Financial support
The publication of the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance (the Browne Review) in October 2010 made a number of recommendations which, if adopted, will change the way in which higher education is funded in England.
These changes will affect our partner universities' current policy towards fees, bursaries and scholarships.
Students starting September 2012
From 2012, new UK and eligible EU undergraduate BSMS students will be charged £9,000 per year, and the BSMS partner universities have received government approval for this.
At the same time, BSMS students will be able to apply to the University of Sussex First-Generation Scholars scheme to support students whose parents haven't been to university, as well as those from low-income families. Students receiving UK Government grant support will be entitled to financial support via the scheme, and we have therefore set the eligibility threshold at the highest level possible – i.e. students whose family income is up to £42,600.
Please note that BSMS students will not be eligible to apply for the University of Brighton scholarship scheme as well.
Range of financial support
Under the new arrangements introduced by the UK Government, tuition fees for undergraduate degree programmes will continue to be set by each university. To assist new full-time home/EU students studying for their first degree, a range of financial support has been announced by the UK Government:
- You don't have to pay for your degree programme yourself upfront
- You can get a loan to cover the cost of your tuition, which you only start to pay back when you are earning over £21,000 a year
- Repayments will be made each month and will be a fixed percentage of income over £21,000, over a period of up to 30 years.
In addition, other financial support is available to students from England to help with living costs:
- Loans and grants are available to help with costs such as food, accommodation and travel, depending on personal circumstances and household income
- A loan of up to £5,500 will be available if you live away from home and study at Sussex
- A loan of up to £4,375 will be available if you live with your parents
- If your household income is up to £25,000 you will be entitled to a full grant of £3,250, which you don't have to pay back
- If your household income is between £25,000 and £42,600 you would be entitled to a grant of between £3,250 and £50, which you don't have to pay back
Students who normally live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland will receive financial support for university from the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government or the Northern Ireland Executive (as appropriate).
University of Sussex First-Generation Scholars
To enhance the statutory financial support available directly from the UK Government, the University of Sussex will launch an innovative First-Generation Scholars scheme from 2012. The scheme is designed to provide additional support measures to students receiving UK Government grant funding, ensuring the University continues to attract and support talented individuals, irrespective of background.
The First-Generation Scholars scheme is innovative in the way that it offers students support, both before and after university as well as during their studies. It includes:
- Free summer school for students to help them prepare for transfer to university
- Direct means-tested financial support to students of at least £1,000 a year while they study at Sussex. There is also a £2,000 first-year fee waiver or the equivalent in rent reduction (approximately £50 per week) to support students. Please note: the rent reduction option is applicable to those living in either the University of Sussex OR the University of Brighton accommodation in their first year.
- A work-study programme to help students earn money while studying
- One-to-one study skills, careers/leadership and personal development coaching
- Funded placements to help students gain work experience
- Three years' aftercare for students when they finish their studies to help them into a graduate career, including funded graduate internship opportunities.
Eligibility for the scheme
The scheme is available to all students who are the first in their generation to go into Higher Education, as well as those who are from low-income families. The direct financial support elements of the package are means tested.
Students receiving UK Government grant support will be entitled to financial support via the scheme and, to support as many low-income students as possible on the scheme, we have set the financial threshold at the highest level– i.e. all those with a family income of up to £42,600.
The University's scheme and support package was approved by the Office for Fair Access in July 2011.
Applicants for 2012 entry therefore have access to clear and timely information on tuition fees, bursaries and scholarships at Sussex to assist them in submitting their UCAS forms.
For more details of the financial support available from the UK Government and the repayment of loans, refer to Directgov student finance.