Part-time Undergraduate Finance 2011 - 2012

How much do Lifelong Learning courses cost?

Is there any financial help available?

Financial help for those studying between 60 - 90 credits a year

Useful Links

Local Authorities

Examples (for illustration only)

How much do Lifelong Learning courses cost?

Our undergraduate level courses (modules) are made up of 10, 20 and 30 credits. Depending on whether or not you’re eligible for financial assistance, you will pay between £282 (maximum) and £10 (minimum) per 10 credits. Some courses have additional costs to cover materials or study visits.

10 credit module £282
20 credit module £564
30 credit module £846

There is an additional £10 studio fee payable for each 20 credit art module.

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Is there any financial help available?

Part-time Student Discretionary Bursary:

You may be eligible to apply for a contribution towards your course fees. Personal circumstances and whether or not you are in receipt of other sources of funding will be taken into account when allocating the bursaries. If eligible, you could be allocated a bursary which may be worth up to 75% of your course fees.

The Part-time Student Discretionary Bursary will be allocated on the ability to pay in accordance with your household income:

Household Income*	Possible Bursary Awarded	Course Fee Payable (Per 10 credits)
£25,000 or less	up to 75%	£70.50
£25,001 - £35,000	up to 60%	£112.80
£35,001 - £45,000	up to 40%	£169.20

* Household Income refers to the combined gross (before deductions) income of all members of a household 15 years old and older.

Bursaries will be allocated on an ability to pay in accordance with household income. All applications for bursaries should be received at Lifelong Learning as soon as possible.

HEFCW Fee Waiver Scheme:

If you are on benefits such as Job Seekers allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Pension Credit, Carer’s Allowance and/or Working Tax Benefit and do not already have a degree, you can apply directly to the University for a HEFCW fee waiver if you are studying on an accredited course or module.

An administration charge of £10 will be charged for those given a full fee waiver under this scheme.

NOTE: This scheme can only fund up to 40 credits per academic year.

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Financial help for those studying between 60 - 90 credits a year:

Part-time Higher Education and Course grants

There are two types of non-repayable grant:

Part-time Higher Education grant (to help with tuition fees only if you do not already have a degree)
course grant up to £1125 (to help with study costs such as books, materials and travel)

These two part-time grants normally apply to students who are intending to complete a Higher Education Certificate, Diploma or Honours degree and are committed to studying a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 90 credits in one academic year (Sept-July). You should not take more than twice as long to complete as an equivalent full-time course.

You apply for every year of your course, at the start of each academic year. How much you can get each year depends on your household income and whether you have a spouse, partner or children.

Students who already have a degree cannot normally apply for this support. There is no age limit.

The maximum amount of fee grant available also depends on the ‘intensity’ of your course. ‘Intensity’ means how long it takes to complete your course compared with an equivalent full-time course. For example, if a three-year full-time course takes six years to complete part-time, then the part-time coursehas an intensity of 50%. We will be able to advise you regarding your intensity of course. You can apply for the same maximum amount of course grant no matter what the intensity of your course.

If your ordinary place of residence was Wales before you started your course, then the support available is indicated in the table below:

How intensive your course is	Maximum fee grant	Maximum course grant	Total Support
Equivalent to 50% to 59% of the full-time course	£670	£1,125	£1,795
Equivalent to 60% to 74% of the full-time course	£800	£1,125	£1,925

If your ordinary place of residence was England before you started your course, then the support available is indicated in the table below:

How intensive your course is	Maximum fee grant	Maximum course grant	Total Support
Equivalent to 50% to 59% of the full-time course	£820	£265	£1,085
Equivalent to 60% to 74% of the full-time course	£985	£265	£1,250

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

Part-time students with disabilities or specific learning difficulties, who are studying at least 50% of a full time course, may be able to get DSA. It can help pay the extra costs you have (in relation to studying for a course of higher education) as a direct result of your disability or specific learning difficulty. How much DSA you can get does not depend on your income or that of your family and you do not have to repay the allowance. There is no age limit.

For further information contact your Local Authority for an information booklet called ‘Bridging the Gap: a guide to the Disabled Students’ Allowance.

You can also visit the Student Finance Wales website www.studentfinancewales.co.uk and follow the information for part-time students.

If you are not sure about which category you fit into, or which grants you may eligible for, do not hesitate to give Sue Hughes a call on 01248 382256 or by email sue.hughes@bangor.ac.uk. She will be happy to answer any queries you have about fees and provide help and advice.

You are also advised to contact your Local Education Authority.

University Hardship Fund

The Hardship Fund provides financial help to students who face difficulty in meeting their living costs for whatever reason, whether it is due to their personal circumstances (e.g. mature students, or disabled students), or because they fall into hardship unexpectedly. Assistance is given in the form of a nonrepayable grant. To be eligible for the Hardship Fund a student must be registered on a part-time course equivalent to 50% or more of a full time course at either undergraduate or postgraduate level.

Please contact the University Student Services for further information about the Hardship Fund and other possible sources of support at studentservices@bangor.ac.uk or on 01248 382024.

Please note that the University has the right to ask for evidence of your income in assessing your application for a fee waiver or bursary.

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Useful Links:

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Local Authorities

Anglesey

Student Information
Anglesey County Council
Department of Learning and Leisure
Glanhwfa Road
LLANGEFNI
Anglesey
LL77 7EY

01248 752 980
01248 752 958

Conwy

Student Support
Conwy County Borough Council
P.O. Box 9
COLWYN BAY
LL28 4ZE

01492 575 029
01492 575 028
01492 575 027
Fax: 01492 541 311

Denbighshire

Student Finance Office
Denbighshire County Council
County Hall
Wynnstay Road
RUTHIN
LL15 1YN

01824 712 659
Fax: 01824 712 664

Flintshire

Student Support
Flintshire Education Authority
County Hall
MOLD
CH7 6ND

01352 704 067
01352 704 140

Gwynedd

Student Support
Gwynedd Council
P.O. Box 6
CAERNARFON
Gwynedd
LL55 1SH

01286 679 184
01286 679 185
Fax: 01286 679 183

Wrexham

Student Support
Wrexham County Borough Council
Tŷ Henblas
Queens Square
WREXHAM
LL13 8AZ

01978 297 466
01978 297 467
01978 297 480
Fax: 01978 297 501

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Examples (for illustration only)

Name: Andrew
Age: 37
Annual Household Income: £36,330
Course enrolled on: Life Painting & Drawing
Number of Credits: 20

Total course cost: £564
Studio Fee (Art courses only): + £10
Part-time Discretionary Bursary: -£225.60

Total Fee Payable: £348.40

Name: Becky
Age: 25
Annual Household Income: £4,500 (+ benefits)
Course enrolled on: MS Office Skills 1
Number of Credits: 10

Total course cost: £282
Admin Fee : + £10
HEFCW Fee Waiver : -£282

Total Fee Payable: £10

Name: Catherine
Age: 66
Annual Household Income: £24,500
Course enrolled on: Beginners Spanish
Number of Credits: 10

Total course cost: £282
Part-time Discretionary Bursary: -£211.50

Total Fee Payable: £70.50

Name: David
Age: 48
Annual Household Income: below £18,529 (incl benefits)
Course enrolled on: BA Combined Studies
Number of Credits: 60

Total course cost for 2011/12: £1,692
Possible Fee Grant (applied to LEA for grant): -£670
Part-time Discretionary Bursary:-£766.50

Total Fee Payable: £255.50

(David is also eligible for a Course grant of £1,125 which will help with study costs such as books, materials and travel.

NOTE: he cannot be awarded a Fee Grant that’s higher than his actual tuition fees)

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