Student Finance
We know navigating Student Finance is far from easy but hopefully some of the guidance and tips below can help ease the burden.
Final Year? In your final year of university or college, you'll likely get less Maintenance Loan than you had in other years. This is because student finance usually covers the breaks between each year, but you're no longer entitled to it once your course has ended. Source: UCAS
Care-Experienced students in the UK - check out HEPP's guide to Higher Education
General Student Finance Support & Advice
Estranged Students ~ the Stand Alone Charity have produced a guide for applying here. You can apply for estranged/independent status at any point in your degree. Many students become estranged whilst at college/university.
Care Leavers ~ Propel (by the Become Charity) have produced a guide for applying here and EPIC (Empowering People in Care, Ireland) can help you here.
If you’re struggling to evidence your family estrangement…
With Student Finance England, Wales or Northern Ireland, please write to The Student Loans Company’s new specialist team for estranged students: estranged@slc.co.uk. They can help if you can’t find the right evidence or haven’t told anybody about your estrangement. If you're in Ireland, get in touch with support@susi.ie with the email subject of 'Estranged Student'.
Student Finance England (SFE)
I'm an Estranged Student ~ see their website here
I'm a Care Leaver Student ~ see their website here
The Student Room SFE Support Forum ~ see here
Care Experienced students: in England may also be eligible for a Higher Education Bursary, which you don’t pay back – contact your LA for details.
Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
I'm an Estranged Student ~ see their website here
I'm a Care Experienced Student ~ see their website here
The Student Room SAAS Support Forum ~ see here
Care Experienced: A Care Experienced Students Bursary, which you don’t pay back – find out more on the SAAS website.
Student Finance Wales (SFW)
I'm an Estranged Student ~ see their website here
I'm a Care Experienced Student ~ see their website here
The Student Room SFW Support Forum ~ see here
Care Experienced students: You may be eligible for a Higher Education Bursary, which you don’t pay back – contact your local authority for details.
Student Finance NI
I'm an Estranged Student ~ see their website here
I'm a Care Experienced Student ~ see their website here
The Student Room SF NI Support Forum ~ see here
Care Experienced students: Your Trust will assist you with planning funding for higher education, and must explain how they will support your plans – contact your Trust for more details.
Postgraduate Student Finance
Postgraduate fees can vary a lot, and funding isn’t always straightforward. Here's the info you need, including funding options, and where to find support.
UCAS Website: https://www.ucas.com/postgraduate/postgraduate-fees-and-funding
You may also wish to see our page on Mature & PhD Students and Grants & Scholarships
Student Finance for Refugees & Asylum Seekers
It's a good idea to contact your course providers before you apply, to discuss if they can offer your support, and what this might be. This will depend on your circumstances, and you will need to let them know your refugee status. Some Universities may provide specific bursaries or scholarships that could help you out.
If you are an asylum seeker
Asylum seekers are not usually eligible for either the ‘home’ rate of tuition fees or student finance. However, there are some organisations who may be able to help. Please see the information below (under 'Need more support?') about scholarships for asylum seekers.
If you have Humanitarian Protection
The Government’s regulations about who pays ‘home’ fees and who pays ‘overseas’ fees are changing. If you plan to start an undergraduate course in England on, or after, 1 August 2019, you will need to have been resident in the UK for the three years leading up to the start of your course. For the rest of the UK, there is no change.
Read more about the changes on the UKCISA website.
If you are aged 17 or under, or your status changes
When you turn 18, your status may change. If your status changes (for example, you are granted refugee status after you have applied to university), it is important that you let your course provider know as soon as possible. Admissions staff will be able to give you advice about your individual situation.
If you are applying as a Postgraduate
The UCAS Postgraduate application includes two questions about refugee and asylum seeker status. This page provides information to help you answer the questions: https://www.ucas.com/ucas/postgraduate/help
Need more support?
If you need further information or advice about higher education study as a refugee or asylum seeker, the following organisations can help:
Refugee Support Network offers support services to help you overcome any challenges you may face, along with useful resources. Its 'Thinking Ahead to Higher Education Toolkit' and frequently asked questions are great starting points for refugees and asylum seekers considering applying to university. Website: https://www.refugeesupportnetwork.org/pages/25-access-to-higher-education
Read a blog article by Refugee Support Network, outlining the challenges faced by one student who is an asylum seeker, and the support he has received going to university in the UK. See here: https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/refugee-support-network
Student Action for Refugees (STAR) works to create scholarships for refugees in higher education. There is a list of all scholarships available in the UK on its website. Website: http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/about/what_is_star
UKCISA can help you understand more about tuition fee status in different parts of the UK, as well as other issues related to immigration and education. Website: https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Fees-and-Money/Home-or-Overseas-fees-the-basics
Coram Children’s Legal Centre provides free legal information, advice, and representation to children, and their families or carers. It can help if you are unclear about your immigration status or need legal advice. Website: https://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/
Refugee Study
This website is an information portal for refugees and asylum seekers who want to study in the United Kingdom. It provides information about grants, scholarships, bursaries and free courses, with links to relevant funding organisations. It also provides tips to help you to obtain funding.
Visit our scholarships directory if you are interested in finding out about funding that is available for study at university in the UK. This directory lists all the universities in the UK that offer grants, scholarships and tuition fee waivers to asylum seekers and/or refugees for undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses.
Website: http://www.refugee-study.co.uk/
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