student funding guide 2015 2016
student funding guide 2 3 Undergraduate Students Funded by SAAS A student loan of up to 4,750 is available regardless of household income. Monthly Student Loan Payments There will be an initial payment of 2 instalments on the start date of the student s programme. Subsequent instalments will be paid monthly until the programme ends. Young Students Bursary Students with a household income of less than 34,000 are entitled to a bursary of up to 1,750 a year. Independent Students Bursary Students with a household income of less than 16,999 are entitled to a bursary of 750 a year. Tuition Fees All eligible full-time students MUST apply to have their tuition fees paid each year by SAAS, who will then pay the fees directly to the University. The standard rate for 2015/16 be 1,820. Applications can be made online at www.saas.gov.uk Postgraduate Students From academic year 2015/2016, eligible Scottish domiciled postgraduate students on eligible full-time courses can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for a living cost loan of up to 4,500, this is in addition to the existing tuition fee loan of up to 3,400. The living-cost loan is not available to part-time postgraduate students but they will continue to be eligible to apply for a tuition fee loan. Maximum Maintenance Loan England 5,740 Wales 5,376 Northern Ireland 4,840 The following grants are available to students whose household income is low: Maintenance Grant (England and Northern Ireland) Welsh Government Learning Grant Heriot-Watt Foundation Bursary A 9,000 fee discount, plus a 1,500 payment contribution to living costs, is available to eligible full-time students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland who choose to enter their first year of study at Level 1 of a four year programme. 9,000 fee discount (discounted by 2,250 in each of the four years of study) Plus 1,500 payment contribution to living costs (Level 1 only) This bursary is not income-related, and there is no need to fill in an application form as these awards will be made automatically, with the payment for living costs made as a BACS payment in three instalments throughout the academic year. Students must give Student Finance consent for information to be shared with the University in order for payment to be made.
student funding guide 4 5 Heriot-Watt University Bursary This income-related bursary of up to 3,000 per year is available to eligible full-time students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland entering their degree programme at Level 2 to take a three year Honours degree. There are two levels of support depending on household income as assessed by Student Finance England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Up to 25,000 Household Income Award 3,000 per year payment contribution to living costs 25,001-42,600 2,000 per year payment contribution to living costs There is no need to fill in an application form as these awards will be made automatically by a BACS payment in 3 instalments throughout the academic year as long as financial assessment has been carried out by Student Finance England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Students must also give Student Finance consent for information to be shared with the University in order for payment to be made. Students who were awarded a Foundation Bursary in their first year of study will be eligible to be assessed for the full Heriot-Watt University Bursary for their second and subsequent years of study. Fee discounts from the Heriot-Watt Foundation Bursary will be additional to payment contributions to living costs awarded from the Heriot-Watt University Bursary. Level 5 tuition fees will be 9,000. Programmes which include a compulsory year out The normal entry route to these programmes for all students is to Level 1 of a four year Honours programme. Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive a full tuition fee discount for their third year of study, ie.the fee waiver element of the Foundation Bursary. Please note Students choosing to stay on into Level 5, the final year of an enhanced first degree programme (such as MEng, MChem, MPhys or MMath degrees), the full tuition fee of 9,000 will apply. Applications for assistance with tuition fees and Student Loan funding, whether income assessed or not, can be made online at Student Finance England/Wales/Northern Ireland www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance www.studentfinanceni.co.uk www.studentfinancewales.co.uk Discretionary Hardship Fund The University receives a limited amount of money annually from the government to disburse to students who experience extreme financial hardship. Eligible full-time and part-time home students can apply for a grant from the Discretionary Hardship Fund. Students are required to provide evidence of their financial situation and to demonstrate that they have attempted to budget their finances. The Discretionary Hardship Fund is not intended to be a source of additional funding, but available only when all other resources have been used and an unexpected crisis has arisen. It is expected that students will have received a maximum Student Loan before applying to the Discretionary Hardship Fund. Application forms are available from Student Support and Accommodation. Childcare Fund Full-time UK domiciled undergraduate students who have taken out the maximum student loan available to them and who are eligible to have their fees paid by their funding body, are eligible to apply for support from the Childcare Fund for formal registered childcare costs. Part-time Employment Employers often seek students for evening and weekend work. A good source of advertisements for part-time and vacation work is the Careers Advisory Service Job Shop, or on their website www.hw.ac.uk/careers/jobshop.php
student funding guide 6 7 LIVING ON CAMPUS HALL FEES 125 average cost x 40 weeks 5,000 FOOD 40 a week x 40 weeks 1,600 LAUNDRY 3 a week x 40 weeks 120 CLOTHING per year variable 300 BOOKS & variable ask school to confirm amount 250 EQUIPMENT SOCIAL 35 a week x 40 weeks 1,400 MOBILE PHONE 7.50 a week x 40 weeks 300 TOTAL 8,970 *On campus accommodation costs average at 125 per week, and may be cheaper depending on type of accommodation allocated. This budget is meant as a realistic guide for UK undergraduate students only. Every student s financial situation will be different. If you experience any financial difficulties, please remember DON T PANIC ASK FOR HELP OR ADVICE BEWARE: High interest rates on credit cards and store cards Mobile phone costs Car costs Gym membership contracts LIVING IN A RENTED FLAT RENT 340 a month x 12 months 4,080 GAS/ELECTRICITY 40 a month x 12 months 480 FOOD 160 a month x 9 months 1,440 INSURANCE variable depending on level of cover 90 CLOTHING per year variable 300 TRAVEL 40 (approx) for 4 weekly bus pass 360 (or 1.50 per journey) BOOKS & variable ask school to confirm amount 250 EQUIPMENT SOCIAL 140 a month x 9 months 1,260 MOBILE PHONE 35 a month x 9 months 315 INTERNET CONNECTION TOTAL 8,575 Please be aware that if you live off campus you will have to sign a 12 month lease and pay rent and bills for 12 months (whether you live in the flat over the summer or not). This budget is meant as a realistic guide for UK undergraduate students only. Every student s financial situation will be different. All costs are approximate March 2015
student funding guide 8 9 How much will I spend? Food Snacks e.g. Panini 3.00 Pizza 3.50 All day breakfast 3.25 Meal 3.50 Borders Campus meal 3.00 Travel Bus from city centre to Edinburgh Campus 1.50 single Bus to Borders Campus from Galashiels 1.60 single Centre for Sport Edinburgh Campus gym entrance fee 2.40 and Exercise Edinburgh Campus gym annual membership 95 Borders Campus gym annual membership 85 Entertainment Borders student cinema ticket 6.00 Edinburgh student cinema ticket 8.15 Clubs in City Centre, admission 7.50 all prices are approximate March 2015 Budgeting guide Don t shop when you are hungry Try supermarket own brand goods Stick to a shopping list and take advantage of buy 1 get 1 free Have breakfast before leaving in the morning and make sandwiches for lunch Consider a pay as you go mobile rather than an expensive contract Check bank statements to see actual spending and keep receipts Keep credit cards for emergencies only and pay the bill in full each month Keep a spending diary monitor spending for at least a week and write everything down taking control = less stress Budgeting is the best way to avoid hardship and debt most debt is due to poor budgeting
student funding guide 10 11 Use this page to create your own, personal budget Rent Food/drink Bills (if not included in rent [electricity, gas, internet, laundry]) Social activities and entertainment Insurance Sports Travel/Transport Phone Course supplies and stationery Other TV License
Contact Us Further help and information is available from: Student Support Administrator Student Support and Accommodation 0131 451 3386 studentsupport@hw.ac.uk This booklet is produced on Revive 50:50 Silk produced at a mill that is certified with the iso 14001 environmental management standard and is a FSC Mixed Sources grade product group from recycled wood or fibre, well managed forests and other controlled sources. www.hw.ac.uk