This programme is an exciting, practice-based degree that teaches you key skills in drama, movement, technical theatre and voice with an interdisciplinary focus. You will develop a portfolio of professional skills tailored to your chosen career path in the creative industries. Our course is designed for people who have a passion for creating performance, a curiosity for ideas, and a desire to discover creative ways of developing and funding projects, festivals and events. You will be challenged at every level to develop your practical skills, critical thinking, entrepreneurship and understanding of the artistic practice. Upon completion, you will be a skilled practitioner, ready for graduate employment or postgraduate study.
Graduate destinations
Theatre and Performance is aimed at students who aspire to work in the Creative and Cultural Industries. The portfolio of potential career paths includes; performing, teaching, community arts practice, festival and event management, technical management and developing your own theatre company. Our interdisciplinary focus means you will also have a broad base of transferable skills which are attractive to employers across a range of graduate sectors including hospitality and retail management, marketing, public relations and sales. The Institute of the Arts is a dedicated arts campus, so you may also have the chance to develop work with our Film and TV, Photography, Games Design, Fine Art, Graphics or Illustration students.
Course outline
Course summary
This programme consists of three distinct strands: Exploring Creative Practice, where we undertake performance work, is the largest strand and makes-up two-thirds of the degree. Critical Thinking explores the critical, cultural and social context for your practice. And Entrepreneurship develops your professional profile, portfolio and network. At the heart of the programme lies the Festival, where students work together across all three years to develop a season of performance work. Whether your interests lie onstage or backstage, you will find yourself working with a dedicated and expert staff team and you will have the opportunity to work on scripted performances as well as to devise and create your own original work.
Modules
Year 1
- Core Skills (20 Credits)
Exploring Creative Practice
In this module you will learn core techniques for both production work and performance practise which will allow you to work safely and effectively in rehearsing and creating performance work. - Culture (20 Credits)
Critical Thinking
In this module you will be introduced to works of art from several different disciplines forming an appreciation of our cultural heritage. You will be taught how to formalise your responses to these different
artefacts. - Developing Identity in the Creative Industries (20 Credits)
Enterprise
In this module you will consider a number of possible future career paths and business opportunities within the Creative Industries, and the resources you will need to develop in support of these pathways. You will look at your digital identity and consider your future profile, and begin developing resources such as your CV. - Skills Development (40 Credits)
Exploring Creative Practice
Expanding upon the Core Skills module in this module you will be introduced to and develop key skills in vocal technique, movement, and performance. You will also explore the creative application of technologies for live and/or recorded performance and integrate them within a performance work. - Festival Foundations (20 Credits)
Exploring Creative Practice
This module will introduce you to festival performance work on a project opportunity developed for you and your peers. You will explore the requirements of developing performance work for festivals, including safe working practices, rehearsal etiquette, and the need to empathise and prioritise the needs of your Company above your personal preference at times.
Year 2
- Collaborative Research Project (40 Credits)
Exploring Creative Practice
In this module you will be introduced to an area of specialised knowledge and practice in Theatre and Performance based on the research interests of a staff supervisor. You will be taught the knowledge and skills required to understand and engage with this specialised area. Collaborative practice will be modelled and practised as you work practically as a group to use what you have been taught to inform the creation of a piece of creative practice. - The Politics of Being (20 Credits)
Critical Thinking
In this module you will be introduced to four areas of contemporary art practice and asked to consider the historical contexts for these movements and the manner in which they both reflect and shape particular periods in history and continue to inform contemporary art practice. - Business Skills in the Creative Industries (20 Credits)
Enterprise
This module will explore contemporary issues within the creative industries around opportunity and equality. It will interrogate ideas of Inclusive Practise and Accessibility and issues around community and industry engagement. You will also explore opportunities for creative projects such as Community Engagement, different funding models, grant applications and develop an awareness of business planning and event management considerations. - Festival Production (40 Credits)
Exploring Creative Practice
On this module you will develop festival performance work on a project opportunity developed with you and your peers. This module will explore contemporary performance within the creative industries in a festival or touring format. Projects will vary year to year but may encompass cross-year working, and
undertaking one or more performance or production roles such as actor, singer or assistant stage manager.
Year 3
- Independent Research Project (40 Credits)
Exploring Creative Practice
Building on the skills modelled in the Collaborative Research Project at Level 5, you will identify an area of personal interest relating to Theatre and Performance that you wish to explore further. You will conduct independent research into your chosen topic under the supervision of your module
tutor/supervisor and propose and agree on an appropriate research project to demonstrate your learning. - Performance Criticism in the 21st Century (20 Credits)
Critical Thinking
In this module you will be introduced to modern media performance criticism in the 21st century. You will develop your analytical and research skills whilst enhancing your academic writing skills and be taught how to summarise and to construct pieces of performance criticism. - Professional Portfolio in the Creative Industries (20 Credits)
Exploring Creative Practice
You will reflect critically and analytically upon your programme journey and future career focus, and use appropriate networking and self-promotional tools to create an industry-ready profile/portfolio relevant for your chosen career path. - Final Festival Production (40 Credits)
Exploring Creative Practice
On this module you will develop festival performance work in a group project, in a role related to your future industry focus. This module will explore contemporary performance within the creative industries in a festival or touring format. Projects will vary year to year but may encompass cross-year working, and undertaking one or more performance or production roles such as lead actor, singer or stage manager.
Programme Specification
Assessment, Feedback, and Teaching and Learning methods
Full details are available in the programme specification.
Timetables
The teaching timetable should be available from the end of August. Access to the timetable is through the Student Hub – you will be able to access the Student Hub after you have completed online registration. The teaching day is 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; please keep your other commitments open until confirmation of your teaching timetable, and bear in mind that many courses will offer placements or fieldwork which sometimes extends into the evenings and weekends.
Entry requirements
Have a question about our entry requirements?
Entry Requirements
96-112 UCAS tariff points.
Potential to succeed can be measured in a number of ways including academic qualifications and skills obtained outside academic study such as work experience. We have a points range so we can take into account all of the information on your application form and adjust the offer from the evidence provided.
You can find out more about the tariff and qualification options from the UCAS tariff table.
Please check selection criteria for any additional entry requirements.
Selection criteria
The University’s standard criteria for admissions apply. UCAS Points: 96-120. Students will be required to demonstrate via their UCAS application and interview a background of study or practical experience in a relevant Performing Arts discipline.
Students may submit a digital portfolio of their work in support of their application. Students will be invited to an optional workshop afternoon and face-to-face interview where students can experience working with the staff first-hand and tour the facilities. Students unable to attend the optional workshop afternoon will be interviewed remotely.
Application information
See programme specification
Tuition fees for UK students
The following tuition fees are for undergraduate students studying in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years (between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2021). This includes new students starting in 2020/21 and continuing students who began after 2016/17.
Full-time
Course | Annual fee |
---|---|
BA, BSc, BEng or LLB | £9,250 |
DipHE or CertHE | £9,250 |
FdA or FdSc | £9,250 |
BA, BSc with integrated foundation year | £6,000 (year 1) BA or BSc fee for the year of study applies in years 2-4 |
Sandwich or placement year | £1,650. Fee payable by students who enrol in 2019/20 or 2020/21 for their sandwich or placement year |
BA, BSc, BEng or LLB - accelerated 2 year degree | To be confirmed |
Please note: These fees apply to the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years only* and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study. * The sandwich or placement year fees stated above apply to students who enrol in 2019/20 or 2020/21 for their sandwich or placement year
Paying your fees
If you are taking a student loan, you won't have to do a thing - the Student Loan Company will pay your fees directly to the university. For more information, please see the student finance section.
If you decide not to take a student loan, you can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students’ university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Part-time
The tuition fees for part-time courses are based on the full-time fee. It may be calculated either pro-rata or by module, depending on the type of course. To confirm whether your course is modular or pro-rata, please contact uocadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk.
Modular billing
Most part-time students are invoiced by module in shortly after the start of each module. If your programme allows the extension of study beyond the standard period of enrolment, modular billing enables you to study at a rate you can afford, and over a period of time which suits you.
The tuition fee payable for each module is based on the full-time fee for the relevant year of study. These fees represent the cost of studying for 120 credits in a year. For example, in 2019/20 and 2020/21, where the full-time fee is £9,250, each 10 credit module will cost £771. The tuition fee payable for modules may increase by inflation each year.
Pro-rata billing
Some courses are calculated on a pro-rata basis, by taking the cost of the equivalent full-time course and dividing it by the number of years it will take to complete. Please note that some course fees may be subject to inflation.
Paying your fees
Most students choose to take a student loan. If you are taking a student loan, you won't have to do a thing - the Student Loan Company will pay your fees directly to the university. For more information, please see the below.
If you decide not to take a student loan, you can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to student’s university and personal email accounts.
Student loans
If you are from the UK, you can apply for a loan to help with the cost of university fees. There are two types of loans you may be able to apply for - tuition fee and maintenance loans.
Full-time
Tuition fee loans
Full time students from the UK can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £9,250 in 2019/20 and 2020/21. This is paid directly to the university each year, and is not dependent on your household income.
When applying for your student loan, you will need to contact the relevant student funding authority for the area in which you live. Your loan application is likely to take around 2 months to finalise so it is important to complete your application as soon as possible. We recommend completing your application by the end of May (new students) or June (continuing students) to avoid any delays in receiving your funding.
Students enrolling on NHS programmes can, subject to eligibility, qualify for a student loan even if they have accessed student loan funding for other programmes in the past.
Maintenance loans
You can apply for a maintenance loan to assist with meeting living costs such as food, accommodation and travel expenses. These are normally paid in three instalments throughout the university year directly to your bank account.
Depending on household income, students who normally live in England may be able to apply for the following amounts. If your home address is in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or elsewhere in the UK, please visit gov.uk/studentfinance for more information.
Living arrangements | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
---|---|---|
Living at Home | Up to 7,529 | Up to £7,747 |
Living away from home (outside of London) | Up to £8,944 | Up to £9,203 |
Living away from home (in London) | Up to £11,672 | Up to £12,010 |
Studying abroad (for 1 year) | Up to £10,242 | Up to £10,539 |
You can work out how much of a loan you are entitled to apply for using the Student Finance Calculator.
Repaying your loan
Graduates with a home address in England, who have a student loan, only start repaying their loan the April after graduation and once they earn over the threshold, which is £25,725 per year (£26,575 from 6 April 2020).
You'll pay 9% of anything you earn above that amount. If you don't earn more than the threshold, you won't pay anything.
Here's what your monthly repayments could look like:
Annual income before tax | Monthly salary | Monthly repayment |
---|---|---|
£25,725 | £2,143 | £0 |
£27,000 | £2,250 | £9 |
£29,500 | £2,458 | £28 |
£31,000 | £2,583 | £39 |
£33,000 | £2,750 | £54 |
If your income changes, the amount you repay will change too, this happens automatically.
If you stop working, or start to earn below the repayment threshold, your repayments will stop until you earn over the threshold.
You’ll make a repayment if you go over the weekly or monthly threshold at any point during the year, for example, if you get a bonus or work overtime. You can request a refund at the end of the tax year if your total income was below the annual repayment threshold. After 30 years, any outstanding loan is written off.
If your home, address is in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, visit Gov.uk for more information.
These loans attract interest, which is charged at different rates depending on your earnings. For more details on interest rates, please visit the Gov.uk website
Part-time
Tuition fee loans are available for students studying for their first higher education qualification, which is at least 25% of the intensity of the equivalent full-time course. CPD students may also be eligible for a loan based on level of study, intensity of the course and prior study. Visit gov.uk website for more information and eligibility criteria.
Tuition fee loans are not means-tested and you can be apply for up to the maximum amount of your fees, which is £6,935 in 2019/20 and 2020/21. Tuition fee loans are paid directly to the university so you don’t have to worry about arranging payment.
Eligible courses for tuition fee loans include:
- An undergraduate course
- Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course
- Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
Part-time Maintenance Loans
Part-time students who started an eligible course on or after 1 August 2018 can apply for a Maintenance Loan to help with their day-to-day living costs, such as rent or food. The Maintenance Loan is paid directly to your bank account, in three instalments, usually at the start of each term.
For more information about funding for part-time study, visit Gov.uk
For more guidance on applying for a student loan, visit the Student Room's Student Finance Zone.
Repaying your Part-time loan
Part-time students will have to repay any loans you borrow, but not until the April after you finish or leave your course, or the April four years after the start of your course – whichever comes first – and, only then, if your income is over the repayment threshold.
How much you repay each month depends on your income, not how much you borrowed.
You will repay 9% of your income over the repayment threshold, which is currently £25,725 a year, £2,143 a month or £494 a week. If your income drops below the threshold, your repayments will stop automatically.
You will be charged interest from the day your first student finance payment is made until your loan has been repaid in full or cancelled. The interest rate is based on the UK Retail Price Index (RPI) and will vary depending on your circumstances. For more details on interest rates, please visit www.gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan
What if I've studied before?
Health students
Students enrolling on a Nursing, Midwifery or Allied Health Professional course in England may qualify for a student loan even if they have accessed student loan funding for other programmes in the past. This is subject to eligibility.
Other students
If you have undertaken any other previous Higher Education study, it is important to be aware that this can sometimes have an impact on the student funding, including tuition fee loans, available to you when you start a new course.
This is a complex area. If you are not sure of your entitlement to funding, it is really important that you seek advice from your funding organisation or with a Student Money Adviser who can clarify exactly how your previous study will impact on your future student funding entitlement.
Financial support
Scholarships and Bursaries
Cumbria Bursary (first year undergraduate students)
The Cumbria Bursary is our financial award for 1st year ‘home’ or ‘EU’ undergraduate students commencing their studies in the 2020/21 academic year. It is a non-repayable bursary designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000.
In 2020/21 there are up to 90 full or part-time Cumbria Bursaries available, worth £1,000 per year of full-time study for up to 3 years (full time) or £500 per year of part-time study, for a maximum of 5 years (part-time) for students entering onto full time or substantive part-time* undergraduate programmes.
There are a further 15 Cumbria Bursaries available for students entering onto courses with integrated foundation years; these are worth £1000 per year for up to 4 years.
Up to one-third of our Cumbria Bursaries will be allocated specifically to students who are aged 21 and over on the 1st September 2020, who also meet the eligibility criteria outlined below.
*Part-time students must be studying at least 50% of the time and registered on a minimum three-year course.
Social Work bursary
It is possible for some undergraduate Social Work students to receive a bursary to support their studies in their second or subsequent years. The number of people who can get a bursary is limited (or capped), therefore there is no guarantee you’ll receive a bursary in your 2nd year. The university will provide a shortlist of students to the NHSBSA who will then assess bursary applications. Full details, including the eligibility criteria, are available on the NHSBSA website.
Progression Scholarship (first year undergraduate students from partner colleges)
If you are a student of any of the following colleges, you might be eligible for one of our Partnership Progression Scholarships offered to those applying to the University immediately after Further Education:
- Blackburn College
- Bury College
- Carlisle College
- Doncaster College
- Furness College
- Kendal College
- Lakes College West Cumbria
- Lancaster and Morecambe College
- Newton Rigg (Askham Bryan) College
- Northumberland College
- Southport College
We have up to 35 Progression Scholarships for students starting study in the 2020/21 academic year.
The awards are worth £500 in total; these non-repayable grants are paid directly to your bank account in the first year only. The Progression Scholarship can be received alongside the Cumbria Bursary if a recipient is eligible and ranked to receive both awards.
Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCAS) - Armed forces personnel
We are proud to be a registered learning provider with the Ministry of Defence's ELCAS scheme. ELCAS is a scheme run by the Ministry of Defence to provide financial support to Armed Forces personnel (both serving and service leavers) to study a course at university.
Additional grants
If you have special circumstances, you may be able to get additional funding to help support you during your course from Student Finance England.
For students with children
- Parents’ Learning Allowance - means-tested on household income. Maximum available £1,766
- Childcare Grant - means-tested on household income. A maximum of 85% of your weekly childcare costs may be paid on your behalf, up to £174.22 per week for one child and £298.69 per week for two or more children.
For students with adult dependants
- Adult Dependants’ Grant - means-tested on household income. Maximum available £3,094.
For students with a disability or specific learning difficulty
- Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) — students with a disability or specific learning difficulty may be eligible to receive help towards enabling costs; e.g. non-medical helper, specialist equipment etc.
Health Courses
Learning Support Fund
The NHS Learning Support Fund offers students starting a new Nursing, Midwifery or Allied Health Professional course additional support while studying for their degree. This includes:
- dependents allowance of £1,000 per student per year
- additional travel and accommodation costs to clinical placements over their normal daily travel costs
- an exceptional hardship fund of up to £3,000 per student per academic year
For further details visit the NHSBSA website here.
New student funding for health courses
The government has announced it will be providing additional funding support to healthcare students starting their course from September 2020.
This includes:
- a non-repayable payment of £5,000 to eligible students each academic year
- additional payments worth up to a total of £3,000 per academic year for students in specialisms or regions struggling to recruit or to help students cover childcare costs
Eligible students should continue to apply for the Learning Support Fund as needed.
For further details and a full list of eligible courses, visit the NHSBSA web page here.
Support funds
Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to qualify for extra funding. There are a number of different Awards and Funds that might be helpful should you require financial aid.
Visit our support funds page for more details.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Heating, lighting, water and internet costs are included in your rent and full-time students don't pay council tax.
Paying your accommodation fees
At the beginning of term, you will receive an email confirming your accommodation, your accommodation fees and a quick payment link. Please ensure that you have your student ID available prior to entering the online payments site.
Tuition fees for EU students
The following tuition fees are for undergraduate students studying in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years (between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2021). This includes new students starting in 2020/21 and continuing students who began after 2016/17.
Full-time
These fees apply to the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years only and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study.
Course | Annual fee |
---|---|
BA, BSc, BEng or LLB | £9,250 |
DipHE or CertHE | £9,250 |
FdA or FdSc | £9,250 |
BA, BSc with integrated foundation year | £6,000 (year 1) BA or BSc fee for the year of study applies in years 2-4 |
Sandwich or placement year | £1,650. Fee payable by students who enrol in 2019/20 or 2020/21 for their sandwich or placement year |
BA, BSc, BEng or LLB - accelerated 2 year degree | To be confirmed |
Please note: These fees apply to the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years only* and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study. * The sandwich or placement year fees stated above apply to students who enrol in 2019/20 or 2020/21 for their sandwich or placement year
Paying your fees
Most students choose to take a student loan. If you are taking a student loan, you won't have to do a thing - the Student Loan Company will pay your fees directly to the university. For more information, please see the Student Loans section.
If you decide not to take a student loan, you can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Part-time
The tuition fees for part-time courses are based on the full-time fee. It may be calculated either pro-rata or by module, depending on the type of course. To confirm whether your course is modular or pro-rata, please contact uocadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk.
Modular billing
Most part-time students are invoiced by module in each semester. If your programme allows the extension of study beyond the standard period of enrolment, modular billing enables you to study at a rate you can afford, and over a period of time which suits you.
The tuition fee payable for each module is based on the full-time fee for the relevant year of study. These fees represent the cost of studying for 120 credits in a year. For example, in 2019/20 and 2020/21, where the full-time fee is £9,250, each 10 credit module will cost £771. The tuition fee payable for modules may increase by inflation each year.
Pro-rata billing
Some courses are calculated on a pro-rata basis, by taking the cost of the equivalent full-time course and dividing it by the number of years it will take to complete. Please note that some course fees may be subject to inflation.
Paying your fees
Most students choose to take a student loan. If you are taking a student loan, you won't have to do a thing - the Student Loan Company will pay your fees directly to the university. For more information, please see the student loans section below.
If you decide not to take a student loan, you can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Student loans
If you are from the EU, you can apply for a loan to help with the cost of university fees. This is paid directly to the University of Cumbria in February and May, so you can focus on your studies without worrying about payment.
Full-time
You can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £9,250 for 2019/20 and 2020/21. This is paid directly to the University each year, and is not dependent on your household income. Click here to apply directly online.
If you decide to take the loan, you do not need to pay anything at registration. Just bring along your letter from the Student Loans Company to show that you have applied. It’s as easy as that. Please note that this loan will only cover your tuition, however you may be eligible for a grant to cover the living costs of studying in England from the Education Department of your own government. We recommend contacting them to find out more about how to apply - you don’t want to miss out.
Once you’ve finished your time at university, you will start repaying your loan from the April after you graduate, provided that you are earning above £25,000 a year (or the equivalent in your home country). The Student Loans Company will contact you about your employment after graduation. There will be a small amount of interest on the loan-more information about this can be found on the Student Loans Company website.
How to apply
You can apply for your Tuition Fee Loan through the European Union Team of the Student Loans Company. To get started, visit the Direct Gov website and scroll down to ‘New EU Students’. There you will find the forms you need to apply. If you get stuck, get in touch with us to help you out.
Once you’ve started university, should you have any trouble with your funding, our advisers can provide all the support and advice you need. To book an appointment please use our online referral form, or if your enquiry can be answered via email, please contact us on moneyadvice@cumbria.ac.uk.
Repaying your loan
Graduates with a home address in England, who have a student loan, only start repaying their loan the April after graduation and once they earn over £25,000 per year, and then only on the amount above £25,000.
You'll pay 9% of anything you earn above that amount. If you don't earn more than the threshold, you won't pay anything.
Here's what your monthly repayments could look like:
Annual income before tax | Monthly salary | Monthly repayment |
---|---|---|
Up to £25,000 | £2,083 | £0 |
£27,000 | £2,250 | £15 |
£30,000 | £2,500 | £37 |
£35,000 | £2,916 | £74 |
£40,000 | £3,333 | £112 |
After 30 years, any outstanding loan is written off.
If your home, address is in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, visit Gov.uk for more information.
These loans attract interest, which is charged at different rates depending on your earnings. For more details on interest rates, please visit the Student Loans Company website. Please note that the Government, rather than the university, set the terms of student loans.
Part-time
Tuition fee loans are available for students studying for their first higher education qualification, which is at least 25% of the intensity of the equivalent full-time course. CPD students may also be eligible for a loan based on level of study, intensity of the course and prior study. Visit gov.uk website for more information and eligibility criteria.
Tuition fee loans are not means-tested and you can be apply for up to the maximum amount of your fees, which is £6,935 in 2019/20 and 2020/21. Tuition fee loans are paid directly to the university so you don’t have to worry about arranging payment.
Eligible courses include:
- a Bachelor's Degree, e.g. BA, BSc or LLB;
- a Foundation Degree (FdA, FdSc);
- a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE);
- a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE);
- Initial Teacher Training (ITT).
Part-time Maintenance Loans
Part-time students starting a course on or after 1 August 2018 can apply for a Maintenance Loan to help with their day-to-day living costs, such as rent or food. The Maintenance Loan is paid directly to your bank account, in three instalments, usually at the start of each term.
For more information about funding for part-time study, visit Gov.uk
For more guidance on applying for a student loan, visit the Student Room's student finance guide.
Repaying your Part-time loan
Part-time Students will have to repay any loans you borrow, but not until the April after you finish or leave your course, or the April four years after the start of your course – whichever comes first – and, only then, if your income is over the repayment threshold.
How much you repay each month depends on your income, not how much you borrowed.
You will repay 9% of your income over the repayment threshold, which is currently £25,000 a year, £2,083 a month or £480 a week. If your income drops below the threshold, your repayments will stop automatically.
You will be charged interest from the day your first student finance payment is made until your loan has been repaid in full or cancelled. The interest rate is based on the UK Retail Price Index (RPI) and will vary depending on your circumstances. For more details on interest rates, please visit the Student Loans Company website.
What if I've studied before?
If you have undertaken any other previous Higher Education study, it is important to be aware that this can sometimes have a impact on the student funding, including tuition fee loans, available to you when you start a new course.
This is a complex area. If you are not sure of your entitlement to funding, it is really important that you seek advice from your funding organisation or with a Student Money Adviser who can clarify exactly how your previous study will impact on your future student funding entitlement.
Financial support
There's a range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and other funding available to support you in getting your degree.
Scholarships and Bursaries
There is currently no update for the Cumbria Bursary 2020/21 and Progression Scholarship
Support funds
Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to qualify for extra funding. There are a number of different Awards and Funds that might be helpful should you require financial aid.
Visit our support funds page for more details.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Heating, lighting, water and internet costs are included in your rent and full-time students don't pay council tax.
Paying your accommodation fees
At the beginning of term, you will receive an email confirming your accommodation, your accommodation fees and a quick payment link. Please ensure that you have your student ID available prior to entering the online payments site.
EU Referendum
EU nationals who wish to enter the UK to study a course in England which starts in either the 2019/20 or the 2020/21 Academic Years, are still eligible for student support and home fee status for the duration of their studies.
Read more
Our University has a proud and strong history of educating students from Europe and we look forward to welcoming you and other European students over the coming months and years. We are delighted that the Government has given reassurance about financial support for current students and those starting in 2019/20 or 2020/21. Please read the full Governmental statement for more details.
Whilst there is no confirmation of financial support for new entrants for 2021/22 and thereafter, the University of Cumbria will continue its ambitions to be a destination of choice for our European students and we encourage potential applicants to continue to check the University website for the latest information so we can share the most up to date position with you.
Student Loans Company statement
Students beginning study in the 2017/18 or 2018/19 Academic Years
EU Nationals and Student Finance in England (1) - Student Loans Company
The eligibility rules regarding student support and home fee status applying to EU nationals, or their family members, who wish to enter the UK to study a course in England which starts in either the 2017/18 or the 2018/19 Academic Year and which attracts student support, are also unchanged.
SFE will assess these applications against existing eligibility criteria, and will provide loans and/or grants in the normal way. EU nationals, or their family members, who are assessed as eligible to receive grants and/or loans by SFE will then be eligible for this support and for home fee status for the duration of their course. These eligibility criteria set out that for students beginning study any time after August 2016, EU nationals must have been resident in the UK for at least five years or be EEA migrant workers in order to apply for a maintenance loan.
The migration status of EU nationals in the UK is being discussed as part of wider discussions with the EU. The Prime Minister was clear in her letter to the President of the European Council that that we should seek an early agreement on the rights of UK nationals in the EU and EU nationals in the UK, on a reciprocal basis.
Students should consult their institution’s student finance office, or the GOV.UK website, for information on what support they may be able to receive.
Statement from the Student Loans Company website.
Tuition fees for international students
The following tuition fees are for undergraduate students studying in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years (between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2021). This includes new students starting in 2020/21 and continuing students who began after 2016/17.
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Course level | Tuition fee (annual) |
---|---|
Bachelor's degree (BA, BSc, LLB) | £10,500† |
BA (Hons) Social Work | £15,500† |
DipHE or CertHE | £10,500† |
BA or BSc with integrated foundation year | £7,500 (year 1)† BA or BSc fee for the year of study applies in years 2-4 |
Sandwich or placement year | £1,650. Fee payable by students who enrol in 2019/20 or 2020/21 for their sandwich or placement year |
BA, BSc, BEng or LLB - accelerated 2 year degree | To be confirmed |
Foundation degree (FdA, FdSc) | £10,500† |
Health pre-registration programmes | £15,500 |
Non-medical prescribing | £2,875 |
Pre-sessional English (6 weeks) | £1,625 |
Pre-sessional English (12 weeks) | £3,275 |
† An early payment discount is available for international students.
Please note: These fees apply to the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years only* and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study. * The sandwich or placement year fees stated above apply to students who enrol in 2019/20 or 2020/21 for their sandwich or placement year
Fee Deposit Policy
Before you can get started with your course, you will be required to pay a deposit of up to £5,000 (the exact amount will be listed in your offer letter). Until we receive this deposit, you will not be issued a 'Confirmation of Acceptance'. Your offer letter will provide more information on how to pay your deposit, but we recommend paying online. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable unless your visa is refused due to exceptional circumstances.
Alternatively you can provide a letter of sponsorship/financial guarantee. This must be on letter-headed paper and include the following information:
- name of the programme and academic year for which the sponsorship applies
- amount of sponsorship (for example, full fees or specified amount in pounds sterling)
- your full name (as stated on your passport)
- your student identification number
- address and named contact to which the University of Cumbria should send the invoice
- full name and address of the sponsoring institution
Pre-sessional courses
Those required to attend a pre-sessional course will need to pay the full fee, in addition to the deposit, which is part payment of the substantive programme fee. The university will not issue the unconditional offer or CAS until both the deposit and full pre-sessional fees are paid.
If a student on the 12-week pre-sessional fails to progress on academic grounds, the full deposit for the substantive programme will be repaid. If a student on either the 6-week or 12-week pre-sessional fails to progress as a result of non-attendance, poor attendance or lack of effort, the minimum payment of £5000 of the fees for the substantive programme will not be repaid.
Deposit refunds
A refund of the £5000 minimum payment will only be considered where a student has been refused a visa for non-fraudulent reasons. Students may apply for a refund by sending copies of the official visa refusal notification from the Home Office (UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)), together with passport details. The university reserves the right to verify details with UKVI.
Where the university decides to make a refund of the minimum payment, this will be refunded in pounds sterling to the person who originally made the payment. The university will transfer the deposit in the most cost-effective way but will not be liable for any bank charges involved in the money transfer. Please note refunds can take 3-4 weeks to arrive in your bank. Refunds will not be made if the visa application is refused, or a CAS is withdrawn, on the grounds of fraudulent activity by the student, or due to failure to disclose full details in the application.
Refunds will not be made if the student fails to attend at the start of the programme or withdraws after the start of the programme.
Paying your tuition fees
After you have paid your deposit or provided your sponsorship letter, you can decide to pay the fee balance in full, or follow our instalment plan. It will be denoted in your offer letter how much you need to pay for the first year of the course.
An early payment discount is available if you choose to pay your full annual tuition fee before the CAS is issued (or in limited cases by registration). The early payment discount is only available to self-funded students in their first year, and excludes pre-sessional courses, partnerships and students receiving other benefits such as scholarships.
If your offer letter denotes you can pay via deposit and then in instalments you will be required to pay 75% of your total tuition fees prior to registration. The deposit you have already paid will be included. For example: If your tuition fees are £10,000, and you’ve paid a deposit of £5000, you’ll need to pay £2,500 prior to registration to complete the 75% requirement. The remaining 25% must be paid three weeks before the end of your first term.
If you are enrolling onto a one semester programme or short course, the tuition fee must be paid in full prior to the start of the programme or course. If your tuition is being sponsored, then you will not be able to pay with an instalment plan.
Planning your finances
Studying in a different country is a big financial investment, so you need to ensure you have everything planned when it comes to spending your money.
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There are many points to consider before submitting your application, such as food, accommodation and other day-to-day expenses.
We recommend that you budget at least £5,500 for an academic year in the UK. This will include your accommodation and living expenses. To help you plan effectively, we suggest using the online UNIAID International Student Calculator to set a proper budget for your academic life.
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study with the University you need to provide evidence of minimum funds that will be available to you. Please see UKVI requirements on their website in the “Tier 4 of the points based system: policy guidance” booklet. You will also find details of UKVI’s current requirements for the evidence you will need to provide during your application.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
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Paying for your accommodation
If you choose to stay in univerisity accommodation you will be required to make a pre-payment of £250, and a pre-payment of £100 towards catering packages.
After you have made the pre-payment(s), and the contract has been returned, the balance of your contract will be due. Payment must be made by registration. Instalments are not available.
Please note that you do have the option to pay for the accommodation and catering in full with the contract.
Payment must be made in pounds sterling. You will be given the option online to convert your currency when making a payment.
If you’re having trouble paying online or have any questions, please contact your admissions officer who can give you advice about paying by bank transfer.
Resources and facilities
The Brampton Road Campus is a fantastic base and has been dedicated to arts education for almost 200 years. In addition to the general teaching spaces and lecture theatres used by all students, Theatre and Performance students have access to the following specialist resources:
- The Stanwix Main House Theatre
- The Stanwix Studio Theatre
- Dedicated Dance Studios • Dedicated Rehearsal Rooms
- Recording Studios and Equipment
- Wood, Metal, Textile & Print Workshops
- The Vallum Gallery with a varied programme of professional exhibitions with associated gallery talks.
- A specialist arts library that is updated regularly making sure that the most current titles are available to you.
- Audio-visual resources and IT Support (including access to DSLRs for Photography and Professional-Grade Video Cameras).
- Student Support Services (advising on careers, finance, counselling, health and wellbeing and support for disabled students and those with specific learning requirements).