Undergraduate  bursaries (FOI)

​Request

The booklet "Guide to Higher Education Awards" that is given out to parents and students can be found at the following link:

Higher Education Awards

On page 6 can be found a Student Finance Bursary:

"This bursary has been set up for the purpose of giving financial assistance to enable young people to take advantage of a learning opportunity at a higher education institute that charges fees at a rate above the level of £10,500 per annum. The maximum bursary that will be given is equal to the difference between the tuition fee to be charged and the assessed parental contribution towards tuition.

• a student must possess one A(2) level pass or an equivalent level 3 qualification

• be eligible for funding under the current regulation for higher education grants

• have submitted a HE2 Income Statement Form"

I would like to know:

A

When this was introduced as it was not in the booklet last year 2017/18.

B

How much has been spent in the last two academic years?

C

What the budget is for this?

D

Where I can find the ministerial order, or the regulations that cover this bursary?

E

Am I correct in thinking that now any degree or learning opportunity with costs over £10,500 are now covered with no ceiling at all?

F

Does this include postgraduate degrees as they are also a 'learning opportunity' at a higher education institution?

Response

A

The student finance bursary was formed in 2015/2016 in order to enable students, who have shown real dedication and commitment to their chosen specialism in the years leading up to university, to be able to choose an institute not based on cost. The student finance bursary is still means tested but higher fees can be paid if the student can demonstrate why the institute is more suitable for them.

The student finance bursary was not in the student finance booklet for 2015/16, 2016/17 or 2017/18. The process has always been that upon receiving an application where the fees are shown to be above standard, student finance send a bursary application form and put a paragraph in the approvals letter. These are sent to the student along with the HE2 Income Statement Form.

B

2015/16 academic year: £41,925

2016/17 academic year: £36,200

C

There is no separate budget as it is an extension of the undergraduate scheme.

D

The bursary is not in a ministerial order, as the eligibility criteria for this grant are the same as for the normal grant and it is seen as an extension of this scheme.

E

There is no maximum amount but each case will be looked at individually as to the business case for choosing that particular university. The maximum bursary that will be given is equal to the difference between the tuition fee to be charged and the assessed parental contribution towards tuition. The parental contribution is assessed using the HE2 Income Statement Form and is means tested in the usual way.

F

It is for undergraduate study only.