Financial Support

How do student loans work and am I eligible?

Eligible students studying their first Higher Education funded course do not have to pay any tuition fees upfront. Instead, Tuition Fee Loans are available to UK and EU students. These are repayable after you graduate or leave your course and earn over £25,000 a year. For more information, please visit: www.gov.uk/browse/education/student-finance

Information regarding either funding source is subject to change, so it is important that you check the websites below for the latest information:

Some students will pay their tuition fees, or their employer may pay. However, most full-time and some part-time Higher Education courses will be funded via a Student Loan, whilst some other courses (for example Access to Higher Education) may be covered by an Advanced Learning Loan. In either case, the loan is paid back via your salary when you are earning £25,000 per annum or more.

Student Loans Company

For further information about Tuition Fee Loans eligibility, applications and repayments visit the Student Loans Company website at:

www.slc.co.uk

Supporting your Study

There may be ways in which we can support your learning.

If you are finding it hard to cover the costs of any materials associated with your course or travelling to college, please contact our Student Services team at North Notts College on 01909 504500 as support may be available for you to cover these costs.

Opportunity Fund (Full-time and Part-time Students)

The Higher Education Opportunity Fund helps students to finish their education when they would otherwise be prevented from doing so because of financial difficulties. You will need to have applied for the full amount of any statutory support (such as student loans and grants) before your application can be assessed.

Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS)

This is an independent agency which may be able to help people get funding for further or higher education if they do not quality for government finding. For more information visit EGAS website or call 020 7254 6251.

Student Loans – Tuition Fee Loans

Our full-time courses and some of our part-time courses are eligible for funding via the Student Loans Company, and this is how most of our students fund their tuition fees. Student loans are repayable from the April following the completion of your course and when your earnings rise above £21,000 per year. This will be deducted from your salary in the same way that tax and national insurance payments are deducted.

For more information on eligibility, the application process and repayment, please visit www.slc.co.uk

Advanced Learner Loans

Advanced Learner Loans are tuition fee loans designed for students aged 19* or above, who are undertaking eligible Level 3 to Level 6 courses. This funding route may be an option for students applying for one of the Level 3 Access to Higher Education courses. More information about the Advanced Learner Loans can be found at: www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan For students who aren’t able to access tuition fee loans, we offer flexible repayment options.

*If you are aged 19 – 23 years old and studying your first Level 3, there will be no cost for the course.

Maintenance Loans

There may be maintenance loans and grants available to eligible students to support with living costs during your studies.

For more information on eligibility, the application process, potential grants and repayment, please visit www.slc.co.uk.

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

It may be possible to receive financial support to cover any additional study related costs you incur, because of a disability depending on which College you choose to study with.

If you have a sensory or physical disability, a medical condition, a mental health difficulty or a specific learning disability, such as Dyslexia or Dyspraxia you may qualify to apply for support.

DSA is available to both new and existing students, full-time or part-time and has no age limit.

If you qualify for Disabled Students’ Allowance you will need to have a DSA Needs Assessment to decide on the support you will need on your course.

Once you have received your letter from the funding body advising you that you are now approved for funding, you will need to arrange a needs assessment appointment. To locate an assessment centre search for “DSA assessment centre” in your preferred search engine, then enter your full residential or college/university postcode in the ‘Your Full Postcode’ field. Once you have entered a postcode, please select ‘Search’.

Your search will display assessment centres and outreach centres, you can receive a needs assessment at both types of centres. You can choose to attend the DSA-QAG registered centre that is most convenient to access. However, bear in mind that other centres may also be able to offer an earlier/more convenient appointment time.

Other Support

College Bursary

Across all of our Colleges we are able to support learners with those additional costs associated with learning e.g. travel and equipment. To be eligible you must have accessed the appropriate loan (Student Finance England or Advanced Learner) and provide household income evidence.

Childcare Grant

Full-time Higher Education students with children can apply for a Childcare Grant to help with childcare costs for children under 15, or under 17 if they have special educational needs. You must be eligible for student finance to apply for a Childcare Grant. For further information and eligibility criteria, please visit www.gov.uk/childcare-grant

Offer for Fair Access (OFFA)

Through our OFFA Statement (Offer for Fair Access) students may be eligible for a bursary. The eligibility criteria for each student will be dependent on which College you study with. For more information, please visit www.offa.org.uk