University of Portsmouth Postgraduate Support Scheme 2015/16 Phase 2 - January 2016 start Masters courses only

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1 University of Portsmouth Postgraduate Support Scheme 2015/16 Phase 2 - January 2016 start Masters courses only Terms and Conditions The Postgraduate Support Scheme (PSS) is a joint Government and University funded financial award for postgraduate taught level study for 2015 /16. The following Terms and Conditions apply to Phase 2 of the Scheme only. 1. Award Terms and Conditions 1.1 The Postgraduate Support Scheme is open to; Students who are offered and accept an offer from the University to study a one year full time, approved Masters course starting in January See list of eligible courses at Students who have completed a three- year full- time undergraduate degree having commenced in 2012 and finished in 2015 and have been charged the higher rate of tuition fees since 2012/ Students whose undergraduate fees were funded by the NHS or another public body are not eligible for this award. 1.3 Students who applied and were unsuccessful in the first phase of this scheme in summer 2015 are welcome to reapply, subject to the eligibility criteria of the scheme. 2. Eligibility by country of domicile 2.1 The scheme is open to students who are domiciled permanently in the United Kingdom or European Union for fee purposes. Different arrangements apply depending on country of domicile. 2.2 Scottish, Welsh & Northern Irish students See Appendix 1 for details of eligibility.

2 3. Priority groups There are four strands to the scheme: Strand Income criteria Other specific criteria Women in Technology No income based See list of eligible courses at criteria Care leavers No income based criteria Covers students who meet the criteria for the University s Care Leavers Bursary which are at MRes courses All other applicants Income criteria apply (see Table at 4.1) Income criteria apply See list of eligible courses at 4. Income criteria where applicable 4.1 English students whose household income in 2014/15, as assessed by Student Finance England (SFE), was in the following categories. Priority will be given to those from the lowest income groups. Household income 2014/15 Household income under 25,000 Between 25,001 and 32,000 Between 32,001 and 42,620 Over 42,620 or not assessed by SFE (Applies to MRes only) 4.2 The same income limits will apply to Scottish and Northern Irish students, if they are eligible for the scheme (see Appendix 1). 4.3 For EU students, income limits take account of the country of domicile (see Appendix 2). 4.4 For MRes applicants an additional income category of over 42,600 has been added for this phase of the scheme. Any MRes applicants whose family income was not assessed by Student Finance England in 2014/15 will be included in the over 42,600 category for this purpose. These income categories will be used to prioritise MRes applicants who meet academic criteria; with priority given to those in the lowest income groups. 5. Academic Criteria for all applicants 5.1 Awards will be targeted at applicants with a first class or upper second class honours degree with priority given to those obtaining a first, subject to demand for the scheme. Applicants must also meet specific course criteria where these apply. 6. Timescales 6.1 As there are a limited number of awards available, you should apply by Monday 16 November 2015 to guarantee consideration for the Postgraduate Support Scheme. You can still apply after this date, but priority will be given to early applicants.

3 6.2 The University will aim to make academic decisions on course applications within seven days of receiving the application. This timescale will be longer for MRes applications for academic reasons. 6.3 Once a course offer is made by the University, applicants need to reply within seven days in order to still be considered for the Postgraduate Support Scheme funding (subject to wider eligibility). 7. Operational Terms and Conditions 7.1 Applicants to eligible courses will have the opportunity to apply for awards. 7.2 All applicants are required to provide evidence of their eligibility as requested by the University. 7.3 Awards are subject to applicants receiving an offer of a place at the University on an eligible Masters level course commencing January The 10,000 award will be used towards the full cost of the tuition fee and the remaining element, not applied to the tuition fee, will be paid directly to the student through a bursary. 7.5 This bursary will be paid into the student s bank account in three instalments in January, April and September If a student discontinues their course during the period of registration no further remaining bursary payments will be made. 7.7 If a student suspends study or transfer to a part- time postgraduate taught course he/she will become ineligible for remaining fee and bursary payments. Transfer to a new full- time course may also mean a student loses eligibility of the award. The award cannot be made to applicants who defer their places to September 2016 or later. 7.8 The award cannot be made to any students who started a full- time postgraduate course at the University of Portsmouth in September 2016 and have since withdrawn from the course. 7.9 Successful applicants will be required to 'register' onto their course, provide evidence of their personal identity and supply bank details for bursary payments by the set deadline dates in order to remain eligible for the award The University reserves the right to investigate any application if we believe it may not contain full, honest and accurate information The University reserves the right to withdraw an offer of the award if we find any aspect of an application to be fraudulent, misleading, or partial claims in an application Applicants who receive the award will not be eligible to receive other postgraduate fees discounts, for example the Alumni Discount The University s decision on the allocation of the award in accordance with these terms and conditions is final.

4 Appendix 1 Treatment of Scottish, Welsh & Northern Irish students The Government is concerned that the higher fees paid and consequent debt incurred by undergraduate students in English universities and English students in other UK countries since may be a deterrent to progression to postgraduate study. PSS awards are, therefore, aimed at students who have been charged the higher fees and incurred higher debt, namely: English students entering undergraduate study at any UK institution from September 2012 Non- UK EU students entering undergraduate study at any English institution from September 2012 Scottish students entering undergraduate study at any English, Welsh or NI institutions from September 2012 Northern Irish students entering undergraduate study at any English, Welsh or Scottish institution from Sept 2012 Welsh students are not eligible for an award as they received tuition fee support from the Welsh Assembly. Other categories of students will not be eligible for an award Eligible students from Scotland or Northern Ireland will be subject to other terms and conditions as applying to English students, including income limits for eligibility.

5 Appendix 2 University of Portsmouth Postgraduate Support Scheme 2015/16 Household income criteria to determine eligibility of EU Students Income limits vary by country of domicile, based on Student Finance England guidance about income equivalence. Decisions on the eligibility of individual students will be based on residual household income as calculated by Student Finance England in 2014/15. EU country of domicile for fees purposes Maximum household Income for eligibility to the scheme on income grounds Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania & Slovakia 15,000 or less Czech Republic, Croatia, Malta, Slovenia & Portugal 20,000 or less All other EU countries 25,000 or less