive partial support between £21,844 and £33,065 and no support at all if their income is £33,066 or greater.

Student Finance England have a calculator to help you work out your part-time student funding entitlement. Although the calculator indicates it is for the 2010/11 academic year, we understand from SFE that the figures have not changed for 2011/12.

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How to apply for support from the Student Loans Company

All part-time students have to apply for the fee and course grant for every year of the course. Students can apply for the course grant and the fee grant by filling in the appropriate form depending upon where you are domiciled.

Step 1 – Get an application form and fill it in

Students from England can get a copy of the form by calling the Student Support line on 0800 731 9133. The PTG1 form and the PTG1 notes can also be accessed at DirectGov.

Students from Wales can download a PTG1 form from Student Finance Wales.

Students from Northern Ireland can download a PTG1 form from Student Finance Northern Ireland.

Students from Scotland can download a PTG1 form from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

Step 2 – Confirmation from the University of Bristol

Once you have filled in your application form, take it to your faculty so that they can confirm:

Step 3 – Send form to your student finance provider.

Once you have the form back from the University, you should send it back to either Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Northern Ireland, Student Awards Agency for Scotland, depending on where you are domiciled. You should make sure that you return your application within six months of the first day of the academic year of your course (for many students this will be by the 24 February 2012).

Step 4 – Your student funding provider will let you know whether you are entitled to financial help

Your student funding provider will write to you to let you know whether you are entitled to receive help with your tuition fees or your course costs. If you are entitled to receive financial help, the Student Loans Company (SLC) will pay this. The SLC will pay any fee grant direct to your college, and will pay any course grant into your bank account. These grants do not need to be repaid.

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Other financial help available to part-time students

Access to Learning Funds

The Access to Learning Fund (ALF) is a discretionary Government fund which provides financial assistance to home (UK) students, in order to help them access and remain in higher education. Application forms are available from the Student Funding Office and are assessed according to Government guidelines. Application can be made at any time throughout the academic year, although we would only expect to see one application per year.

Part-time students who may be eligible to apply to the Access to Learning Fund (ALF) may fall into the following categories:

Part-time students are advised to contact the Student Funding Office in the first instance to discuss their eligibility for ALF and seek guidance on how to apply for assistance.

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Taster Module support from ALF

Students may be eligible for support towards tuition fees and course related cost if they are in receipt of any of the following benefits:

Students in receipt of the full amount of Child Tax Credit are eligible for support.  Students not responsible for any children and in receipt of Working Tax Credit are also eligible for support.

Students whose gross income is below £16,845 (or £18,845 if student has spouse/partner) are eligible to apply.  Any spouse/partner income should be included when assessing gross income. 

Personal eligibility

Students must meet the general residence criteria for ‘home’ student status. EU students are eligible for help with fees for taster modules.

Students should have little or no experience of higher education.

Course eligibility

The taster module must be:

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