FUNDING YOUR STUDIES

When it comes to student finance, there’s lots of information and support to help you.

Student Loans

Before we get into the detail, it’s useful to know that there are two types of student loan – Tuition Fee Loans for (you guessed it) tuition fees, and Maintenance Loans to help with living costs.

Here are a few key facts about these loans:

• You will only start repaying the loans when you’re earning over a certain amount.

• There is no deadline for the loans to be repaid in full.

• After a certain amount of time, the outstanding amount will be cancelled (see further information about loan repayments on page 102).

Tuition Fees

If you’re a first-time undergraduate living in the UK, you are entitled to apply for a loan to have your tuition fees paid on your behalf by the Student Loans Company: www.slc.co.uk

This non-income assessed loan is paid directly to the University in three instalments if eligible.

At the time of writing, it is not possible to state what our exact fees will be for students starting an undergraduate degree in 2024, but in 2023 our tuition fees for Home students were:

Undergraduate Degree

Full-time: £9,250 per annum

Part-time: £1,540 per 20 credit module

Foundation Year

Full-time: £9,250

For up-to-date information and further details on our tuition fees, please visit: www.chester.ac.uk/finance

Extra Costs

Your course will also involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, stationery, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.

For up-to-date details of additional costs associated with your specific course, visit the course page on the University website at: www.chester.ac.uk

Part-Time Students

Tuition Fee Loans are available to eligible part-time first degree students who complete a minimum of 25% of the full-time course load per year. Part-time course fees for the University of Chester vary, but for self-financing students, fees are normally pro-rata to the full-time fee.

EU Students

Following the UK’s exit from the EU, students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU, starting in or after the 2021-22 academic year, will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans. Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Living Costs

Whilst at university, you’ll need to think about living costs for things like accommodation, food, travel and bills, and a Maintenance Loan is there to help with these things. If you’re going to be a part-time student, you may also be eligible for a Maintenance Loan.

The amount you receive depends on your household income and where you live and study, as there are differences in the way student finance is governed and support will vary depending on where in the UK you are domiciled. To find out more, please visit:

• England: www.gov.uk/student-finance

• Wales: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk

• Scotland: www.saas.gov.uk

• Northern Ireland: www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

• EU: www.gov.uk/student-finance/ eu-students

If you are an international student, for more information, please visit: www.chester.ac.uk/international-fees

Working While You Study

Working while you study can be a great option. Not only will it help you support yourself, but it’s a great way to meet new people and gain new skills.

Our vibrant city and town locations offer a variety of part-time working options, and our Careers and Employability team help students to find part-time work.

Our UniJob service enables you to apply for part-time jobs at the University, or you can use our CareerHub portal to find part-time work in the local area and elsewhere.

Loan Repayments

Repayments of your Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loan will start in the April after you have graduated or left higher education if you are earning over the threshold.

At the time of writing (January 2023), the student loan repayment threshold for English-resident students is £25,000 a year. Thereafter it will be adjusted annually in line with average earnings.

If you are earning over the threshold, you repay 9% of everything earned above that amount. If you are earning less than the threshold, then your student loan repayments won’t be deducted.

Interest is charged on your loan from the day the Student Loans Company makes your first payment to you or your university or college, until the loan is either repaid in full or cancelled.

Any loan remaining after 40 years will be cancelled. For more information, please visit: www.chester.ac.uk/repayment