Part time students

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Academic Services

Funding for Part-time students

If you are studying part-time, you may be able to receive support from the Government to supplement your tuition fee and course costs. Please refer to the information below to find out what is available to you.

Support for part-time undergraduate students
Support for part-time postgraduate students
Support for part-time EU students
Other support for part-time students

Please follow this link if you are considering changing from full to part-time study.

Support for part-time undergraduate students

Part-time students entering the University in 2010 may be eligible for the following:

A Fee Grant of up to £1,230 (paid directly to the University)
A Course Grant of up to £265 (paid into your bank account)
A possible contribution to childcare costs

Entitlement to these grants will depend on your household income. You will also normally have to be studying a course that is at least 50% of the equivalent full-time course. How much Fee Grant you are entitled to will depend on the intensity of your course – please see the table below for details:

Income	Entitlement
Below £16,845	Full course grant of £265 Full fee grant (or the fees charged by the college whichever is lower). Amount of fee grant Course equivalent of 50% to 59% of a full-time course - £820 Course equivalent of 60% to 74% of a full-time course - £985 Course equivalent of 75% or more of a full-time course - £1,230
£16,845	Full course grant of £265 Fee grant reduced by £50. Amount of fee grant Course equivalent of 50% to 59% of a full-time course - £770 Course equivalent of 60% to 74% of a full-time course - £935 Course equivalent of 75% or more of a full-time course - £1,180
£16,845 to £25,419	Full course grant of £265 Fee grant as follows: Amount of fee grant Course equivalent of 50% to 59% of a full-time course - £770 less £1 for every £11.91 of income (before tax) over £16,845 Course equivalent of 60% to 74% of a full-time course - £935 less £1 for every £9.69 of income (before tax) over £16,845 Course equivalent of 75% or more of a full-time course - £1,180 less £1 for every £7.59 of income (before tax) over £16,845
£25,420	Full course grant of £265. £50 fee grant.
£25,421 to £26,029	Full course grant of £265. No fee grant.
£26,030 to £28,064	Course grant of £265 less £1 for every £9.47 of income (before tax) over £26,030.
£28,065	£50 course grant.
£28,066 and over	No support.

There is no age limit on applying but students who already have a degree cannot normally apply for this support.

You can apply for this support by completing a PTG1 form, which can be obtained from the part-time student finance page on the Directgov web site.

Support for part-time postgraduate students

Part-time Research Fee Concession

Postgraduate part-time students are normally expected to fund their own tuition fees. However self-financing Home students on part-time postgraduate research courses may be entitled to a fee concession that reduces the annual fee by 50%. Further details are available in registration packs, and students qualifying may not qualify in subsequent years. Any queries on whether courses are eligible should be made to studentfees@bham.ac.uk.

Support for part-time EU students

If you are a EU national, or the husband, wife or civil partner of an EU national, you may get similar support for your tuition fees as a UK student. You can apply by completing a EUPTG1 form, which can be obtained by contacting the EU Customer Services Team on 0141 243 3570 or emailing EU_Team@slc.co.uk.

Other support for part-time students

If you are studying at least 50% of an equivalent full-time course, you may be eligible for support from the Access To Learning Fund
If you are a part-time student with a disability, you may qualify for a Disabled Students' Allowance. Click here for more details
Educational trusts and charities also provide awards to part-time students, depending on the aim of the organisation and the circumstances of the student. Visit www.hotcourses.com for more details.
If you are an unemployed part-time student, you may still be able to claim means-tested benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit. For more information, you can contact your local Jobcentre Plus office, Housing Benefit department or Department for Work and Pensions office.