Part-time students

Your eligibility depends on your course and personal circumstances. To be considered for part-time funding for your undergraduate degree course, your course must:

• take no more than twice the time it takes to complete the course full-time
• be studying at least 50% of a full-time course
• be studying a course that lasts at least one academic year
• meet the personal eligibility rules

If you already have an honours degree or hold an equivalent or higher qualification, you will not qualify for funding and the University will charge you a higher rate of tuition fee. For more information, visit our Previous studies page.

Personal eligibility

To be eligible for Student Finance England undergraduate funding, including the Tuition Fee Grant and study grant, you must meet the eligibility rules.

You should:

• have at least three years residence in the UK before the first day of the first academic year of your course. For courses that start in September, this is always defined as 1 September
• your main reason for being in the UK during this time was not solely for education purposes
• you must be resident in the UK on this date
• you must be settled in the UK on this date with no immigration restrictions

You may also qualify under the other more complex rules. For example, there are other eligibility criteria that relate to:

• EU/EEA nationals and their family members who are working in the UK (migrant workers)
• EU nationals who have obtained the right of permanent residence in the UK
• children of Turkish nationals working in the UK
• people who have been granted leave to remain in the UK following a claim for asylum and their family members
• children of Swiss nationals
• family members of Swiss or EEA nationals
• UK nationals who exercise a right of free movement within the EEA/Switzerland before returning to the UK

In most of these circumstances, you’ll also need at least three years' ordinary residence in the UK before the first day of the first academic year of your course.

For further information about the eligibility rules, we suggest you read the following:

• Student Finance England information for part-time students
• For detailed information about the eligibility rules, read UKCISA's Guidance Note: 'Student Support: Applying in England'.
• If you are an EU national, visit the Student Finance England pages for EU students.

EU nationals

• If you do not meet the eligibility rules for the fee grant and study loan, you may still qualify the Student Finance England Tuition Fee grant to help you meet the cost of your course fee if:
• you are an EU national, or the spouse or child of an EU national and
• you have been ordinarily resident in the EEA and/or Switzerland for at least 3 years before the first day of the first academic year of your course and
• you have not been resident in the EEA and/or Switzerland mainly for education purposes. If this applies to you but you were living in the EEA/Switzerland before the start of the three years, you may still qualify and
• you do not already have a degree hons qualification

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Grant. The amount you will receive depends on the number of modules or credits you take each year.

The fee grant will not cover all your fees and there’s always going to be a shortfall, so plan ahead and make sure you have the funds available.

The maximum Student Finance England Fee Grants payable for the current academic year (2011/12) are £820.

• £820 fee grant for students studying at least 50% of a full-time course (four 15-credit modules)
• £985 fee grant for students studying at least 60% of a full-time course (five 15-credit modules)
• £1,230 fee grant for students studying at least 75% of a full-time course (six 15-credit modules)

In 2011/12, the tuition fee charged for most part-time degree courses at the University of Westminster will be £450 per 15-credit module. So, if you are studying four 15-credit modules, the tuition fee cost will be £1,800. However, the Fee Grant you receive will be only £820. You will therefore need to make sure that you have funding to cover the shortfall (£980).

If you’re a current student, check your fees with your School Registry Office, as some courses attract a different amount, eg certain Integrated Health courses.

Prospective students should contact their Admissions Office.

To get the maximum Fee Grant, your household income has to be within certain limits. Different limits apply depending on whether you are a single person, have a partner or have children. To find out about these limits, visit Student Finance England.

To apply, you must complete application form PTG1 available from Student Finance England. Note that your School Registry Office will need to complete the part of the form that confirms the number of credits you are taking. If you’re an EU national applying just for a Fee Grant, you’ll need to use a EUPTG1 form.

The closing date for applications for the current 2011/12 academic year is the end of February 2012.

Additional Fee Support Scheme (AFSS)

The AFSS is designed to assist part-time undergraduate students with their fees. The funding may cover up to 50 per cent of the difference between the fees you have to pay and the Fee Grant you receive (you will need to pay the remaining fees yourself). The grant is paid directly to your Finance Office.

Eligibility

To qualify for the AFSS, you'll need to:

• already be receiving the Part-time Fee Grant from Student Finance England

If you haven't yet applied for the Part-time Fee Grant, you can apply on the Student Finance England website.

How to apply

Download the Additional Fee Support Scheme form

Complete the Additional Fee Support Scheme form and include the following supporting evidence:

• A copy of your Student Finance Breakdown letter from Student Finance England
• A printout of your module registration details for the current year from SRSWeb
  

When you have completed the form and attached the evidence, submit the documents to the Student Funding Office at:

University of Westminster
Student Funding Office
First Floor, Cavendish House
101 New Cavendish Street
London W1W 6HX

You can also email the documents to studentfunding@westminster.ac.uk

The Study Grant

If you qualify for the fee grant, you may also receive a course grant of up to £265 to help with your study costs. This is available from Student Finance England and your entitlement is assessed alongside your fee grant. Note that EU nationals applying for the fee loan only are not eligible.

Access to Learning Fund

If you’ve been classed as a UK Home student, you can apply to the University’s Access to Learning Fund when your course has started and you’ve received your student funding and paid your fees. The fund cannot be put towards your tuition fee costs and there is no fixed rate of grant. Please also be aware that not all applications are successful.

University Scholarship

The University has scholarships available to prospective part-time students who have accepted a place on a course. For details on the scholarships available, visit the University Scholarships page.

You should still be able to claim your usual benefits, as part-time study does not prevent you from claiming benefits under the usual benefit rules. However, You will need to notify your benefit office about your change in circumstances when you start studying.

Visit the Directgov website for more information.

Social Security Benefits for living costs

Depending on the age of your child, you may be able to claim Income Support if you’re a single parent.

If you are ill or disabled and have limited ability to work, you could claim Employment and Support Allowance.

If you are of pensionable age, you could claim pensions credit.

If the above circumstances do not apply to you, you will need to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

You may still be eligible for JSA if you are available for and actively seeking work. You’ll have to sign a Jobseeker’s Agreement in order to claim, which is based on the ‘helping you back to work’ form that you complete when you first sign on. This agreement will determine whether you’re genuinely available for work. You’ll also need to fill in the Student Questionnaire form to confirm:

• you’re a part-time student
• you didn’t give up a job or training to do the course
• you’re willing and able to take time off your course to attend job interviews
• you can be contacted easily during the course
• you can rearrange the time you attend the course to fit in with a job
• you would be willing to give up the course if a job becomes available

You could also lose your benefit if the Jobcentre believes you’re more committed to your course than finding work. For example:

• you need to complete the course to get the sort of job you want  
• you’ve paid a large fee which will not be refunded if you leave

Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit is based on your income level and you may still be eligible, even if you can’t claim Income Support or JSA. If you work and have a low income, you may also qualify for some help with your rent costs.

If you’re studying a part-time course, you will be expected to pay Council Tax.

If you have a low income or receive a benefit such as JSA or Income Support, you may be able to claim Council Tax Benefit to help meet this cost.

Visit Directgov for further information.

If you’re attending a full-time pre-sessional course or a full-time short course, you’re unlikely to meet the exemption rules. Students attending these courses are normally liable to pay Council Tax.

Important: If you’re an international student, you should not claim Council Tax Benefit or any social security benefit, as you will be breaking the terms of your visa.