Student Finance Centre

Part-time undergraduate students from England or another EU country

The funding available for part-time undergraduate students in 2012/13 is different to full-time funding as there is no government support for living costs available. The funding detailed here also applies to the part-time two-year CertEd or PGCE Post Compulsory Education courses offered at either Eastleigh College or Chichester College, and to distance learning courses.

If you currently live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland you will be able to apply for different support 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

Tuition Fees and the Tuition Fee Loan

Tuition fees for part-time students starting in 2012 will depend on the number of credits studied in a year, up to £6,000 for 120 credits (the equivalent of a full-time course). So for example a student studying 60 credits in 2012/13 would be liable for tuition fees of £3,000 in that year. To find out the exact fees for a course please visit our fee look up page.

All eligible part-time English or EU undergraduate students studying at least 25 per cent of a full-time course can apply for a loan to cover tuition costs. This loan is not income assessed and is paid directly to the University.

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, when you make repayments at a rate of nine per cent of annual earnings above £21,000. If you are still studying at that point you will only have to make repayments if you are also earning over £21,000.

For administrative reasons related to the introduction of the new student finance system, no-one will be required to repay earlier than April 2016.

For more information on repayments see the information on repaying your loan.

If you prefer, you can arrange to pay your tuition fees without taking a loan, either in one payment before the start of term (an early payment discount is available) or via instalments throughout the academic year. Alternatively, you can pay part of your fees and apply for a reduced loan to cover the remainder. For more information about paying your fees visit our Tuition Fee pages.

How to apply

New students will be able to apply by early August 2012 and will be able to download an application pack from Student Finance England. You should complete and return your application form to Student Finance England as soon as possible.

Part-time PGCE or CertEd students

Students studying the part-time two-year CertEd or PGCE Post Compulsory Education courses offered at either Eastleigh College or Chichester College will be able to apply for a fee award of £1,000, which is available to up to 10,000 applicants training to teach in the FE and skills sector and following a higher education institution (HEI)-validated qualification. The fee awards will be arranged through the University of Portsmouth on a first-come, first-served basis. The University of Portsmouth will make an application on your behalf once you have enrolled on your course. You will need to provide the university with full personal details including your National Insurance number, date of birth and postcode. Awards can only be used to offset the cost of course fees, there is no cash alternative.

If your application is successful it will be paid directly to the University who will use it to offset an element of your tuition fees.

Tuition fee loans

If you are applying for a tuition fee loan for your course you should still apply for the full amount of your fees. If you then qualify for a fee award the excess will be refunded back to the Student Loans Company.

Tuition fees for 2012/13 are as follows:

Full-time PGCE Post Compulsory Education - £8,500

Part-time PGCE Post Compulsory Education - £2,250 (Year 1)

Part-time  Certificate in Education (Post-Compulsory Education) - £2,250 (Year 1)