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Fee Grant for part-time students

If you're classed as an eligible EU student, you can apply for the Fee Grant if:

• you're studying in England, Northern Ireland or Wales
• your course lasts for at least one year - and won't take more than twice as long to complete as an equivalent full-time course
• your household income is below a certain amount

How much you can get depends on your household income, personal circumstances and on the 'intensity' of your course - but the maximum available for 2008/2009 is £1,180. For 2009/2010, it’s £1,210.

Applying for the Fee Grant

See 'How to apply for finance - EU students' for application forms and guidance on completing your application.

• How to apply for finance - EU students

Working out course ‘intensity’

'Intensity' is how long the course takes to complete compared with an equivalent full-time course. Your university or college will be able to tell you the intensity of your course.

How is household income calculated?

The amount of fee grant you can get will depend on your level of household income. This can include both your income and the income of your spouse or partner.

Household income is gross taxable income, minus certain deductions (for example, if there are dependent children in the household).

The table below gives you an idea of how much is available to a single student with no children.

(* or the tuition fees charged for your course if they are lower)

If you have a spouse, partner or children

If you have a husband, wife, partner or children, these household income levels (for both academic years) rise by:

• £2,000 for your eldest dependent child
• £1,000 for each further dependent child
• £2,000 if you are married, are in a civil partnership or live with a partner

Counting your partner's income

There are different rules about counting your partner's income, depending on when you started your course.

If you started your course on or after 1 September 2005, your partner’s income will be taken into account.

If you started your course before this date, your partner’s income won't be taken into account if:

• you're aged under 25 and not married to your partner
• you and your partner are of the same sex - but are not civil partners

Additional Fee Support Scheme and Access to Learning Fund

If you are studying part-time in England, your university or college may be able to provide extra help towards your tuition fees through the Additional Fee Support Scheme.

If you're in financial difficulty, help may also be available through the Access to Learning Fund.

Contact your university or college’s student support office to find out what’s available - or follow the link below for more on the Access to Learning Fund.

• Access to Learning Fund: extra help if you need it

Not sure if you’re classed as an EU student?

This page describes the financial help available if you're classed as an EU student doing an undergraduate course in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

If you'll have been living in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for at least three years when your course starts - or you're classed as an EEA or Swiss migrant worker, or the child of a Turkish worker in the UK - you may qualify for extra help.

• EU students: what type of finance could you qualify for?

Studying in Scotland?

The information on this page applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales. If you study in Scotland, applications for student finance are dealt with by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

• Apply for student finance at the Student Awards Agency for Scotland Opens new window

More useful links

• Contact the Student Finance Services European Team