Money

Students & Money

• Financial help with studying
• Education Maintenance Allowance
• Transport
• Students with a disability
• Higher Education funding
• Student bank accounts

---

Financial help with studying

Whether you decide to stay on in full-time education or learn through work, there is financial help available. The type of help you can receive - and how much money you’re entitled to - will depend on your personal circumstances.

Everyone knows that it’s tough going to survive on student money. You need to make sure that you get all the financial help you're entitled to. If you are unsure what you can claim or are having financial problems, speak to the Youth Adviser or Student Welfare Services in school or college.

Staying on at school or college at 16 is free unless you go to a fee-paying school. But there are still a number of ways you may be able to get extra money.

You may be entitled to financial support If you are 16 and planning to go on to further education or E2E after school.

Grants

Your personal situation will determine whether you qualify for a grant and how much you can receive.

Who to apply to

If you live in Portsmouth contact Student Support Office: 01243 642141 or email: student.support@westsussex.gov.uk

Student Finance

For information about student finance, what is available and how to apply go to www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

Download application forms and guides

To find out what you might get use the Student Finance Calculator

If you have been in care download this factsheet for information relevant to you.

Deadline dates: if you are applying for student finance that depends on your household income you should apply by 25 June 2010 to make sure you have your finance in place for the start of your course. If you are applying for student finance that does not depend on your household income you should apply by 23 April 2010.

Education Maintenance Allowance
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) can give you up to £30 a week to stay in learning after you leave school. Depending on your progress and attendance, you can also earn bonuses.
The amount that you get will depend on your household income.
You can apply for EMA if you are:
• in full-time education at school sixth form or college, for example studying AS or A levels
• taking part in an Entry to Employment programme
• on a ‘Programme Led Apprenticeship’ (this is a programme designed to lead you towards an ‘Employer Led Apprenticeship’, where you will work for an employer)
EMA is paid on top of any other financial help the government gives you, so it won’t affect any household benefits that you or your family may be claiming (like Income Support, Child Benefit or Working Tax Credit).

To find out how to apply, visit their website or call the EMA helpline on 0800 121 8989.

Watch the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Movie

If your family doesn’t have much money coming in, you may also be able to get money through your Local Education Authority (LEA) from the Learner Support Fund (sometimes called the Access Fund). This can help with the cost of books, equipment, transport, fees & childcare. The Support 4 Learning website explains what funding you may be entitled to, or you can speak to the Student Finance department for your LEA (telephone numbers in our A-Z Directory).

If you are not eligible for EMA the Educational Grants Advisory Service may be able to give support. They have an Online Funding Search for students to check whether you are eligible to apply for other funding.

For student finance advice from a money expert visit Money Saving Matters for student finance advice. There is also advice available for parents of students produced in collaboration with the Department for Education and Skills.

The students’ charity, UNIAID, has developed an online student finance learning tool, called ‘All About U’, to help 16-19 year olds prepare for the challenges of university life. ‘All About U’ gives users a virtual experience of one year at university. It provides a series of scenarios which mirror the challenges and decisions they will have to make at university, to balance their time, money, academic goals and social lives. The programme can be played individually online or be incorporated into workshops for students, parents, carers and advisers. Visit All About You for more information.

Help with transport costs

If you travel by public transport to and from your school sixth form, college or a further education institution, you may be able to get help with the cost from your local authority.
If you're on an Entry to Employment programme or on a course that leads to an Apprenticeship, you should speak to your learning provider to find out whether they can offer you any help with your transport costs.

Students with a disability

There are special funds and allowances available for students with disabilities.

The main source of financial assistance is a Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) available from your Local Education Authority (LEA). The allowance is to subsidise disability-related costs whilst you study and is available to full and part-time students, as well as undergraduates and postgraduates.

Your LEA may also contribute towards travel expenses.

Check out Student Support for more advice on who is eligible and how to apply.

Higher Education

If you’re doing a higher education course, you can apply for student finance to help fund your studies. Full-time students can’t usually claim income-related benefits as well - but part-time students and certain groups of full-time students are sometimes eligible.

September 2006 saw the introduction of top-up fees, and these fees mean you won't have to pay fees up front at the start of each university year. Instead, fees of up to £3070 a year are paid back after you graduate through loan repayments when you earn more than £15,000 a year. Students pay different costs depending on: where they live; if they live at home or at university accommodation; what university students choose to go to; household income; and personal circumstances.

Don't panic though - there is plenty of help available. Financial support will apply if you have special needs or a disability, you have children, you have been in care, and if you are from a low income family. A Student Loan for Maintenance means you can get help if you live at university or if you live at home. If you are eligible for the student loan you will get £3495 if you live at home, £4510 if you live away from home (outside London) and £6315 if you live away from home and in London. It's normally paid into your bank account by Student Finance Direct. Repayments are due from the April after you leave your course and you have to repay 9% of your earnings over £15000.

Students coming from a family with an income of under £16,340 are entitled to apply for a grant of up to £1000. This does not need to be paid back. Smaller grants are also available if your family income is under £22,326.

You may also want to consider alternative sources of funding, such as a hardship loan which you can apply to the Student Loans Company for. This could amount to anything up to £500. Many students also turn to part-time to work to fund their studies.

Download higher education student finance forms

Student Bank Accounts

It's important to choose the right bank for you when going to university. If you know where you are going to study then look at which banks have branches there and see what services they offer. Find out the important bits such as how big the overdraft facility is likely to be and does it increase each year? Make sure that the bank has Internet Banking - it will make managing your money so much easier.

Page updated: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 4:06 PM