Student Funding

Student Funding Advisors

How can the Funding Advice Team help me?

We can contact Student Finance England (SFE) if you are experiencing difficulties with your funding application, provide information on funding from the University of Bolton or SFE, identify whether you are eligible for a bursary or scholarship and help you budget to ensure your money covers essential costs while you are studying.

How do I contact you?

If you want to ask a general question, help with budgeting or require a more detailed discussion regarding your financial situation, please email: studentfunding@bolton.ac.uk.

What funding can I get as an UK undergraduate student commencing a course on or after September 2016?

As a full time undergraduate student, you are entitled to apply for Student Finance England funding which may provide a tuition fee loan, maintenance loan and supplementary grants; Childcare Grant, Parents Learning Allowance and Adult Dependants Grant. This is subject to eligibility. You can use the Student Finance Calculator to estimate your entitlement. The link is: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator. As a part time undergraduate student, you are able to apply for a tuition fee loan to cover 100% of the cost of your tuition fee. This is a non-means tested loan so an assessment on your household income will not be necessary. Students starting on or after 1^st August 2018 are able to apply for a means tested maintenance loan. This will be awarded on a pro-rated basis, based on eligibility and intensity of course. There are no Grants available for students starting their part time study on or after 1 September 2012. Details of all funding, including studying part time and the additional grants available to full time students can be found on the Student Finance England website: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/overview  A summary for funding is also provided on the University of Bolton website:  https://www.bolton.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/feesfunding/

Funding received from Student Finance England may be restricted if your new course of study is not the first time you have studied at Higher Education level. Please contact us for further information or visit the website www.hefce.ac.uk Details of our scholarships and bursaries can be found on the University of Bolton website: https://www.bolton.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/feesfunding/scholarshipsandbursaries/

What funding can I get as a UK postgraduate student studying a MA or MSc?

The links below provide further information on Government and University funding:

https://www.gov.uk/funding-for-postgraduate-study

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/content.php?r=21647-Postgraduate-Loans

https://www.gov.uk/apply-online-for-student-finance

A summary for postgraduate funding is provided on the University of Bolton website:

http://www.bolton.ac.uk/Postgraduate/Finance/Home.aspx

I am a UK student and studying a PGCE/Cert Ed course – what funding is available?

If you have not attained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) already, please refer to the entitlement for full time and part time undergraduate students as Initial Teacher Training courses are eligible for Student Finance England funding. A summary for funding is provided on the University of Bolton website: http://www.bolton.ac.uk/Postgraduate/Finance/TeacherTraining/Home.aspx

How do I apply for the Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan?

If you are a full time UK undergraduate student, you can apply for the above. Student Finance England prefer you to apply online but you can opt to download a paper copy from their website. An overview of the process and possible entitlement is provided at: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance You can apply online: https://www.gov.uk/apply-online-for-student-finance You can download a form: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-forms

What Bursaries and Scholarships are available from the University?

Our Scholarship and Bursary webpage details the latest awards offered by the University of Bolton and you can check your eligibility and how to apply for one (if applicable):

https://www.bolton.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/feesfunding/  If you prefer a fact sheet for a particular bursary/scholarship, these are available in the Student Centre in Chancellor’s Mall or you can request a specific fact sheet via email: studentfunding@bolton.ac.uk

I am interested in receiving guidance so that I can budget whilst I am studying – can you help?

We can arrange a budgeting session with you to check you have received the maximum amount of funding available to you, list your living costs and plan your spending according to your available income to help you keep on track. Please contact us to discuss further.

Student Finance England refer to ‘household income’ – whose income is considered?

If you are under 25 years of age and live with your parent(s) or your parent and their partner – the household income is their gross income. If you are under 25 years of age and are applying for SFE funding as an independent student – the household income is your partner's or spouse's income plus your unearned income. If you live alone, SFE will include your unearned income but not your earned income in their calculation. If you are over 25 years of age – you are considered an independent student by SFE so your partner's or spouse's income plus your unearned income will be considered as the household income. If you live alone, SFE will include your unearned income but not your earned income in their calculation. Household income does not include the student's earned income or that of siblings. Guidance on earned and unearned income is provided on the Student Finance England website:

https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance

Is there any other funding available from the University of Bolton?

The University of Bolton Student Support Fund is a discretionary fund administered by the Support Fund team at the University of Bolton with the intention of supporting students through their studies. Application forms and guidance notes are available from the Student Centre from the end of September each academic year.

What is means tested and non-means tested funding?

Means tested’ relates to funding awarded by Student Finance England that depends on your household income and ‘Non- Means tested’ does not depend on your household income. The amounts of Supplementary Grants that you can receive as a full time UK undergraduate student or a full time UK PGCE/Cert Ed student is subject to eligibility and your household income. SFE will therefore need to carry out an assessment on your household income to determine your entitlement.  The tuition fee loan is available to all eligible UK and EU full time students regardless of household income. This is referred to as non-means tested funding as no household income assessment will need to be carried out by SFE. For an illustration of the funding you may be eligible to receive, please see the webpage below and view the quick start guide:

https://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/supporting-materials/