Application, Fees & Funding
Undergraduate Fees and Funding
Overview
Your choice to study for a degree is an investment in your future. Statistics show that graduates earned an average of £12,000 a year more than non-graduates over the past decade. At Portsmouth, we add value to your degree by ensuring all of our courses have professional input, opportunities for placements or work-related learning. According to latest figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency over 89 per cent of graduates went straight in to work or further study.
There are two really important things to bear in mind:
Contact us
- Support
- Student Finance Centre
E: student.finance@port.ac.uk
T: General Enquiries
+44 (0)23 9284 3014
Fees & Bursaries Information Helpline:
+44 (0)23 9284 3052
www.port.ac.uk/money
Watch our frequently asked questions video for answers to common queries about student finance.
Play Video (2:05 minutes)
UK and EU Students
Funding for full-time students from England
In order to receive the support below you must meet eligibility requirements.
Tuition Fee Loan
We have set our tuition fees for UK/EU students starting in 2013 on our full-time undergraduate degree course at £8,750.Tuition fees will increase with inflation each year. You can apply for a non-income assessed loan to cover your tuition fees. You won’t have to start repaying this loan until the April after you finish your course, if you are earning over £21,000 per year (gross). Most students from England choose to take out a tuition fee loan.
If you prefer, you can arrange to pay your tuition fees without taking a loan or you can pay part of your fees and apply for a reduced loan to cover the remainder.
Maintenance Loan
You can also apply for a maintenance loan to help with your living costs. The amount of maintenance loan you can receive will depend on where you live whilst studying and your assessed household income. The loan is paid directly into your bank account in three termly instalments and is available each academic year. As an example: students living away from home during term time can borrow between £3,575 and £5,500 and students living in their parental home can borrow between £2,698 and £4,375.
Maintenance loans are repaid in the same way as tuition fee loans.
Maintenance Grant
This is a non-repayable grant of up to £3,354 to help towards living costs. How much you will be eligible for depends on your assessed household income. The grant available each year and is paid in three instalments directly into your bank account. Grants will not be available during paid placement years.
| Household income | Tuition fee loan | Maintenance loan | Maintenance grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 or less | £8,750 | £3,823 | £3,354 |
| £30,000 | £8,750 | £4,292 | £2,416 |
| £35,000 | £8,750 | £4,761 | £1,478 |
| £40,000 | £8,750 | £5,230 | £540 |
| £45,000 | £8,750 | £5,288 | £0 |
| £50,000 | £8,750 | £4,788 | £0 |
| £55,000 | £8,750 | £4,288 | £0 |
| £60,000 | £8,750 | £3,788 | £0 |
| Over £62,125 | £8,750 | £3,575 | £0 |
Amy applied for funding from Student Finance England. Listen to her story about the application process and the support she received from the Student Finance Centre.
Play Video (2:05 minutes)
How to apply
You can apply for this funding online at Student Finance England. For help applying have a look at our Student Finance Timeline or contact us.
Funding for students from the rest of the UK
Tuition fees for students from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man starting in 2013 are £8,750. Tuition fees will increase with inflation each year.
You can apply for support towards your fees and living costs through your home government. Visit the following websites for further information:
- Students from Wales: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
- Students from Scotland: www.saas.gov.uk
- Students from Northern Ireland: www.studentfinanceni.co.uk
- Students from Guernsey: www.gov.gg/ccm
- Students from Jersey: www.gov.je
- Students from the Isle of Man: www.gov.im/education
Funding for students from the EU
Tuition fees for students from the EU starting in 2013 are £8,750. Tuition fees will increase with inflation each year.
Tuition Fee Loan
TIf you have lived in the UK for less than three years before the start of your course you can apply for a non-income assessed tuition fee loan to cover your tuition fees. You won't have to start repaying this loan until the April after you finish your course, if you earn over £21,000. Different repayment thresholds apply if you live outside of the UK. For further information visit Student Finance England.
How to apply
If you applied for your course through UCAS, you will automatically be sent an application form for a tuition fee loan. If you are not applying through UCAS, you should contact the EU team at the Student Loans Company on +44 (0)141 243 3570 and request an application form, called an EU13N.
If you have lived in the UK for three years or more before starting your course and currently live in England you may be eligible for funding as a student from England. Contact us for details.
Living Costs
It is important to budget carefully to ensure that you have enough money to support yourself during your time at University. You should allow between £6,000 - £7,000 for a 39 week course. For budgeting advice, hints and tips visit our Student Finance Centre’s pages.
Part-time UK and EU students
Around a third of those who go into higher education are studying part time. The good thing about studying part time is that you can carry on working and earning at the same time. Tuition fee loans are available to part-time students to cover the cost of studying.
Funding for part-time students from England
Tuition fees for part-time undergraduate students starting in 2013 are detailed on each course page. All eligible part-time students studying at least 25% of a full-time course (30 credits per year) can apply for a non-income assessed loan to cover the tuition fees. You only start to repay your loan from the April four years after your course started - or the April after you leave your studies, whichever is sooner - and then only if you earn over £21,000.
More information on repayments is available on our Student Finance Centre webpages.
You can arrange to pay your tuition fees without taking a loan, or you can pay part of your fees and apply for a reduced loan to cover the remainder.
How to apply
New students from England will be able to apply in early August 2013 and will be able to download an application pack or apply online at Student Finance England.
Blessing is a part-time student, balancing his studies with work and family life.
Play Video (2:53 minutes)
University Bursaries
A bursary is additional funding paid by a university to students from low-income households. Bursaries are paid on top of any other student finance and you don’t have to pay them back.
University of Portsmouth Bursary
All eligible full-time, undergraduate English students* whose assessed household income is £25,000 or less will be able to choose from either a tuition fee or accommodation discount** of £2,000 in their first year. They will also receive a cash bursary of £1,000 in their first year of study and £1,030 in subsequent years. There will also be cash bursaries available each year to students with household incomes between £25,001 and £42,611.
| Household Income | Bursary in first year | Bursary in subsequent years |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £25,000 | £2,000 tuition fee or accommodation discount** and £1,000 cash bursary | £1,030 cash bursary |
| £25,001 to £32,000 | £1,000 cash bursary | £1,030 cash bursary |
| £32,001 to £42,611 | £500 cash bursary | £515 cash bursary |
*Full time, undergraduate students starting in 2013 paying the full £8,750 fee.
**The accommodation discount option is only available in University halls of residence and is subject to availability.
The University of Portsmouth Bursary incorporates the National Scholarship Programme. Please note this bursary is not available to NHS funded or other sponsored students, or students from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. For more information about the University of Portsmouth Bursary call our dedicated Fees and Bursary helpline on +44 (0)23 9284 3052.
EU students
EU students* with household incomes of £25,000** or under are eligible to apply for a tuition fee discount of £2,000 from the University of Portsmouth in their first year of study only. The accommodation discount option is not available to EU students.
*Full time, undergraduate students starting in 2013 paying the full £8,750 fee
**The fee discount is assessed on your household income depending on your home country.
- £15,000 limit for Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland & Romania.
- £20,000 limit for Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia & Slovenia
- £25,000 limit for all other EU countries.
How to apply
You do not need to apply to the University to receive these awards as we will automatically assess your eligibility using the information on your application to Student Finance England.
The university will be able to determine your eligibility for bursaries when all of the following conditions are satisfied:
- You have applied to Student Finance England for income-assessed support
- The University of Portsmouth is stated on your Student Finance England application
- Your household income has been verified by Student Finance England
- You (and your parents or partner) have provided your consent to share your information with the University.
When applying for your tuition fee loan you should request the full tuition fee amount of £8,750. If you are eligible for a fee discount the university will advise you and ask for your preference of a tuition fee or accommodation discount. If you choose the accommodation option and are subsequently offered a place in halls of residence this will be applied to your halls fees. If you choose the tuition fee option or if you are not successful in gaining a place in halls of residence the discount will be automatically applied to your tuition fees. We will then advise Student Finance England who will change your loan amount accordingly.
If your circumstances change after you have made your initial application and you become eligible for a bursary we will let you know.
EU students can apply by completing an EU13B form, which will be sent to you from the Student Loans Company once you have applied for a tuition fee loan.
Care Leavers and Foyer Residents Bursary
An additional annual non income-assessed bursary of £1,550 is offered to eligible home (UK) undergraduate full-time students, who have previously spent a significant time in care (some of which has been in their teens) or are currently living or have lived in sheltered accommodation or a Foyer Federation (for a significant period of time for reasons related to their physical or mental well-being). Conditions apply so contact us for more details. Evidence will be required when you apply.
You should apply for the above bursary via the Student Finance Centre. The Centre will also be able to advise you about the additional financial and practical support available to care leavers starting university. For further information please contact us. The final deadline for receipt of applications will be the end of April 2014, subject to budget limitations.
Extra Support
Students choosing to study for a first degree have different circumstance and needs. At Portsmouth we’re committed to ensuring that all students capable of benefitting from higher education are not deterred for financial reasons.
Students with dependants
If you have children there’s extra support available to you while you study, and some students (particularly lone parents) will be eligible for some benefits while they study. Our Student Finance Centre is able to compile a financial statement detailing the specific amounts of funding available to you, please contact us if you would like to discuss your situation further.
Statutory funding for full-time students from Student Finance England
In addition to the funding detailed for students from England, students with dependants can apply for the following:
- Parents Learning Allowance: Up to £1,508 (for those with dependent children).
- Adult Dependant's Grant: Up to £2,642 (if you are supporting an adult dependant).
- Childcare Grant: Can cover up to 85% of registered childcare costs (max payable £148.75 for one child, £255 for two or more children).
You can apply for these alongside your main student funding application. The exact amounts payable will be assessed on your personal and financial circumstances.
In addition, if you are a lone parent you are entitled to a special support grant instead of a maintenance grant. This grant is also paid up to a maximum of £3,354 but is disregarded for benefits purposes.
Child Tax Credits and Child Benefit
Child Tax Credit is one of the main forms of support for those with dependent children. Becoming a full-time student should not change your entitlement to receive payments. You should contact HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and advise them that you intend to become a student - your student award will be disregarded for tax credit purposes (the only element that is counted is the Adult Dependants' Grant of £2,642 which is only paid to those that are responsible for supporting an adult dependant).
Maximum weekly allowances for Child Tax Credit are currently (2012/13 tax year):
- One child: £62.09
- Two children: £113.68
- Three children: £165.27
- Four children: £216.86
You are still eligible to receive Child Benefit as a student (unless you or your partner are a higher rate tax payer).
NHS funding: similar allowances are available for students on NHS funded courses.
Working Tax Credit
If you received Working Tax Credit before you started your course then your entitlement may change when you become a full-time student. If you are a lone parent you can only claim Working Tax Credit as a student if you continue to work for at least 24 hours a week alongside your studies. If you live with a partner they may be entitled to claim Working Tax Credit if they work over 24 hours a week. Further information and guidance, and application forms can be obtained by calling the Tax Credit helpline on 0845 300 3900 or visiting HM Revenue & Customs.
Housing Benefit
You are eligible for Housing Benefit as a student if you are also:
- A lone parent
- Living as a couple where you are both students and you have at least one child
- Receiving Disability Living Allowance (irrespective of the disability), or Disabled Students' Allowance for reasons of a hearing impairment
You must be living in rented accommodation and have a formal tenancy agreement in your name. All applications are made via your local authority. If you live in Halls of Residence during term time and fall into one of the above categories then you are also entitled to apply.
Only the maintenance loan (part of which is disregarded), adult dependants' grant (if applicable), and child tax credit are counted in the benefits assessment, together with any earnings you may have. If you receive the social work bursary or an NHS bursary for the course you are doing then this is counted in full as income over a 52 week period.
Income Support and Job Seekers' Allowance
You can normally only claim Income Support or Jobseekers’ Allowance over the summer vacation period. Lone parent students with at least one child under five and some disabled students are eligible for Income Support. If your youngest child is aged five or over then you can apply for Jobseekers’ Allowance over the summer period instead of Income Support. Student couples with children (of any age) may be eligible for Job Seekers' Allowance instead.
Applications should be made by contacting your local Benefit Delivery Centre on 0845 608 8573. The amount of Income Support you are awarded should be equivalent to the current personal allowance (£71 a week in 2012/13), but may vary depending on individual circumstances.
One other important thing to note is that if you do receive any Income Support then you should become entitled to full Housing Benefit.
What if I have a mortgage to pay?
If you are a lone parent with at least one child under five and a mortgage then you may be entitled to claim some assistance with your mortgage interest payments via Income Support.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit will be introduced in October 2013 and will affect any new benefit claims made after that date. We will publish further information about how this will affect students when it becomes available.
Hardship Funds
We administer a number of support funds for students who are experiencing financial difficulty whilst studying. More information is available on our website for current students.
For an individual assessment of your benefit entitlement whilst studying please contact us.
Students with disabilities
Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) is available to help with extra costs disabled students may have whilst studying, as a direct result of their disability or specific learning difficulty. DSA is non income-assessed and can help with areas such as travel, a non-medical helper (e.g. note-taker or reader), specialist equipment and other course-related costs. To apply, you must be a full or part-time student from the UK, studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
The allowances for full-time students for 2013/14 are as follows:
- Specialist Equipment Allowance: Up to £5,161 for the whole course. You can apply for this once during your course and it is for equipment that you may need to help you during your course, such as a computer or specialist software.
- Non-Medical Helpers Allowance: Up to £20,520 per year. This is to help pay for people to assist you with non-medical needs, such as a sign language interpreter or note taker.
- General: Up to £1,724 per year. This allowance is to help pay for anything not covered by the other allowances, e.g. Braille paper, talking tapes, etc.
Part-time students
Part-time students attending at least 50% of a full-time course are also eligible for the DSA.
The rates are as follows:
- Specialist Equipment Allowance: Up to £5,161 for whole course
- Non-Medical Helpers Allowance: Up to £15,390 per year
- General Allowance: Up to £1,293 per year
When to apply
You should apply for DSA at the same time as you apply for your loans (and grant) through Student Finance England. During the online application you can request a ‘short’ application form for DSA (DSA1), which will be sent out to you. If you are not applying for any loans or grants you will need to complete the ‘long' version of the application, available to download from Student Finance England. The assessment process can take up to three months to complete therefore you are advised to apply as soon as possible.
NHS-funded students
Students studying NHS-funded courses may also apply for a Disabled Students Allowance through the NHS Grants Unit. For more information visit the NHS bursaries website.
How to apply
Student Finance England is responsible for establishing your eligibility. For additional information on assistance with disabilities, contact our Additional Support and Disability Advice Centre on 023 9284 3462.
Felicity’s received support from the Disabled Students' Allowance and the Access to Learning Fund.
Play Video (2:40 minutes)
NHS courses
Courses which lead to registration as an NHS professional have different fee and support arrangements.
The information below relates to the 2012/13 academic year. We’ll update information for 2013/14 as soon as the NHS makes it available.
Tuition Fees
- BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene And Dental Therapy
- BSc (Hons) Radiography (Diagnostic)
- BSc (Hons) Radiography (Therapeutic)
- CertHE Dental Nursing - This course is funded by the Strategic Health Authority - contact us for details
- DipHE Operating Department Practice (RODP)
Home and EU students studying on the above courses will have their fees paid in full by the NHS.
NHS Bursaries
All home (UK) NHS students are eligible for a non means-tested grant from the NHS and a reduced rate non means-tested loan from Student Finance England. Students are also able to apply for a means-tested bursary from the NHS based on household income. Different rates of means-tested bursary and loan will apply according to where a student lives, whether in their own accommodation (i.e. halls of residence) with their parents.
The maximum support available (based on a 30 week course) will be:
Students living in student/rented accommodation/their own home
- Non means-tested grant: £1,000
- Maximum means-tested bursary: £2,591
- Non means-tested maintenance loan: £2,324
Students living with parents
- Non means-tested grant: £1,000
- Maximum means-tested bursary: £2,163
- Non means-tested maintenance loan: £1,744
For courses over 30 weeks and 3 days in duration an additional weekly allowance is paid:
- £82 a week - students living away from home
- £54 a week - students living with parents.
The additional weekly allowance will be paid up to a maximum of 45 weeks. For periods of study over 45 weeks payment is made for a full 52 weeks. Students are generally assessed on their parent(s) (or partner’s) gross taxable income for the previous tax year. Some disregards of income for pension scheme contributions and financially dependent children are applied. Students can also claim help with travel costs to their placements, if they incur additional costs to those incurred when travelling to their university.
Additional grants and allowances
Some additional grants are paid to students who have disabilities and or dependent children. These additional allowances will be assessed by the NHS Grants Unit when they calculate your bursary entitlement. For more information visit the NHS Bursaries pages.
Parents' Learning Allowance (means-tested) - Up to £1,180 is payable to students with financially dependent children.
Dependants' Allowance (means-tested) - Payable if you have any adults or children who financially depend on you whilst you are studying. £2,400 is payable for your first child or dependent spouse and any additional dependent children qualify for £539 each.
Childcare Grant (means-tested) - This award will cover 85% of any registered or approved childcare you incur (for one child the maximum payable amount will be £126.65 a week, for two or more children the maximum payable will be £187.85).
Disabled Students' Allowance (non means-tested) - The Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) is provided to help with any costs you may incur whilst attending your course and as a direct result of your disability. The DSA is divided into three separate allowances, up to £5,162 once per course for equipment, up to £20,520 per year for non-medical helpers and up to £1,724 per year for general costs.
Student Loans
A reduced maintenance loan of £2,324 (or £1,744 if living in the parental home) is also available for students undertaking NHS courses.
How to apply
If you accept an offer to study and NHS funded course your department will contact the NHS Grants Unit who will send you an invite to apply online for this bursary and any additional allowances you may be entitled to. You can also register to apply online at the NHS Bursaries website.
You should apply for the loan online at Student Finance England and you are advised to apply as early as possible. When applying it is important that you read the questions carefully, and tick the box indicating that you are applying for a means-tested NHS bursary. You will need to supply evidence of your NHS bursary at a later stage but do not wait for this before you apply for the loan.
Social Work
Eligible BSc Social Work students can apply for the standard statutory support package including maintenance loans, grants, bursaries and tuition fee loans.
Department of Health Social Work Bursary
Full-time home (UK) students studying BSc (Hons) Social Work may be entitled to a non-repayable bursary from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) in their second and third years of study. The rate for 2013/14 is £4,575 per year for full-time students and £2,287.50 per year for part-time students, and this is paid in three termly instalments. This bursary is not income-assessed.
For more information please check the NHS Business Services Authority website.
How to apply
You apply for your statutory support (loans, grants and university bursaries) via Student Finance England. When applying for your student loan it is important that you read the questions carefully. When it asks if you will be receiving a bursary from the NHS tick "no", as they do not mean the Social Work Bursary.
