University Level Learners

Higher Education course fees

Higher Education course fees for new entrants in 2011/12 will be:

• HNC will be £1000 per annum.
• HND £2000 per annum
• BA Hons Degree £2300 per annum.
• Equivalent Level Qualification (ELQ) students will continue to pay higher fees as there is no HEFCE funding for them.

The fees for foundation degrees which are validated by Oxford Brookes University for 2011/2012 will be £2000 for new full time students and part time students will pay £900

Financial Assistance

There are three forms of financial help available to full-time UK and EU students depending on individual circumstances:

• Repayable loans for tuition fees and living expenses
• A non-repayable grant from the government
• A non-repayable bursary from Solihull College

Repayable loans for tuition fees and living expenses

All students are eligible for a tuition fee loan to cover the full cost of fees. Students can apply for a maintenance loan to help with living costs.

Students are required to repay their loan once they start earning over £15,000 per annum. Students repay 9% of their income over £15,000. For example, if you are a graduate and earn £20,000 per year you would be required to repay £450 per year, or £8.65 per week or an average of £37.00 per month.

Non-repayable grant from the government

Students can apply for a maintenance grant, the amount each student receives will depend on individual circumstances. For guidance, last year students who lived in a household with an income of up to £25,000 received a grant of £2,906 (non-repayable).

Non-repayable bursary from Solihull College

Solihull College provides a bursary to eligible HE Students as follows:

If you’re disabled or have a specific learning difficulty or mental health condition, you may be able to get extra help through Disabled Students’ Allowances.

If you have children, or there’s an adult who depends on you financially, there may be extra help available - for example, through the Childcare Grant or Adult Dependants' Grant.

Students in particular financial hardship can apply to the College HE Hardship Fund subject to meeting the requirements. For further information please contact the College’s Student Finance Team in Student Services.

Solihull College offers university level study for businesses and residents in Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Coventry Warwickshire and the rest of the West Midlands and UK.

How to apply for student finance

The main student finance application lets you apply for student loans and grants from the government - and, in many cases, a bursary from your university or college.

You'll need to use one of several different forms found at Applying for finance to make your main application for student finance. Which one depends on whether you are:

• studying full time
• studying part time
• taking a teacher training, social work, healthcare or Open University course

Remember you will need to make a new application for each year of your course.

For an alternative way of obtaining the form contact your Local Education Authority:

• Solihull - 0121 704 6639
• Birmingham - 0121 303 3647/3648
• Sandwell - 0845 358 2200
• North Warwickshire - 01827 715 341
• Worcester - 01905 723 471

Useful contacts

Student Finance England: Offering Practical advice and guidance on applying for student loans and other types of finance for undergraduates.
Telephone: 08456 077577
Website: www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

UCAS: University and College Admission Service
Website: www.ucas.com

NUS: National Union of Students
Website: www.nus.org.uk