ENGLAND UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENT FUNDING
AM I CONSIDERED AN ENGLISH STUDENT?
You can apply for full support from Student Finance England if all the following apply:
• You're a UK national or Irish citizen or have 'settled status' (no restrictions on how long you can stay).
• You normally live in England.
• You’ve been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for three years in a row before the first day of the first academic year of your course (apart from temporary absences such as holidays).
• You can also have an eligible exception residency type such as a refugee, stateless person or humanitarian protection.
ELIGIBILITY
To determine eligibility for financial support, you must provide your household income if you apply for any of the following:
• Maintenance Loan
• Childcare Grant
• Adult Dependants’ Grant
• Parents’ Learning Allowance
You’ll need to provide your household income for the previous tax year, for example, income details from 2024 to 2025 if you’re applying for the 2025 to 2026 academic year.
If your parents have separated, Student Finance England will look at the income of the parent you usually live with. If there is a step-parent who also lives in the same household, Student Finance England will count the income of the step-parent as well.
WHICH CATEGORY DO I FALL INTO?
Your household income includes:
Independent – assessed on just your income
• If you are over 25 and single.
• If you can supply evidence that you have supported yourself financially for 3 years prior to starting on the course (you can't include periods where you were in full-time education).
• If you have a dependant child of your own.
• If you're officially recognised as a care leaver.
• If your parents are deceased.
• If you are recognised by Student Finance England as being officially ‘estranged’ from your parents.
Dependent on spouse/partner – assessed on their income
• If you are married or in a civil partnership.
• If you are over 25 and living with a partner.
Dependent on parents – assessed on their income
• If you don’t fall into above categories.
REPAYMENTS ONLY START ONCE YOU ARE EARNING £25,000 PER YEAR*
FUNDING FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS
TUITION FEE LOAN
Tuition Fee charges for full-time undergraduate courses at USW are currently £9,535 for most courses. Fees are detailed on each individual course web page.
English students can usually have a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the fee charge. This money is repaid after graduation when you earn more than the threshold.
How much Tuition Fee Loan you get does not depend on your household income. Student Finance England will pay your Tuition Fee Loan directly to USW.
You’ll receive a notification of entitlement letter from Student Finance England which will confirm how much support you’re entitled to during the academic year.
You’ll need to let Student Finance England know if your circumstances change during your course, to ensure you’re receiving the support you are entitled to.
Repayments start once you are earning £25,000 a year. * If you have not repaid the total amount you owe within 40 years, the remaining balance is written off.
Your repayments will be taken out of your salary at the same time as tax and National Insurance if you’re an employee. Your payslips will show how much has been deducted. You should check your employer has you on the correct repayment plan.
MAINTENANCE LOAN
Eligible first-time undergraduates are able to apply for financial support to help with living costs while studying.
You’ll eventually have to pay your Maintenance Loan back, including interest once you’ve finished or left your course.
How does this work?
The Maintenance Loan is means-tested and how much you receive is based on your household income and where you live while studying. The minimum and maximum loans available are detailed below.
• Living with your parents (£3,907 - £8,877).*
• Living away from parents outside of London (£4,915 - £10,544).*
For more information and to view the Maintenance Loan rates available for a full-time student please visit: www.gov.uk/student-finance/new-fulltimestudents
The Maintenance Loan is paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term.
FUNDING FOR PART-TIME STUDENTS
TUITION FEE LOAN
You may be able to get a Tuition Fee Loan if your part-time course has a course intensity of 25% or more.
You can work this out by comparing your module credits with the number of module credits a fulltime student will study. You’ll be asked how many credits you’ll study when you apply for the loan. For example, if you are undertaking 60 credits, this is 50% of a full-time course. This is what most of our part-time undergraduates do.
You can contact our Enquiries Team if you’re not sure about the number of credits: enquiries@southwales.ac.uk
For 2025 entry, the fee charged for a student undertaking a standard part-time course at 60 credits a year (50% intensity) is £2,355. You can access a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the full cost.*
Repayments start once you are earning £25,000 a year. * If you have not repaid the total amount you owe within 40 years, the remaining balance is written off.
Your repayments will be taken out of your salary at the same time as tax and National Insurance if you’re an employee. Your payslips will show how much has been deducted. You should check your employer has you on the correct repayment plan.
MAINTENANCE LOAN
Eligible first-time undergraduates are able to apply for financial support to help with living costs while studying. You have to pay your Maintenance Loan back, including interest, once you’ve finished or left your course and are earning above the threshold.
A part-time Maintenance Loan is available, but it is subject to the intensity of study.
For students studying 50% intensity (60 credits), the maximum loan available is £4,438 for those students living with parents.* For students living away from home and outside London the maximum loan is £5,272.*
For students studying 75% intensity (90 credits), the maximum loan available is £6,657 for those students living with parents.* For students who live away from home and outside London the maximum loan is £7,908.*
Student Finance England will pay the loan directly into your bank account. Payments will be made close to the start of each term, the exact dates will be listed on the payment schedule you receive from Student Finance England.
If there is no requirement for you to attend a university campus for your course, please contact Student Finance England as your loan entitlement may be affected.
LOAN REPAYMENTS
• You will need to pay back your Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loans.
• You do not need to pay back other student finance, for example, grants, scholarships or bursaries.
• Don’t forget that you still have to repay your student loan if you leave your course early.
HOW TO REPAY
You’ll only repay your student loan when your income is over the threshold amount for your repayment plan.
Repayments will start when your income is over the threshold amount of £25,000 a year.*
Your repayments will be taken out of your salary at the same time as tax and National Insurance if you’re an employee. Your payslips will show how much has been deducted. You should check your employer has placed you on the correct repayment plan.
Remember to keep your contact details up to date so that you can get messages about your loan. For more info on loan repayments visit: www.gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan
EXTRA SUPPORT FROM STUDENT FINANCE ENGLAND
ADULT DEPENDANTS’ GRANT (ADG)
FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS ONLY
You can apply for an Adult Dependants’ Grant (ADG). This support can go towards the extra costs you might have if you’re an undergraduate student with an adult who depends on you financially.
Whether you are eligible and how much you get will depend on your household income, your dependants’ income and whether or not you have a partner.
CHILDCARE GRANT (CCG)
FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS ONLY
You can apply for a Childcare Grant (CCG). This support can go towards your childcare costs if you’re an undergraduate student who has children. Whether you are eligible and how much you get depends on your household income. You don't have to pay it back.
PARENTS’ LEARNING ALLOWANCE (PLA)
FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS ONLY
You can apply for Parents’ Learning Allowance (PLA). This support can go towards some of the extra costs you might have if you’re an undergraduate student who has children.
Whether you are eligible and how much you get depends on your household income. You don't have to pay it back.
DISABLED STUDENTS’ ALLOWANCE (DSA)
FOR FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME STUDENTS
Disabled Students’ Allowance is extra support on top of your other student finance and can be used to pay for study-related costs such as equipment, nonmedical help, travel and photocopying and printing.
You can apply for DSA to cover some of the extra costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability. How much support you can get and what you can spend it on depends on your individual needs, not your household income. You do not need to pay the Disabled Students’ Allowance back.
SPECIAL SUPPORT ELEMENT FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS ONLY
Some full-time students who have an underlying entitlement to certain means-tested benefits may be eligible for the Special Support Element rate of loan instead of the standard Maintenance Loan. This means that instead of getting the Maintenance Loan rates on page 7, you could be entitled to loans up to £10,473 parental home or £12,019 if living elsewhere.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES
USW wants to support every student so they can reach their potential, regardless of their personal circumstance. This is why we have a range of scholarships and bursaries available to eligible applicants.
USW TRAVEL BURSARY
The USW Travel Bursary covers the cost of reasonable expenses associated with visiting the University of South Wales to attend an undergraduate Open Day, interview or an Applicant Experience Day.
Payments cover train, coach, air or boat fare at the most economical rate available. We are also able to support with the costs of travelling by car. Payments are only made to prospective students who have applied for an undergraduate course via UCAS.
TEACHING AND EDUCATION
There are a variety of sources of funding and support available to you as a student teacher. What you’ll be eligible to receive will vary according to the type of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course you are on, where you normally live, the subject you’re training to teach and where you’re training, as well as your personal circumstances.
ETHNICITY EQUALITY BURSARY
USW is offering 15 bursaries to undergraduate students commencing their studies in the 2025-26 academic year, and have self-identified as one of the ethnic groups on the UK government published list: www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/ style-guide/ethnic-groups
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BURSARY
We offer a non-means tested bursary for students identified as requiring the test for Dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties.
SPORT SCHOLARSHIPS
We recognise and reward sporting success, providing individuals support to excel in their studies and sporting ambitions. Our sport scholarships are designed to give elite athletes the opportunity to fulfill their sporting potential.
REFUGEE SANCTUARY SCHEME
The USW Refugee Sanctuary Scheme is a scheme providing support to a limited number of eligible refugees via free English language tuition prior to starting an undergraduate course at the University.
SANCTUARY SCHOLARSHIP
The Sanctuary Scholarship will support two successful undergraduate applicants with tuition fees waived for the duration of their undergraduate studies, and a scholarship to assist with course-related costs. To be eligible for this you would need to:
• Be a person seeking asylum.
• Have Limited Leave to Remain (as a result of an Asylum application).
• Be the partner/dependant included on the application of a person of any of the above groups.
CARE LEAVER SUPPORT AND BURSARY
USW is a member of Care Leaver Activities and Student Support (CLASS) Cymru partnership, who share best practices relating to care leavers across higher education institutions in Wales. We can offer you additional support in the form of:
• Care Leaver Bursary for students who are classed as ‘home’ students - (currently £1,000* per year for fulltime students, £500* for part-time students).
• A named contact.
• Access to 365 day accommodation for full-time students (payment and terms and conditions must be met by the student).
• Graduation Award to support related costs such as gown hire/photograph package.
STUDENT SUPPORT FUND
This is discretionary help from the University for students who need additional financial assistance. Any assistance given is usually in the form of a grant and you can apply once you have enrolled. The fund may also be able to assist if there are delays with your funding.
*Subject to change.
STUDENT FINANCE APPLICATION PROCESS
To help you with the application process, here are some brief steps for you to follow. The quickest and easiest way to apply for student finance is online: www.gov.uk/student-finance
CHECK IF YOU’RE ELIGIBLE
Visit the Student Finance England website to find out whether you are eligible for student finance.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
• You'll need to reapply for student finance for each year of your course.
• Remember to update your details should your circumstances change. It’s also good to doublecheck your details to make sure you can be paid correctly and promptly.
• When you stop studying, the Student Loans Company (SLC) will create a student loans repayment account for you.
CHECK IF YOU CAN GET EXTRA HELP
You might be able to get extra funding from Student Finance England. Make sure to check if any loans, grants, scholarships or bursaries are means-tested or not.
USW also offers a number of different bursaries and scholarships which you may be eligible for. See the fees and funding page of our website for more details: www.southwales.ac.uk/money
GETTING YOUR STUDENT FINANCE
Student Finance England will send you a letter confirming how much funding you’ll get, usually within six weeks.
After you register at your university or college, you'll usually get your Maintenance Loan paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term.
PREPARE
Check when you can apply, what ID is needed and if you need to give proof of your household income.
Once you have everything that you’ll need to hand, it’s time to make your application.
APPLY
It’s time to apply via the Student Finance England website. You'll need to create a student finance account if you're a new student or sign into an existing account if you're a returning student.
It can take up to six weeks to process your application and you might have to provide extra evidence.
MANAGING YOUR MONEY
APPLY FOR A STUDENT BANK ACCOUNT
A good student bank account will offer you an interest-free overdraft. Many banks will offer incentives for you to open your student account with them. Make sure you look around for the best offer, don’t just go with the bank you are already with.
BRING SOME SAVINGS
For most of you, your student loan will arrive in the first few weeks of term. As your next payment is not until January, you need to make your money last! Try to work out how much you have to spend over the course of the term and try to stick to it. If you can, bring some savings to support you through your first couple of weeks, as people tend to spend more initially.
COURSE COSTS
Don't forget to find out if there are additional costs associated with your course, such as textbooks, software or sports kit. These may be included but it's important to check. Don’t rush out and buy these unnecessarily, consider second hand sales and library resources.
STUDENT DISCOUNT CARDS
Buy or sign up to student-friendly discount cards, such as the TOTUM card (www.totum.com) and the 16-25 Railcard (www.railcard.co.uk). Check the full terms and conditions of the rail card to make sure you will fully benefit e.g. you may not be able to use the discount on travel before 10am. If a shop or bar does not have a sign, don’t be afraid to ask about student discounts.
SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST DEALS
Look into whether you can save money on your mobile phone contract and compare broadband deals, remember to look out for cancellation charges. A price comparison site will be a useful resource to assist with this.
BLACKBULLION
USW is partnered with Blackbullion, who are the ultimate destination for students to master money management. It’s the place to learn about money, find extra money, and manage your money with confidence. For more information visit www.blackbullion.com
KNOW YOUR INCOME AND OUTGOINGS
It might seem boring, but you’ll thank yourself in the long run! Jot down all of your income (student loan, scholarships, bursaries or grants, work wages, family support etc). Next, write down all of your outgoings (rent, bills, subscriptions, memberships, petrol etc).
MAKE A BUDGET
Once you’ve worked out how much you have got to live on every month, you can create a detailed budget. Decide how much you’ll spend on things like food, necessities, travel (and fun stuff too). If you need budgeting advice, contact our Student Money Advice Team. They can also assist you with creating and reviewing a budget plan. Budgeting apps like Wally or Money Dashboard Neon are handy and help you take control of your money.
BE A SAVVY SHOPPER
Make a list in advance of the items you want to buy to try and reduce impulse buys. Try supermarket own brands; they’re often just as good as branded products. Cook in bulk, then freeze portions for the following weeks. Do your food shopping a bit later in the day, when the supermarkets are reducing food items. The Too Good To Go app is another way to buy perfectly edible supermarket/restaurant food for a fraction of the original price.
BE INTENTIONAL
Before you spend your money, ask yourself whether you really need it. We’re not saying to do this all the time (where’s the fun in that?!), but it’s worth being intentional about what you’re spending money on, so you don’t end up wasting it.
SCAN HERE TO HEAR MONEY SAVINGS TIPS FROM OUR CURRENT STUDENTS.
MEET OUR STUDENT MONEY ADVICE TEAM
The Student Money Advice Team at USW can assist you with the financial side of your studies.
Get information and advice on:
• Your eligibility for student finance support.
• Student loans, grants, additional allowances, NHS bursaries and discretionary awards.
• Applications to the University's Student Support Fund and related schemes.
• Budgeting, additional sources of financial assistance and basic advice on benefits.
• The financial implications of changing or leaving a course or repeating years of study.
• Payments and administration of most of the University's scholarships and bursaries.
You can contact the Student Money Advice Team here: money@southwales.ac.uk 01443 483 778
Scan here to meet the USW Student Money Advice Team.
Scan here for money tips for new students.
Scan here to find out how our Student Money Advice Team has helped current students.
You may have already attended one of our Open Days, but an Applicant Experience Day will help you make USW your firm choice. When attending an Applicant Experience Day, you’ll get to learn what it’s like to study at university on your chosen course and talk to the people who will be teaching you next year. You will also get more of an insight into day-to-day campus life, have the chance to chat to our current students, and you’ll be able to take part in some fun activities.
We’ll send your invitation to the email address you used when you applied. If you haven't received one, please get in touch with us at admissions@southwales.ac.uk
SPEAK TO OUR STUDENT MONEY ADVICE TEAM AT ONE OF OUR OPEN DAYS OR APPLICANT EXPERIENCE DAYS
