Part-time Students And part-time Study In Higher ... - Universities UK

In part, as a response to these issues the Government announced, in July 2003, increased financialsupport for part-time undergraduate students in England and Wales, which came into force in2004/05 (DfES, 2004). 1 Part-time students studying 50% or more of a full-time course (ie, 60 creditsor more) and who do not already have an undergraduate degree or Level 4 qualification were to beentitled to:• A means-tested fee grant to contribute to the costs of tuition of up to £575 to replace fee waiversfrom HEIs. Students with incomes of less than £14,999 2 per annum are potentially eligible forthe full grant.• A means-tested course grant to contribute to the other course costs such as books, materialtravel etc, of up to £250 to replace a student loan of up to £500. Students with incomes of lessthan £19,587 3 a year are eligible for the full grant.• Discretionary support from the Access to Learning Funds, distributed by HEIs, if students arestudying a minimum of 10 per cent of a full-time course, to help with hardship and costs such aschildcare.• A Disabled Students Allowance.On 30 December 2004 another change to the fee grant was announced to come into force in2005/06, for students in England and Wales. For first time the amount of fee grant a student receivedtowards the cost of fees was to be linked to a students’ intensity of study (Table 1.1). Consequently,students studying the equivalent of 75 per cent of a full-time course would receive more money thanthose studying the equivalent of 50 per cent of a full-time course. Thus the maximum amount offinancial support available for fees would increase from £575 to £885 per year. This change appliedto both new and existing students.Table 1.1: Student supportFee grant for students studying 2005/06 2006/0750% – 59% FTE £590 £75060% – 74% FTE £710 £90075% or more FTE £885 £1,125Source: DfES (2005a) Briefing note: part-time student support package 2006/07The most recent set of reforms were announced in October 2005 and are to come into force in2006/07 for students studying in England only. 4 The main changes are as follows:1 Students undertaking postgraduate courses in England and Wales are not eligible for statutory studentsupport, except for those pursuing a PGCE. However, they may obtain financial help from the research councilsand from Career Development Loans. Northern Ireland has similar provisions to students in England and Wales,unlike students in Scotland.2 For a single students without dependent children.3 For a single students without dependent children.4 The Graham Review was set up in Wales to make recommendations on students support for part-timestudents in Wales. For a report by the authors exclusively on part-time students in Wales see Callender, C.Wilkinson, D. and Mackinon K (2006) Part Time Study In Higher Education In Wales: A Survey Of Students’Attitudes And Experiences Of Part Time Study And Its Costs 2005/06.Part-time students and part-time study: Strand 3 Universities UK 9