STUDENT FUNDING
AM I CONSIDERED A WELSH STUDENT?
Welsh students are not just students from Wales. You’re considered a Welsh student if you're any of the following:
• A UK national or Irish citizen and have been living in the UK and Islands for 3 years before the first day of the first year of your course.
• Have been granted settled status and have been living in the UK and Islands for 3 years before the first day of the first year of your course.
• Have been granted settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme and have been living in the UK and Islands for 3 years before the first day of the first year of your course.
You'll also need to live in Wales on or before the first day of the first academic year of your course.
You can also have an eligible exception residency type such as a refugee, stateless person or humanitarian protection.
FUNDING FROM STUDENT FINANCE WALES
Funding is available from Student Finance Wales to help you with your living (maintenance) costs and provide an up-front loan to cover your tuition fees.
The easiest way to apply for student finance is via the Student Finance Wales website: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
TUITION FEES
A Tuition Fee Loan usually covers the cost of your undergraduate course fees for the duration of your studies. This funding would be paid directly to your university after you have enrolled.
You will only start to repay this loan when you have finished your studies and are earning more than £27,295 per year (subject to terms and conditions).
MAINTENANCE SUPPORT
Most students can get a mixture of a loan and a grant to help with their living costs. You might also be able to get extra help on top of this, if you have children, an adult dependant or a disability.
Maintenance support is additional to your Tuition Fee Loan. It’s intended to help out with accommodation costs, travel, groceries, and academic supplies, and the way you allocate this money is your decision.
Maintenance support is means-tested, so the amount you receive will be based on your household income and where you'll live or study, for example:
• At home with your parents.
• Away from your parental home and studying outside London.
• Studying overseas.
It’s paid directly to your bank account in three instalments throughout the year, usually towards the start of each term.
LOAN REPAYMENTS ONLY START ONCE YOU ARE EARNING £27,295 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.
Welsh 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 Wales will pay your Tuition Fee Loan directly to USW.
You’ll receive a notification of entitlement letter from Student Finance Wales which will confirm how much support you’re entitled to during the academic year.
You’ll need to let Student Finance Wales 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 £27,295 a year.* If you have not repaid the total amount you owe within 30 years, the remaining balance is written off.
Repayments are collected through the tax system and are calculated monthly.
MAINTENANCE SUPPORT
You will be entitled to maintenance support as a combination of grant and loan. This is additional to your Tuition Fee Loan.
The Maintenance Loan element will need to be repaid (when you are earning above the repayment threshold), but the Maintenance Grant does not need to be repaid.
How does this work?
The total amount of maintenance support available to Welsh students is:
• £10,480 per year for those living in the parental home.*
• £12,345 per year for those living outside the parental home and outside London.*
If you have a low household income, you’ll receive less loan and more grant, meaning you’ll have less loan to pay back.
The opposite goes for those with higher household incomes; the higher the income, the higher the loan and less grant.
The weighting of the loan and grant will equal out and you’ll end up with the same overall total of maintenance funding as everyone else.
Every eligible full-time student will receive a grant of at least £1,000 regardless of household income.*
Student Finance Wales will pay your Maintenance Loan and Grant into your bank account in 3 instalments, usually at the start of each term.
FUNDING FOR PART-TIME STUDENTS
TUITION FEE LOAN
As a part-time student, you can apply for up to £2,625. How much Tuition Fee Loan you get does not depend on your household income.
You must be studying at a course intensity of at least 25% to get a Tuition Fee Loan.
You can work out your course intensity by comparing your module credits with the number of module credits a full-time student will study. You may 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.
Part-time fees are charged on a pro-rata basis according to the number of credits being studied in each academic year. In years where more credits are being studied, the Tuition Fee Loan may not cover all the fees charged. Students can set up a payment plan with the University to cover the balance due.
Standard part-time fees are charged at £785 per 20 credits. For example, a student undertaking 50% intensity (60 credits) would be charged £2,355 per year.*
You can contact our Enquiries Team if you’re not sure about the number of credits: enquiries@southwales.ac.uk
You’ll receive a 'notification of entitlement' letter from Student Finance Wales which will confirm how much support you’re entitled to during the academic year. Student Finance Wales will pay your Tuition Fee Loan directly to your university or college.
Repayments start once you are earning £27,295 a year.* If you have not repaid the total amount you owe within 30 years, the remaining balance is written off.
MAINTENANCE SUPPORT
You will be entitled to maintenance support as a combination of grant and loan. This is additional to your Tuition Fee Loan.
The Maintenance Loan element will need to be repaid (when you are earning above the repayment threshold), but the Maintenance Grant does not need to be repaid.
How does this work?
Maintenance support is means-tested, how much you get depends on your household income and course intensity (25%, 50%, 75%). Different course intensities have different overall values of maintenance support. You must be studying at a course intensity of at least 25% to get a part-time grant and loan for living costs.
If you have a low household income, you’ll receive less loan and more grant, meaning you’ll have less loan to pay back.
The opposite goes for those with higher household incomes; the higher the income, the higher the loan and less grant.
The weighting of the loan and grant will equal out and you’ll end up with the same overall total of maintenance funding as everyone else.
Student Finance Wales will pay your Maintenance Loan and Grant into your bank account in 3 instalments, usually at the start of each term.
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 start repaying your student loan when your income is over the threshold amount of £27,295 per 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 repayment visit: www.gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan
EXTRA SUPPORT FROM STUDENT FINANCE WALES
DISABLED STUDENTS’ ALLOWANCE (DSA)
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, non-medical help, travel, 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.
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.
If you’re a part-time student, your Parents’ Learning Allowance will be calculated based on your study intensity.
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 the CCG back.
If you’re a part-time student, you will be assessed for a reduced amount of CCG based on your study intensity.
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. If you’re a part-time student, your ADG will be calculated based on your study intensity. You do not have to pay this grant back.
SPECIAL SUPPORT GRANT (SSG)
A Special Support Grant (SSG) is for students who claim certain income-related benefits and is intended to help with costs such as books, course equipment and travel. You can apply online as part of your main student finance application.
For full-time students, you could receive an enhanced rate of Maintenance Loan which is awarded with the Maintenance Grant. Whether you are eligible and how much you get depends on your household income and where you live and study.
For part-time students, whether you are eligible and how much Special Support Grant and Maintenance Loan you get depends on your household income and course intensity.
If you are entitled to benefits, a proportion of the SSG element is disregarded by the Department of Work and Pensions. You do not have to pay this grant back.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES AT USW
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.
WELSH SCHOLARSHIPS
There are many opportunities for you to use your Welsh at USW - socially or as part of your course. You can take advantage of these opportunities to broaden your horizons and develop bilingual skills that will improve your career potential. We offer academic opportunities in a variety of subjects. We offer scholarships to students who study part of their course through the medium of Welsh. We are also part of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol scholarship scheme.
Check out the Coleg Cymraeg website to find out more: www.colegcymraeg.ac.uk.
GWENT BURSARY
We offer our Gwent Bursary to students residing at a NP postcode at the time of applying for a course at USW and have been offered and accepted a place at the University as part of the University’s Contextual Admissions Policy criteria: www.southwales.ac.uk/ apply
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.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BURSARY
We offer a non-means tested bursary for students identified as requiring the test for Dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties.
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 practice 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.
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/styleguide/ethnic-groups
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.
SCAN HERE TO FIND OUT HOW OUR SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES HAVE SUPPORTED OUR STUDENTS OR VISIT
SPORT SCHOLARSHIPS
*Subject to change.
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. SEE ALL OUR USW SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES HERE:
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.studentfinancewales.co.uk
CHECK IF YOU’RE ELIGIBLE
Visit the Student Finance Wales website to find out whether you are eligible for student finance.
CHECK IF YOU CAN GET EXTRA HELP
You might be able to get extra funding from Student Finance Wales. Make sure to check if any loans, grants, scholarships or bursaries are meanstested or not.
USW also offers a number of different bursaries and scholarships which you may be eligible for. Turn to pages 15-17 or visit the fees and funding page of our website for more details: www.southwales.ac.uk/money
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.
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 create a Student Finance Wales account, 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 if needed.
GETTING YOUR STUDENT FINANCE
• Once your application is complete, you should receive a ‘notification of entitlement’ letter from Student Finance Wales.
• Your Tuition Fee Loan will be paid directly to your university or college in 3 instalments, once they have confirmed your attendance.
• Your Maintenance Loan and Grant will be paid directly to you 3 times a year once your university or college has confirmed your registration.
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 10 am. 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 SAVING TIPS FROM OUR CURRENT STUDENTS.
NEXT STEPS
APPLICANT EXPERIENCE DAYS
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: admissions@southwales.ac.uk.
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.
USEFUL LINKS AND CONTACTS
USW Student Money Advice Team: money@southwales.ac.uk
Fees and Funding: www.southwales.ac.uk/money
Tuition Fee Payment Queries: revenue@southwales.ac.uk
Open Days: www.southwales.ac.uk/open-days
Student Finance Wales: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
Blackbullion: www.blackbullion.com
