Understanding student finance
Here you can find information on Tuition Fees, Living cost support, Repaying your loan, Applying for your loan, Mature students, Students with disabilities, Part-time students.
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees are not an upfront cost and there is a Tuition Fee Loan available for UK and EU students. The University of East Anglia will be charging UK and EU students £9,000 for all undergraduate courses starting in 2013 (excluding NHS funded courses. For more information see our health courses section).
| Course or year | 2013 fee amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Home and EU students | All undergraduate courses (excluding NHS funded courses) | £9,000 |
| Students starting in 2013 | Year abroad | £1,350 |
| Students starting in 2013 | Year in industry | £1,250 |
| Students from Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man | Undergraduate Clinical Medicine | £19,000 |
| Undergraduate Sciences and Pre-clinical Medicine | £10,500 | |
| Undergraduate Nursing, Health, Social Work, Psychology, Mathematics and Computing | £9,000 | |
| Undergraduate Arts and Humanities | £9,000 |
Tuition fees have been set for 2013 entry only. In further years of study there may be a slight increase in tuition fees charged to continuing students (broadly in line with inflation). Ordinarily tuition fees for the following year are confirmed during December. Tuition fees for 2014 entry will be confirmed in autumn 2013.
Tuition Fee Loan
Full time UK and EU students can obtain a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the cost of their course. The fee is paid directly to the university on your behalf and is administered by Student Finance England. You can borrow the full fee, part of the fee or none of the fee during each year of your study.
You start paying back the Loan once you have finished studying and are earning over £21,000 a year. For more information see repaying your loan.
Living cost support
There are two main types of living cost support available from Student Finance England; a Loan (repayable) and a Grant (non-repayable). They are designed to help with living costs such as course materials, accommodation, food and entertainment.
Living Cost Loan
Living Cost Loans, also referred to as a Student Loan or Maintenance Loan, are available from Student Finance England. The Loan is usually paid in three instalments, one at the start of each term, directly into your bank account.
How much you borrow depends on your household income* and where you live whilst you study. 65% of the Loan is for anyone (non-income assessed) and 35% depends on household income. Students from lower income households will receive more support. The table below gives an indication of how much you might receive.
| Maximum annual Loan | |
|---|---|
| Living away from home and studying in London | £7,675 |
| Living away from home and studying outside London | £5,500 |
| If you live at your parent's home | £4,375 |
* Your 'household income' means either your income if you are an independent student or your parent's income if you are a dependent student.
Living Cost Loans are paid back once you have finished studying and are earning over £21,000 a year. To find out more information about repayments, please visit the Repaying your Loan section.
Living Cost Grant
New full-time students may be eligible for a non-repayable Living Cost Grant (sometimes referred to as a Maintenance Grant) worth up to £3,354 per year.
The Grant is administered by Student Finance England {www.gov.uk/studentfinance} and is non-repayable. The Grant is usually paid in three instalments, one at the start of each term, directly into your bank account.
The amount of Grant you receive depends on your household income. For more information about what counts toward your household income please visit www.gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance/household-income or use the Student Finance Calculator at www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator.
The table below provides an indication of the expected thresholds and amounts for 2013 entry.
| Household income | Grant amount |
|---|---|
| Less than £25,000 | £3,354 |
| Between £25,000 and £42,611 | Part of £3,354 |
| Over £42,611 | Not eligible for Grant |
The amount of Living Cost Grant available can change year on year so it is advisable to check the latest information on our web pages.
Total living cost support
The amount of non-repayable Living Cost Grant you receive will decrease the amount of Living Cost Loan you will be eligible for. The table below shows how much Grant and Loan you will receive depending on your household income. The figures shown relate to students living away from home and studying outside London.
| Household income | Living Cost Grant | Living Cost Loan | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 or less | £3,354 | £3,823 | £7,177 |
| £30,000 | £2,416 | £4,292 | £6,708 |
| £35,000 | £1,478 | £4,761 | £6,239 |
| £40,000 | £540 | £5,230 | £5,770 |
| £42,611 | £50 | £5,475 | £5,525 |
| £42,875 | £0 | £5,500 | £5,500 |
| £50,000 | £0 | £4,788 | £4,788 |
| £60,000 | £0 | £3,788 | £3,788 |
| Over £62,125 | £0 | £3,575 | £3,575 |
In addition to the Living Cost Support available from Student Finance England, the University has a wide range of Scholarships and Bursaries.
Repaying your loan
You only become liable to repay your Tuition Fee and Living Cost Loans once you have graduated and are earning over £21,000 a year. Repayments will start in the April after you graduate (providing you are earning over the threshold amount). If you have taken both Loans out these will be combined and you will make one repayment.
The Student Loans Company will advise HM Revenue and Customs (formerly the Inland Revenue) when your Loan is liable for repayment. They will then instruct your employer to deduct repayments from your gross income at a rate of 9% of any income earned in excess of £21,000 a year.
An example:
- A student finishes their degree in July 2016
- Their salary is £25,000, so they earn £4,000 in excess of £21,000
- Their repayments are calculated at £30 per month (9% of £4,000/12)
- From April 2017 £30 per month is deducted from their wages via PAYE
The below table shows salaries and typical repayments.
| Salary | Amount of salary from which 9% will be deducted | Monthly repayment |
|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | £4,000 | £30 |
| £30,000 | £9,000 | £67.50 |
| £35,000 | £14,000 | £105 |
| £40,000 | £19,000 | £142.50 |
| £45,000 | £24,000 | £180 |
| £50,000 | £29,000 | £217.50 |
| £55,000 | £34,000 | £255 |
| £60,000 | £39,000 | £292.50 |
Interest rates
Interest on your loan will be applied at inflation (RPI - Retail Price Index) plus 3% whilst you are studying, and up until the April after you leave university. From the April after you graduate, interest will depend on earnings, as below.
| Salary less than £21,000 | RPI |
|---|---|
| Salary between £21,000 and £41,000 | Between the RPI and RPI plus 3% |
| Salary over £41,000 | RPI plus 3% |
Please see our
Applying for your loan
You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, Living Cost Loan and Living Cost Grant online through Student Finance England. The online application is designed so you only see the sections that are relevant to you and that you need to fill in. You do not need to complete it all in one go, you can save it and log back in as many times as you like. You don't have to wait until you've accepted a place on a course to apply for student finance. If you haven't accepted a place yet, create your student finance account and apply using your first choice of course. You can easily change your course or university details online later.
Applications can be made in the Spring of the year you will start your course. There is a deadline to submit your application, please check the Student Finance England website for the most up-to-date deadline information. We recommend you apply as early as possible to ensure your application is processed and approved so you are paid on time.
For more information on how to apply through Student Finance England please visit https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance.
Finance Calculator
Student Finance England provide an online calculator which allows you to work out how much you could receive and help you to compare your living costs at various universities. The calculator can be found at www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator.
Mature students
To be classed as an independent student in the UK you need to fall into one or more of the following categories: aged 25 or over at the start of the academic year; be married before the start of the academic year; or have supported yourself for at least three years before the start of the academic year.
An independent student is entitled to the Living Cost Grant in the same way as students who enter university from school (dependent on household income). Loans for fees and living costs will also be available. If a student already holds a degree, they are generally not eligible for Government support (unless studying Medicine).
If you are an independent student and single your income will be assessed to see whether you are eligible for any Living Cost Grant. If you are an independent student and married or living with partner, your partner's income will be assessed alongside your own.
Additional support
Additional financial help is available for students in particular circumstances:
Childcare Grant
A Childcare Grant is available for full-time higher education students who have dependent children in registered or approved childcare. The Grant pays 85% of actual childcare costs in term times and holidays up to a maximum amount per week. The Grant is income assessed and does not have to be repaid.
Adult Dependants' Grant
If you have a husband, wife or partner who depends on you financially you could be eligible. How much you get depends on your income and that of your dependants.
Parents' Learning Allowance
If you are a parent studying on a full-time course you may also be entitled to the Parents' Learning Allowance to help with course-related costs. The Allowance is income assessed and does not have to be repaid.
Students with Disabilities
If you have a disability which causes you to have extra costs when attending your course you could be entitled to a Disabled Students' Allowance. Any allowance you're entitled to won't have to be paid back, and can be applied for at any time before or during your course. To apply for the disabled students allowance please complete form DSA1. This form is also available through Student Finance England, along with guidance on completing the form.
For more information on any of the above please visit Student Finance England.
Part time students
Students starting a part-time undergraduate course at the University of East Anglia from 2013 will be subject to the new £9,000 fee rate on a pro-rata basis. Part-time students will be able to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the cost of their course fees. The Tuition Fee Loan will replace the previous means-tested Fee Grant and Study Grant. The Fee Loan will not be means-tested.
For more information on part-time funding please visit Student Finance England.