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Undergraduate Financial support & Bursaries

Bedford College Group staff member

There are two ways to pay for your course:

1. Take out a loan. You could be eligible to take out a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees
2. Pay by instalments. If you decide to pay for your course yourself, we also offer an affordable Direct Debit instalments option to help spread the cost of tuition fees (terms apply)

Loans and financial support for Access to Higher Education and Art & Design Foundation BTEC Diploma (Pre-Degree) courses Level 3

Financial support Types

Advanced Learner Loan

Applicable courses
Access, Art & Design Foundation Diploma if aged 19 or over.

Available to full-time students
Yes From £300 up to the cost of tuition.

Available to part-time students
Yes From £300 up to the cost of tuition

Further details
A low-interest, repayable loan to pay for tuition fees. The amount is paid directly to The Bedford College Group on your behalf. You’ll only need to start repaying the loan from April 2021, after you’ve completed your course and you’re earning more than £21,000 per year. If you go on to complete a higher education qualification after your course, any outstanding loan amount will be written off. If you don’t complete your course you will be required to repay the loan amount relative to your attendance. When you stop attending, payments will stop and you’ll only be liable to repay the amount (including any interest accrued) that’s already been paid to the College. Visit www.gov.uk for more information. (Please note, this information relates to Student Finance England, a loan provider separate to The Bedford College Group and does not represent the Group’s fees policy.)

Advanced Learner Loan Bursary

Applicable courses
Access, Art & Design Foundation Diploma.
Available to full-time students
Yes
Available to part-time students
Yes
Further details
A non-repayable bursary which may be available if your household income is £30,000 or less (this figure may be subject to change) and you have taken out an Advanced Learner Loan (see above). This bursary is designed to provide financial support towards costs such as childcare or travel associated with your Art & Design Foundation Diploma or your Access course. You must have taken out the loan in order to qualify for the bursary.

Adult Support Fund

Applicable courses
Art & Design Foundation Diploma, Access
Available to full-time students
Yes
Available to part-time students
Yes
Further details
If aged 19-23 and studying your first full Level 3 qualification a non-repayable bursary may be available if your household income is less than £30,000 (this figure may be subject to change). This bursary is designed to help with course related costs associated with your Art & Design Foundation Diploma or your Access course, such as travel, fees or equipment.

Progression bursary

If you go on to study one of our Pearson Higher National Certificates at the College you will receive £500 to support your studies and to spend how you wish. *subject to conditions.

Please note, you will generally only get student finance for your first higher education qualification.

LOANS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR UNDERGRADUATE COURSES LEVEL 4 AND ABOVE

Financial Support Types

Tuition Fee Loan

Applicable courses
BA/BSc (Hons) Top-Up (apply through the University of Bedfordshire or the University of Northampton), HNC, HND, Foundation Degree, PGCE
Available to full-time students
Yes- Up to £9,250 per year
Available to part-time students
Yes Up to £6,935 per year. Part-time students must complete a minimum of 25%of the full-time course content each year.
Further details
A low-interest, repayable government loan from Student Finance England to pay for the tuition fees of your undergraduate course. The amount is paid directly to The Bedford College Group on your behalf. You’ll only need to start repaying the loan after you’ve completed your course and you’re earning more than £26,575 per year. Visit www.gov.uk/student-finance for more details.

Maintenance Loan

Applicable courses
Full-time HNC, HND, Foundation Degree, PGCE, BA/BSc, Top-Ups.
Available to full-time students
Yes- Living at home (up to £7,747)- Living away from home (up to £9,203 per year).
Available to part-time students
Yes For more information visit: www.gov.uk/student-finance/parttime-students
Further details
A low-interest, repayable loan to pay towards your living costs such as rent – the amount is paid to your personal bank account through instalments across the duration of your course. You’ll only need to start repaying the loan after you’ve completed your course and you’re earning more than £26,575 per year.

Childcare Grant

Applicable courses
Full-time HNC, HND, Foundation Degree, PGCE, BA/BSc, Top-Ups.
Available to full-time students
Yes (up to 85% of your weekly costs)- Up to £174.22 a week for one child- Up to £298.69 a week for two or more children.
Available to part-time students
No
Further details
This grant helps with childcare costs for children under 15, or under 17 if they have special educational needs. You do not have to pay this money back and you must be eligible for student finance to apply. Visit www.gov.uk/childcare-grant for more information.

Adult Dependent Grant

Applicable courses
Full-time HNC, HND, Foundation Degree, PGCE, BA/BSc, Top-Ups.
Available to full-time students
Yes- Up to £3,094 per year depending on house hold income.
Available to part-time students
No
Further details
This grant is for students with an adult who depends on them financially. The money is paid in three termly instalments direct into your bank account and you do not have to pay this money back. Visit www.gov.uk/adult-dependants-grant for information.

Parents’ Learning Allowance

Applicable courses
Full-time HNC, HND, Foundation Degree, PGCE, BA/BSc, Top-Ups.
Available to full-time students
Yes – Up to £1,766a year depending on household income
Available to part-time students
No
Further details
Help with course-related costs if you have children who depend on you. You can apply for Parents’ Learning Allowance even if you choose not to apply for a Childcare Grant. You can get up to £1,766 a year dependent on other income sources. For more information visit: www.gov.uk/studentfinancesteps

Disabled Students’ Allowance

Applicable courses
HNC, HND, Foundation Degree, PGCE, BA/BSc top-ups
Available to full-time students
Yes
Available to part-time students
Yes
Further details
You can apply if you have a disability, including a: long-term health condition; mental health condition; specific learning difficulty, eg dyslexia. You must meet the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010. The support you get depends on your individual needs and not on income. For more information visit: www.gov.uk/studentfinancesteps

Want to know more?
Please note: the information on fees and loans above is correct as of November 2020 and is subject to change and applies only to students from England. If you are from Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland or anywhere else in the EU, please visit www.gov.uk/student-finance for further details.

Need more support?
Please get in touch with our Student Services team as we may be able to offer further support. Contact us on 01234 291934 or email studentservices@bedford.ac.uk to find more.

Are you an international student?
We do not accept any applications for students living outside the European Union.