2016 entry edition 2

Transcription

1 Funding your studies 2016 entry edition 2

2 introduction money matters this guide will help you understand the cost of studying and living in london. it also covers what help is available from the uk government and from imperial if you choose to study here. London is ranked as the best student city in the UK and third best in the world in the QS Best Student Cities 2015 rankings. Find out why it remains such an attractive choice for students on pages 4 5. imperial Measures 60,000 Home students whose household income remains below this level automatically qualify for an imperial Bursary for every year of their course. see pages for details. 1 MiLLion+ the amount of support provided by imperial for undergraduate scholarships in Living in London: the reality P4 5, 8 11 thousands of students choose to invest in a university education in london every year. see our guide to living costs at imperial and how it s possible to enjoy life in the capital without blowing your budget. tuition fees and funding P6 7, find out how much it costs to study at imperial and information about the funding available from the uk government. this includes tuition fee loans for Home and eu students and maintenance loans for Home students. imperial bursary for home students P14 15 the imperial Bursary is one of the most generous schemes of its kind of any uk university, providing support for Home students with annual household incomes up to 60,000 for every year of their course. scholarships and useful resources P16 19 our president s undergraduate scholarships scheme is for students of any nationality; we also offer a number of other scholarships and useful resources to help you plan for student life. an internationally recognised QuaLification We re ranked the joint second-best university in the world in the Qs World university rankings ranked no. 1 for graduate prospects by The Complete University Guide imperial is also one of the top 10 most-often targeted universities by The Times top 100 graduate employers looking for new recruits (the graduate market in 2015). 2 imperial college london funding your studies 3

3 why london? a capital investment each year, thousands of students come to london. Here are some of the reasons why they decide investing in a university education in the capital is worth every penny. 83% of graduate vacancies in the uk are based in London you ll be ideally placed to attend interviews for work placements and graduate roles. Britain s top graduate employers expect to fill 31% of their 2015 entry-level positions with graduates who have already worked for their organisations, either through paid internships, industrial placements or vacation work experience. the graduate market in 2015 High fliers report you don t just have to rely on the academic facilities within the college, you ll also have access to world class facilities across the city, including over 380 public libraries and over 170 museums. three of the world s best museums are on imperial s doorstep (the natural History, science, and Victoria & albert museums) and all have free entry. close ProXiMity to britain s top employers our close proximity to so many of the world s top employers paves the way for guest lectures from top industry experts, in-course placements, industry-inspired project work and exciting careers. you ll also have a head start over students in other cities as you start to build a network of useful contacts. london on View no. 1 for graduate employment in The Guardian University Guide 2016 for the percentage of our recent graduates who found graduate-level jobs or entered further study within six months of graduating (89.9%). No.1 The reputation of London s graduates came joint top in a Qs survey* of employers worldwide, who were asked to identify the universities they believe produce the best graduates. *Qs Best student cities 2015 Home students studying in london are entitled to bigger living cost loans from the uk government than students elsewhere in the uk. the imperial Bursary in addition to this is one of the most generous in the sector. see pages london is a truly global city, welcoming students from over 200 nations who contribute to the city s mix of over 300 languages. you ll have the chance to develop a global friendship network, while the huge choice of shops, restaurants and cultures means that no matter where you re from, it s easy to find the comforts of home. 4 imperial college london funding your studies 5

4 tuition fees tuition fees Tuition fees cover everything you need to gain your degree*. This ranges from the cost of teaching from expert staff to 24/7 library facilities and trained librarians who can help you make the most of them. 9,000 per year is the tuition fee for Home and EU students starting at the college in years is the standard length of imperial undergraduate courses; we charge tuition fees for every year that your course lasts. for the latest information see our fees and funding website: fees-and-funding/ug fees for home/eu students tuition fees for Home/eu undergraduate students are regulated by the uk government see left. overseas student fees overseas student fees vary per course see our fees and funding website for details. We also recommend contacting your ministry of education or British council education advisor for information on what funding your government may be able to provide towards your tuition fees or living costs. * some degrees may include compulsory field trips, which carry an additional cost for accommodation and transport contact the department for details. fee status the main criteria for Home student status (set by the uk government) are: f you re a uk national or have settled status (no restrictions on how long you can stay) on 1 september of the year of entry; and f you ve been living in the uk for three years continuously before starting your course, providing that wasn t solely for the purpose of receiving full-time education. study/ug/apply/ fee-status no fees to Pay upfront for home and eu students Tuition Fee Loans are available to all Home and EU students from the UK government to cover every year of study; repayments only start after you graduate, are in employment and earning over 21,000/year see page 13. This is paid directly to your chosen university by the Student Loans Company each year you apply for a loan. tuition fee discounts The College offers significant discounts on its tuition fees for study abroad years which directly replace time at Imperial. Reductions also apply for years in industry and research. See the Tuition Fees section within our Fees and Funding website for details (see link left). already completed a degree? Home/EU students who have already completed an undergraduate degree may be classed as an Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) student. ELQ students are not entitled to government support and may pay a higher tuition fee rate. Certain exemptions apply to some students and subjects, including many at Imperial. We will assess your ELQ status as part of the admissions process. Imperial does not currently charge higher fees to ELQ students. 6 imperial college london funding your studies 7

5 living costs living costs Living costs cover things like your rent, food, books, travel and leisure activities while you re studying. Below is a rough guide to the costs involved in living at imperial in relative comfort for one academic year (39 weeks). don t forget that this cost does not include your tuition fees. tuition fee loans are available for all Home and eu students so you do not need to have the money upfront see page 6. in reality how much you spend will depend on your lifestyle, whether you re living at home or away, and how good you are at sticking to a budget. your budget needs to be sufficiently detailed to avoid any unwelcome surprises, including allowing for inflationary rises in costs such as rent and travel. 52-week contracts are standard in private accommodation so you will need to budget for the entire year (not just 39 weeks) if you re not staying in college accommodation or you re not planning to go home during the holidays. 10,702 Approximate living costs WeeKly 39 WeeKs is the maximum means-tested Maintenance Loan amount available to help Home students with their living costs see page 12. accommodation and utilities: college halls of residence* or private-sector housing ,552 6,045 90%+ of undergraduates choose to live in our halls of residence in their first year, with 63% of college rents costing less than the average in private-sector housing. food 50 1,950 travel personal and leisure 50 1,950 Books and course costs Total 293 or ,223 or 11,730 for tips on managing your money see: fees-and-funding/living-costs * Based on prices for costs for will be displayed on our website once confirmed. this 168 average cost includes a 2 weekly contribution to the activities fund. Zones 1 3 with 18+ student oyster photocard. 8 imperial college london funding your studies 9

6 why london? Budget london Your student card gives you access to discounts across the city. Use sites like for a round up of the best deals. With close to 800, London is home to a fifth of all of the UK s cinema screens so you ll be spoilt for choice. But if money s tight, you can catch the latest blockbusters at our very own cinema on campus at a discounted rate. the imax cinema at the neighbouring science museum is also free for imperial students at non-peak times. Nine of the UK s top 10 visitor attractions are in London. eight of them are free to visit including: the British museum, national gallery, natural History museum, science museum, Victoria and albert museum and somerset House. association of leading Visitor attractions (alva), 2014 With access to hundreds of discounts, being a student in london is one of the most cost effective ways to do it. and with sensible planning it s possible to enjoy much of what the capital has to offer without blowing your budget. london on View Make the most of London s huge choice of free cultural activities, from a trip round one of the city s 850+ art galleries (many with free entry) to a day out at one of its free festivals, including Europe s largest street festival, the Notting Hill Carnival. london on View london on View you ll get a 30% discount on certain season tickets and travelcards with an 18+ student oyster photocard. london on View there are many 24-hour bus routes and a 24-hour weekend tube service from 2015 so nights out rarely require a taxi home. london on View All Imperial students enjoy free access to on-campus gym and swimming facilities. A one-off induction fee ( 40 in ) applies if you wish to use the gym. Secure discounted theatre tickets by hunting out the West end theatres that offer heavily discounted tickets on the day of the performance. shakespeare s globe theatre on the south Bank also offers standing tickets from imperial college london funding your studies 11

7 funding government funding maintenance grants will no longer be available for lower income students from england from instead they will be replaced with more generous means-tested Maintenance Loans that are 10.3% higher than the maximum maintenance grant and loan support available for eligible students from low income households in grants (which don t have to be paid back) will still be available (Home students only) in 2016 for disabled students, fulltime students who financially support an adult (adult dependants) and students requiring childcare so it s worth exploring the full range of help that you may be eligible for. 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 15,702 5,000 14,702 14,181 13,658 4,000 4,000 4,000 13,136 12,862 12,590 4,000 4,000 4,000 from 2016 the maximum loan amount for Home students studying in London with household incomes of 25,000 or less a year will be: f 10,702 per year if you re studying away from home f 6,904 per year if you re living at home f 9,391 per year if you re studying overseas as part of your course these loans are paid direct to your bank account by the student loans company in three instalments (one per term) each year. imperial Bursary government maintenance loan cost of living in london ( 11,522) 11,014 3,000 9,440 2,000 8,865 2,000 repaying your Loans if you receive a tuition fee loan (see page 6), a meanstested maintenance loan (see left) or both from the uk government via the student loans company you only need to start paying it/them back once you: f have graduated f are in employment f are earning over 21,000 per year what you earn, not what you owe the amount you pay back each month is linked to how much you re earning above the repayment threshold, not on the combined amount of the loans themselves. this means that how much you owe in total, including any interest added over time, will have no effect on your monthly repayments. Student loans repayment Current threshold for repayment: 21,000* Repayments: calculated at 9% of the amount you re earning over the threshold example current average starting salary for imperial graduates * the government is currently holding a consultation on freezing the repayment threshold for five years. Home, eu and overseas students, dhle survey march ,428/year amount you re earning over the threshold 8,428 amount you repay (9% of 8,428) 63.21/month 6,000 4,000 2, ,702 10,702 10,181 9,658 9,136 8,862 8,590 8,014 7,440 6,865 < 16k 25k 30k 35k 40k 42.6k 45k 50k 55k 60k the loans will attract a small rate of interest, even while you re studying, but the rate is more competitive than commercial loans. 12 imperial college london funding your studies 13

8 funding imperial Bursary More than 45% of first year Home students received an imperial Bursary towards their living costs in Free unlike government loans, the imperial Bursary does not have to be repaid, and with monthly instalments throughout the academic year your budget will receive a regular boost. bursaries are awarded automatically for every year your course Lasts as long as your annual household income remains below 60,000. fees-and-funding/ imperial-bursary balancing the cost of London Living the imperial Bursary is designed to ease the cost of london living by providing support on a sliding scale to Home students with household incomes up to 60,000 per year. the Bursary is based solely on financial need to make sure that finance is not a barrier to any Home student who has the potential to succeed at imperial. as long as your household income remains below 60,000, you will automatically qualify for a Bursary for every year of study. the Bursary is designed to complement government s funding so it s paid on top of any government loans to which you re already entitled. unlike government funding, which is normally paid in three annual instalments, the Bursary is paid in equal monthly instalments throughout the year. how do i apply? there is no separate application process the college uses the financial information you provide to your regional funding body e.g. student finance england for students from england to assess what bursary you may be eligible for. is there a deadline? We must receive your household income information from the student loans company by 1 may after the start of the academic year e.g. 1 may 2017 for students starting in october does it need to be repaid? no. Imperial Bursary annual HouseHold income amount Home students are eligible for (per year) 0 16,000 5,000 16,001 50,000 4,000 50,001 55,000 3,000 55,001 60,000 2,000 please note: graduate medicine students are not eligible for the imperial Bursary. exclusions also apply to repeat years of study and nhs-funded years for medical courses. 14 imperial college london

9 funding scholarships President s undergraduate scholarships scheme Rewarding academic potential the president s undergraduate scholarships are designed to reward the most talented students of any nationality, by providing 1,000 for every year that their course lasts. each department will nominate their best candidates for consideration based on their academic potential as demonstrated in their ucas application and interview/test performance (where relevant) there is no separate application process. the scholarship will be paid direct to your bank account in one go at the start of the academic term (from 7 november onwards). does it need to be repaid? no. fees-and-funding/ presidents-scholarships open to all Applicants of any nationality are eligible to be nominated for a scholarship. 1,000 for every year that your course lasts. 112 awards are available in scholarships will be awarded to the most promising students in each department. 1 MiLLion+ the amount of support provided by imperial for undergraduate scholarships in a president s scholarship has encouraged and enabled me to broaden my horizons at imperial and pursue my interests, both academically and otherwise. abhinaya chandrashekar, second year medicine student 16 imperial college london funding your studies 17

10 through the scholarship i got access to a personal triathlon coach throughout the year. it s also helped with race entry fees to bigger races, such as the geneva european sprint championships in July imogen simmonds, gbr triathlete and imperial topsports scholar sports scholarships students who are aspiring to be, or already are, competing at national or international level may be eligible for a sports scholarship. these cover a mixture of financial and practical support. subject scholarships our academic departments offer a range of scholarships. the amount offered varies depending on the award. eligibility criteria also usually apply. search our scholarships: fees-and-funding/ scholarships-search ash Music scholarships exceptional musicians (grade 8 distinction) may be eligible for an ash music scholarship for the chance to have instrumental or vocal lessons at the neighbouring royal college of music. useful resources student finance calculator an online tool for Home students to help you estimate the imperial Bursary and government support you re eligible for: fees-and-funding/calculator ProfessionaL advice and guidance available at imperial before and after you arrive see the back cover for contact details. current students can also drop by imperial college union s advice centre for confidential advice from an independent advisor. student support fund emergency, one-off help up to 2,000 to cover unexpected costs and bills for students who experience an unforeseen change in their financial circumstances. imperial home solutions an imperial-owned property search site exclusively for our students: London rents MaP plan ahead with this useful overview of rent rates across london: sports/ studentsport/scholarships arts/music/ musicawards scholarships search tool search all our scholarships in one place: fees-and-funding/ scholarships-search 18 imperial college london funding your studies 19

11 got a Question? Contact Imperial scholarships, bursaries and government-funded financial support t +44 (0) student.funding@imperial.ac.uk tuition fees t +44 (0) tuition.fees@imperial.ac.uk fees-and-funding/ug the information in this guide is current at the time of going to press (september 2015). the figures provided are for guidance purposes only the latest information is available at: fees-and-funding/ug alternative formats of this guide are available on request from prospectus@imperial.ac.uk Regional funding bodies student finance england t student finance northern ireland t student awards agency for scotland t student finance Wales t funding advice for eu students student finance services non uk team t +44 (0)