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Fee Grant and Course Grant – what are they?

If you’re a part-time higher education student, you may be able to get a Fee Grant and a Course Grant. You won’t have to pay back either type of grant.

The Fee Grant can help towards your tuition fees. The Course Grant is there to help towards other study costs - such as books, materials and travel.

Do you qualify?

To apply for the Fee Grant and Course Grant, both you and your course must be 'eligible'. For part-time study, this means your course must:

• last at least one year
• be a higher education course leading to a qualification such as a Certificate or Diploma of Higher Education, an HNC or HND, or a first degree up to Honours level (for example, a BA or BSc)
• not take more than twice as long to complete as the equivalent full-time course
  

However, you won't qualify for the Fee Grant or Course Grant:

• if you already have a degree from a UK university or college - the Fee Grant and Course Grant aren’t available to postgraduate students
• if you are studying a part-time Initial Teacher Training course (you’ll be treated as a full-time student for student finance purposes)
• for more than one part-time course at a time

The standard rules on fee and course grants apply if you live and study in England. But if you live in England and go to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland to study the amount of help you receive may vary. Contact your university, college or local authority for more information.

• Contact your local authority (student finance applications) Opens new window

What is the maximum you can get?

Fee grant

The maximum fee grant available depends on your course’s 'intensity' - how long it takes to complete compared with the equivalent full-time course.

For example, if your course would take three years to complete full-time but you’re doing it part-time over six years, then your course has an intensity of 50 per cent.

Your college or university will be able to advise you about the intensity of your course.

Course grant

The maximum Course Grant available for 2007/2008 is £250. For 2008/2009, it’s £255. The Course Grant isn’t related to the intensity of your course.

Maximum rates for 2007/2008

Maximum rates for 2008/2009

How much will you get?

Once you’ve worked out the maximum available (based on your course’s intensity), follow the link below to find out how much you’re entitled to. This will depend on an income assessment.

• Income assessment for part-time students

Back to the main page on ‘Student finance: part-time students’

• Student finance: part-time students