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Student Finance

There’s lots of information in the press about Student Finance for students starting in September 2012 and you’re probably getting a little confused. Don’t worry; there are actually only four things you need to know about Student Finance.

  1. We charge £7000 a year for all full-time courses if you start in September 2012
  2. We have a unique £2012+ support package to help all students starting in September 2012
  3. You don’t pay whilst you are studying. Loans are available that cover the cost of your studies
  4. The loans are only repaid once you have finished studying and are earning more than £21,000 a year.

It’s that simple! You’ll undoubtedly have more questions however so we hope these pages of our site will answer some of them.

If you are transferring your course from another institution to University Centre at Blackburn College you will class as a new student to UCBC and be required to pay £7000 for each year of your full-time degree course.



If you’re going to University in September 2012, funds are available to help you finance your studies. You can get funding from Student Finance England for up to four years of your full-time course.

Most Universities offer degrees that are three years long but you get an additional year of funding available to you if you happen to have to re-take some of your course. Both grants and loans are available to Higher Education students. Loans have to be paid back to the Government once you have completed your course. Grants do not have to be repaid.To get the loans or grants you have to apply for Student Finance. You have to do this for every year of your course as the finance is allocated on a yearly basis. Different elements of Student Finance are available to you so long as you meet certain criteria – such as being resident in the UK for a period of time.

Tuition Fee Loans

A tuition fee loan is available to cover the cost of your studies. Loans are available up to a maximum of £9000 for every year of your course. If you come to study at University Centre at Blackburn College we charge £7000 a year and so this is the amount of tuition fee loan you’ll be eligible for.

You can get a tuition fee loan to cover the full amount of your studies – or part of the tuition fees if you already have some money you wish to put towards your fees. The ability to get a tuition fee loan does not depend on your household income.

Maintenance Grants

Maintenance grants are to help with your living costs while you are at University. The amount that you get is means tested. This means that the government will look at your household income and allocate an amount to you for your studies. This amount will not need to be paid back. The maximum amount that you are eligible for is £3250 for every year of your course. If you get a maintenance grant then this will reduce the amount of maintenance loan that you’re able to get.

Maintenance Loans

Similar to maintenance grants, maintenance loans are to help with your living costs while you are at University (things like accommodation and food). If you aren’t eligible for a maintenance grant you may still be eligible for a maintenance loan. 35% of the maintenance loan is means tested – depending on your household income. 65% of the amount is available to anyone. You do have to pay back your maintenance loan, however unlike the maintenance grant.

Special Support Grant

Special support grants exist if you have a disability, are a lone parent who is entering full-time study or you and your partner are both in full-time study and have dependant children. If you are eligible for a Special support grant then you will not be able to get a maintenance grant – you apply for this funding instead.

Applying for Student Finance

You need to apply for student finance as soon as possible. You do this by visiting www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance. You won’t be able to apply for Student Finance until at least January 2012 when the process opens. It might be that in January 2012 you still haven’t decided what your first choice of University will be. Do not delay applying for student finance in this case. Apply for Student Finance based on what you think might be your first choice of University. If this changes later in the year you will be able to amend your application for Student Finance.

At University Centre at Blackburn College we can help you apply for Student Finance and discuss with you on a individual basis what funding you might be entitled to. Please contact our Student Finance team on 01254 292839 or email hestudentfinance@blackburn.ac.uk to make an appointment.

Student Finance Quiz

Try the Student Finance quiz download

Quiz answers for teachers download

Student Finance FAQ download