England 2015/16 - student fees and grants

National student fee

1st cycle full-time – fees are set by institutions and capped at GBP 9 000 for institutions with an approved access plan (to safeguard fair access for low income and other under-represented groups) and GBP 6 000 for institutions without an access plan. The average fee for 2014/15 was GBP 8 601 before fee waivers (discounts offered by institutions) and GBP 8 448 after fee waivers. Students are not required to pay up front and can apply for a loan to cover the full fee. Repayments are income-contingent and are set at 9 % of earnings above the threshold of GBP 21 000; interest rates are Retail Price Index plus 3 %.

1st cycle part-time – fees are set by institutions and capped at GBP 6 750. Students studying a course of at least 25 % intensity are not  required to pay up front and can apply for a loan to cover the full fee. Repayments as for full-time students.

2nd cycle – fees are unregulated and vary widely. The ‘most common’ shown (GBP 4 052) represents an indicative fee level for research students in 2014/15 set by Research Councils UK.

For 1st and 2nd cycle international students fees are unregulated.

Student grants

1st cycle full-time – the support package includes a need based grant for living costs. The grant is awarded on a sliding scale with a full grant of GBP 3 387 for students with a household income of GBP 25 000 or less and a partial grant for students with a household income of up to GBP 42 620. In 2013/14, 58 %of applicants eligible for support (grant and/or loan) were awarded a grant (43 % a full grant and 15 % a partial grant). Students who are lone parents or who have certain disabilities may be eligible for a special support grant. Many institutions also offer other bursaries and scholarships aimed at students from under-represented groups.

Loans

For 1st cycle full-time students, the support package includes a loan for living costs for all students. The maximum for students living in the family home is GBP 4 565. For students living away from the family home the maximum is GBP 5 740 outside London and GBP 8 009 in London. The amount is reduced for students who receive a need based grant. Repayments as for fee loans.

1st cycle part-time – grants and loans for living costs are not available.

2nd cycle postgraduate taught – there is no universal support package. However, in 2015/16 under the Postgraduate Support Scheme (PSS)  the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is  providing funding for 10 000 scholarships of GBP 10 000 for Masters  Students. From 2016/17, PPS will introduce income-contingent loans for students under 30 years old wishing to undertake a postgraduate  taught masters in any subject.

Tax benefit for student's parents

Tax benefits for parents and family allowances do not play a role in the student support system.

Family allowances

Tax benefits for parents and family allowances do not play a role in the student support system.