This section gives information for students who began their current course prior to September 2012, when the student finance system changed. The information is also relevant to students who are undertaking a part time ‘top-up’ degree programme immediately after completion of a part time Foundation Degree, HND or similar. Please contact Student Financial Advice if you require further clarification of this.

Students on part-time undergraduate courses which involve the study of at least 60 credits a year (or are 50% of a full-time equivalent course) can apply to Student Finance England (SFE)  for a tuition fee grant and a grant of up to £280 for other study costs.

The part-time course should last no longer than twice the length of time it would to complete a full-time equivalent (FTE) course (6 years for a 3 year FTE, 8 years for a 4 year FTE)

Students who already have a degree or other ‘equivalent or higher level qualification’. are not eligible for this funding.

The maximum fee grant available will depend on the ‘intensity of study’:

• Students studying 50-59% of a FTE course can receive up to £855

• Students studying 60-74% of a FTE course can receive up to £1025

• Students studying 75% or more of a FTE course can receive up to £1,285

The grants are income-assessed – taking into account the student’s and their spouse’s or partner’s gross income, but not that of a student’s parents.  Students in receipt of means-tested benefits (i.e. Income Support, Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit) qualify for the full grants.

If the income level of a single student with no children is less than £16,845 they receive the full grants.  If a student has a spouse/partner and/or children this income level is raised by the following amounts:

• £2000 for spouse/partner;

• £2000 for the eldest dependent child;

• £1000 for each further dependent child.

For students who entered Higher Education from academic 2005-2006 it does not matter what the age of the student, their partner’s income is taken into account in assessing the fees and study grant.  For students who entered H.E. prior to September 2005, the income of a partner will be taken into account only if the student is aged 25+.  The definition of ‘partner’ includes a same-sex co-habiting partner.

Where the assessable income is more than the appropriate threshold, the amount of fees grant, then £280 course grant, is reduced by tapers dependent on the income level.

Continuing students, who applied for part-time funding last year, will receive an email mid August 2014 with a short application form (PTGC). Continuing part-time students who wish to apply for finance for the first time need to complete a full application form (PTGN). Once you have completed the application form, you will need the University to complete a section of the form to confirm that you are enrolled and attending the course, and how much the fees are, before submitting the form to SFE. New students cannot submit the form until you have been registered and have attended the course for at least 2 weeks. Please note: all students must now apply to Student Finance England.

Forms will be available to download from the following website:

www.gov.uk/student-finance

If the tuition fees for the course are more than the fee grant available, the student is responsible for paying the difference.  Fees for part-time courses at the University of Sunderland vary.  Contact the relevant Faculty of study regarding the fees for the course you are interested in joining. If there is a shortfall, help may be available from the Additional Fees Support Scheme (see below).

Additional Fees Support Scheme (AFSS) 
(2013/14 information – subject to change in 2014/15)

The University has introduced a scheme whereby it will offer students tuition fees assistance from its Access to Learning Fund, if you are not receiving full support from SFE. You can only apply for this support if you fall into one of the following categories:

“I am receiving the maximum fee support from SFE, but this does not cover my fees”

The university will pay the remainder in full from the AFSS scheme.

“I am only receiving partial fee support from SFE due to their assessment of my income”

The university will calculate 75% of your total tuition fee for the year, and ensure that AFSS tops up your support to that level. This means that you will only be required to pay a maximum of 25% of your total tuition fee.

“I am receiving no fee support from SFE due to their assessment of my income”

You will not qualify for help from AFSS.

“This is my second degree course – I already have an Hons degree. SFE won’t pay my fees.”

 You will not qualify for help from AFSS.

“SFE won’t support me because I am studying less than 50% of a full-time equivalent course – but I am only studying less than 50% because of my disability”

If you receive means-tested benefits or, your sole income (and that of your spouse/partner) is fully dependent on state benefits, AFSS will pay for your tuition fee in full.

If you are not in receipt of benefits and/or receive any other type of income (e.g earnings), AFSS will pay 75% of your total tuition fee provided your household income is less than £25,421 after adjustments* (please see the table below).

*Adjustments which will be ignored when calculating your household income

• £2,000 for your oldest dependent child

• £1,000 each for any other dependent children

• £2,000 if you live with a partner

For further information or advice about AFSS, you can email our Student Support Funds office: alfqueries@sunderland.ac.uk or Student Financial Advice team: studentfinancialadvice@sunderland.ac.uk 

This section gives information for students who will start a part time course in September 2014. The information is also relevant to students who are undertaking a part time ‘top-up’ degree programme immediately after completion of a full-time Foundation Degree, HND or similar. Please contact Student Financial Advice if you require further clarification of this.

Tuition Fees in 2014/15 are expected to be £4000 per 120 credits, or approximately £667 per 20 credits.

Students who are studying at least 25% of a full time equivalent course can apply for a non-means tested tuition fee loan from Student Finance England. This will NOT be available to students who already hold a degree qualification or other ‘equivalent or higher level qualification’. (Although exceptions are made for certain Teacher Training courses, e.g. the part-time PGCE PCET.)

Repayment of loans will begin from April 2018 (even if you are still studying), if  earning over £21,000 per year. Once you are earning over this threshold, you will pay 9% of earnings over £21,000. This is taken from wages by HMRC, alongside your income tax and National Insurance, and then used to reduce the amount owed to the Student Loan Company. Once the loan is repaid in full, these deductions will stop. Alternatively, any remaining loan is written off after 30 years.

As an example, if you will earn £28,000 pa, you will repay 9% of £7000, which is £630 per year or £52.50 per month. Therefore, £52.50 will be deducted from your monthly pay and used to reduce the amount owed to the Student Loans Company.

If you earn less than £21,000 pa, nothing is taken from your wages and you are not expected to make any repayments.

You can make additional payments if you wish – this would enable you to pay off the loan in less time and will reduce the amount of interest charged.

Students can apply at: www.gov.uk/student-finance

National Scholarship Programme

New part time undergraduate students will be able to apply for a scholarship from the limited NSP funds, from registration up until the advertised closing date, usually the end of October. These applications will be assessed by the University, and will be offered as a fee waiver (either full or partial) to those students selected.

Information will be available with your offer letter, and through your university ‘VIP’ online access.

Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)

Students with disabilities or specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia) can apply to SFE for this grant.  The DSA is to help with the extra costs of study you incur as a direct result of your disability or specific learning difficulty.  It does not depend on an income assessment.  The maximum available for students starting in September 2014 are:

• For items of specialist equipment - £5,212

• To pay a non-medical personal helper - £15,543

• Other expenditure - £1,305

The equipment allowance is for the duration of the course; the other two are annual amounts.  The University’s Disability Support Team assesses students’ needs, helps organise appropriate support and helps students apply for the DSA – contact (0191) 515 2952. 

Student Funding and Welfare Benefits

None of the above grants should affect the amount of means-tested benefits you are entitled to receive.  So long as you continue to fulfil the basic eligibility rules for Income Support (IS) or Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA), you are able to study on a course the University defines as part-time.  If you are claiming JSA, you need to continue to be available for and actively seeking work.  Your availability for work is not affected if attendance on the course does not overlap with the hours you have agreed you are available for work.  If there is some overlap the Jobcentre Plus will expect you to:

• rearrange the hours of the course to fit around a job, or

• be prepared to give up the course if a job comes up, and

• be ready to take time off the course to attend a job interview, and

• be ready to start work immediately. 

Access to Learning Fund 
(PLEASE NOTE: 2013/14 information – subject to possible change in 14/15)

As a part-time student, you are eligible to apply to the University’s Access to Learning Fund for a contribution towards your course-related costs, as long as you are studying at a rate of at least 50% of the full-time equivalent course (or at least 25% if you have a disability that affects your studies).  Students with children are a priority group but the Fund is discretionary. Before application to the Fund you must apply for funding through the government’s Student Finance system. A copy of the result is needed with your ALF application. 

Part-Time Childcare Grant 
(PLEASE NOTE: 2013/14 information – subject to possible change in 2014/15)

Another grant available from the University of Sunderland is the Part-time Child-care Grant. This is payable to part-time Higher Education students who are UK citizens or have no restrictions on their stay in the UK (the residency requirements for most UK student support), and who need to use a registered child-care provider during their periods of study. The University of Sunderland can pay for reasonable child-care costs during term-time (based on your intensity of study, timetable, and expected study times) from its own funds. Child-care used during university holiday periods cannot be included.

Continuing students: You must be studying Undergraduate level of study and be in receipt of maximum Fee Grant and maximum Course Grant from SFE.

New students: You must be studying Undergraduate level of study and have a household income below £16,845. (This income threshold may be higher depending upon circumstances. Please contact us for further information.)

Application forms for the Part-time Child-care Grant are available from the University’s Student Support Funds Officer, based at the Edinburgh Building in The Gateway, Chester Campus.

Social Work Students

Part-time Social Work Bursaries are currently available from the NHS Business Services Authority. The bursary can only be paid from Level 2 of the degree course onward, and funded places are limited.

You can find more information either from the University’s Faculty of Education & Society or from the NHSBSA website -http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/825.aspx

If you would like any further information, advice, or help on any of the above, please contact us.