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Finance for part-time EU students

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If you are a European Union (EU) student on a part-time course in England, Northern Ireland or Wales, you can apply for financial help towards your tuition fees. You do not have to repay this help.

Part-time EU students - do you qualify for finance?

The amount of financial help you can apply for as a part-time EU student will depend on:

  • where in the UK you study
  • the type of course you choose
  • your household income
  • the academic year for which you are applying

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).


Tuition Fee Grants for part-time students

If you are an EU student studying part time, you can apply for a grant to help with your tuition fees.

Your course must last at least one year and not take more than twice as long to complete as an equivalent full-time course.

The amount of fee grant you can get will depend on your household income (income assessed) and on the 'intensity' of your course. 'Intensity' means how long it takes to complete your course compared with an equivalent full-time course. Your college will be able to tell you the intensity of your course.

The maximum fee grant available, based on the intensity of your course is:

Intensity of course Maximum fee grant available 2007/2008 Maximum fee grant available 2008/2009
50-59% full-time intensity £765 £785
60-74% full-time intensity £920 £945
75% or more full-time intensity £1150 £1180

 

How is household income calculated?

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

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

If you are a single student with no children, the household income levels for receiving a fee grant are as follows:

Fee grant you receive Household income (studying in 2007/2008) Household income (studying in 2008/2009)
Full amount of fee grant relevant to your course* £15,344 or lower  £15,700 or lower
Some grant (minimum £50) £15,345 to £23,145 £15,701 to £23,679
No grant  £23,146 or more £23,680 or more

(* or the fee charged by your course if this is lower)

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, 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 in 2004 or earlier, the EU Customer Services Team will count:

  • your husband, wife or civil partner's income
  • if you're aged 25 or over, the income of a partner of the opposite sex that lives with you

If you started your course in 2005/2006 or later, the EU Customer Services Team will count:

  • your husband, wife or civil partner's income
  • the income of a partner of the same or opposite sex that lives with you


Additional Fee Support Scheme

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

For example, if your fee grant is less than your tuition fees, you may be able to get financial help with some or all of the difference. Your university or college will decide whether you can get help and how much help you can get.

To find out more, you will need to speak to the student department at your college that runs the Access to Learning Fund, as they will also be responsible for the Additional Fee Support Scheme.

For more information about the Access to Learning Fund, see the link below.


What next?

To find out how to apply, see 'How to apply for finance - EU students'.

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