Study English Literature surrounded by the iconic scenery which inspired some of Britain’s greatest writers – including Wordsworth, Ransome, Potter and Ruskin.
Our DipHE course is a gateway to a full BA (Hons) English Literature degree, so if you’re successful in your foundation year, you can transfer onto the full three-year programme if you wish.
You’ll explore the development of English Literature from the Renaissance to the present in global and regional contexts, in idyllic Cumbria, on the doorstep of the Lake District National Park – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Why choose University of Cumbria
This is not your average English Literature course – it’s much more.
You’ll write essays, just as you would on any other English Literature degree, but in addition you’ll also develop the skills required for the contemporary workplace by scripting and recording a mock radio programme, designing a webpage, and even submitting a ‘job application’ assessed by academic and careers staff.
- Excellent working relationships with literary and cultural organisations such as Brantwood, Dove Cottage and the National Trust
- Field trips to places which inspired some of Britain's literary greats, to enrich your studies
- Taught by tutors who all research and publish in their specialist areas
- Small class sizes enable us to guide and work closely with you throughout your studies
- Opportunities to get involved with Carlisle’s thriving literary scene and local literary festivals
- Boost your job prospects by developing contemporary communication skills
- Study on our dedicated and creative arts campus at Brampton Road in Carlisle, where the River Eden - once described by the poet William Wordsworth as his “life’s neighbour” - flows through the adjacent and beautiful parkland
On our course, your passion for literature will be embraced and empowered while you develop strong and relevant employment skills that will bolster your CV to help you stand out from the crowd to future employers.
Postgraduate Loyalty Award
Progress to postgraduate for free
We’ve waived the fees for many postgraduate courses* for students like you planning to start an undergraduate degree with us to help you extend your education.
Course study options
This course is also available as a full bachelor's degree.
Graduate destinations
A DipHE in English Literature suits a range of careers demanding high-level analytical, interpretative, written and oral communication skills. Most of the students enrolled on the DipHE programme progress onto and complete the full BA (Hons) English Literature degree. Recent graduates from the BA have gone into teaching, lecturing, the cultural heritage sector, and work with major national organisations and companies.
Many English Literature graduates use their degree as the basis for further study and training in order to pursue high level ‘graduate’ work in a wide variety of fields. For the latest on what English graduates see the publication ‘What do graduates do?’.
How my Cumbria English degree helped land me my dream job
English Graduate Chandni Asher's story
After leaving, I went straight onto a Graduate Scheme with Network Rail entitled MSc Project and Programme Management. It is specially designed by Network Rail to prepare their candidates for entering the business after a year long Masters Course in a Project Management capacity. The Scheme is open to any graduate in any discipline from any UK university – they don’t usually take English graduates!
When looking at the job specification, I first identified the core skills from my time at university: time management, research, analysis and application. But it wasn’t just the skills I gained from the degree that helped me. The opportunities you have being a part of the department and the university are invaluable. Whilst with UoC, I took on extra responsibilities to gain experience. Being a cohort student rep, for example, can present you with unusual communication tasks that you may have never come across before since your role is to act as a go-between/buffer for students and tutors and, sometimes, university staff.
What’s important about this English degree is that it doesn’t just develop essential skills in for your work life. The tutors make the effort to push you (gently) out of your comfort zone to show you exactly how much you can do. That is why when doing modules such Literature in Media and English in the World is so important: it will challenge you and help you understand your own personal skill set. It was through the English in the World module that I found myself being good at project management!
Course outline
Course summary
All students follow a common pathway in the first year, providing a solid foundation for the study of English literature and developing a range of skills in critical and cultural analysis. You will have the opportunity to study a wide variety of texts drawn from different cultures and socio-historical contexts, and to explore the treatment of literature and literary topics within the contemporary media industry.
In your second year you develop a more in-depth understanding of major shifts in the development of an English literary tradition, focusing on significant literary periods, contexts, and developments. This will include at least one module exploring eighteenth or pre-eighteenth century literature which, apart from increasing your understanding of the development of English Literature, will also equip you to cover the National Curriculum should you be interested in teaching at a later stage. As part of our concern to develop your understanding of how literary texts live on in the world, all our students also follow a compulsory module applying knowledge of literature to real-world contexts. You will visit and study a regional cultural heritage site, and gain insights into the cultural heritage industry. You will develop new skills on this module, including designing and producing a webpage.
Most DipHE students progress to the third year of the BA (Hons) English Literature. See our BA (Hons) pages for what you would study in your final year.
Modules
Year one
Compulsory modules
- Texts and Contexts
- Introduction to Literary Studies
- Texts and Readers
- Travels in Poetry
- Literature in the Media
- Reading for Writing
Year two
Compulsory modules
- Early Modern Writing
- Texts in the World
- Research Skills for English
- Literature and the Environment
Optional modules (subject to availability and demand)
- British Romanticism: Literature in an Age of Revolution
- Literature in the Victorian Period
- Gothic Literature
- Literature and Film
- Shakespeare
- Poetry and Place
Programme Specification
For detailed summary of all course content please read our programme specification for this course.
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
56 - 72 UCAS tariff points - to preferably include an A-level in English Literature.
Find out more about qualification options from the UCAS tariff table.
Please check selection criteria for any additional entry requirements.
Selection Criteria
Apart from looking at predicted grades, we read the UCAS form carefully, paying particular attention to personal statements.
We value applicants with non-traditional entry profiles and welcome informal approaches to discuss how other qualifications and experience may be relevant to an application for a place.
The programme seeks to widen access by means of a flexible admissions policy and applicants who do not present the normal entry requirements may be required to submit a short piece of work to enable us to assess their aptitude for the programme.
Postgraduate Loyalty Award
Progress to postgraduate for free
We’ve waived the fees for many postgraduate courses* for students like you planning to start an undergraduate degree with us to help you extend your education.
Application information
Full-time courses
Apply online through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), between September and January; they will send your application on to us. Applications submitted after this date will be considered late and the course you have applied for might be full by this time; however, we will consider you for alternative suitable courses.
Their website provides all the information you need about universities, courses, locations, entry requirements and financial support. You are allowed to select up to five course choices. You need to use the correct UCAS campus and course codes as not all courses are offered at every campus. You will be asked for the following information when you apply online:
Institution code name: UoC
Institution code: C99
Campus location:
- A Ambleside
- B Brampton Road, Carlisle
- E University of Cumbria at Energus, Workington
- F Fusehill Street, Carlisle
- L Lancaster
- T University of Cumbria in London
- Y University of Cumbria at Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness
Part-time courses
Applications should be made online directly to the university; visit our website or contact enquirycentre@cumbria.ac.uk for details and guidance. There is no official closing date but we would encourage you to apply as early as possible, as many courses are competitive.
What makes a good application?
We consider all aspects of your application, not simply your qualifications and grades. We look at your academic background and performance, relevant experience (particularly for professional courses where some voluntary or paid experience is required) and your reference. Above all, we look for motivation, commitment and potential-evidence that you can benefit from study at higher education level.
Make sure you include:
- Relevant qualifications/evidence of ability: check our website for the specific entry requirements required for each course. Tell us your previous academic results and your projected grades.
- A supportive reference, from an employer or your school or college.
- A good personal statement.
- Explain clearly what attracts you to the course and tell us about your wider interests and experience. If you are applying for a course that incorporates professional training and placements, you should include any relevant experience or visits you have made in the workplace. Highlight your individual strengths and qualities, personal skills, capacity for teamwork, contribution to the community and your enterprise, originality and determination. Select some activities which bring out these qualities.
What next?
When we receive your application, we will send you an acknowledgement and if you are successful at this stage you will get either an offer (with an invitation to visit the campus to which you have applied), or an invitation to interview on a particular date. If we are not able to offer you a place on your chosen course we will usually try to offer you a place on a similar course and will contact you to discuss this. Alternatively, if we think you are suitable, but cannot offer you a place on your preferred campus because of the level of competition, we will offer you a place at another campus if one is available.
And if I accept?
The admissions team will contact you and send further information from February onwards about accommodation, and from May/June onwards about preparing to join the university. If you have any other queries, please telephone the admissions offices for information and advice on 0845 6061144.
Deferred entry
We welcome applications for deferred entry on some courses. If you have specific plans during your year out, indicate these on your personal statement as they may be relevant to your course and could enhance your application.
International students
Applications for full-time undergraduate study are made through UCAS. Please see the international pages of our website for full details of our entry requirements (including English-language skills) as well as contacts for advice and support.
From 2009 the UK Border Agency introduced a Points-Based Immigration System (PBS) for students coming to the UK from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Students entering higher education will need to obtain a Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS) plus finance confirmation to obtain a Tier 4 student visa. UK education providers are licensed by the UK Border Agency. When students apply for their visa (or entry clearance) they will need a valid Certificate of Acceptance of Studies from the university. Please note that a CAS is not a guarantee that a visa will be issued.
See the following websites for further details:www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk
Tuition fees for UK students
The following tuition fees are for undergraduate students studying in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years (between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2020). This includes new students starting in 2019/20 and continuing students who began in 2016/17, 2017/18 or 2018/19.
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 |
| BA, BSc, BEng or LLB - accelerated 2 year degree | To be confirmed |
Please note: These fees apply to the 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years only and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study.
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 2018/19 and 2019/20, this means that 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 students 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 for 2018/19 and 2019/20. 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 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 |
|---|---|---|
| Living at Home | Up to £7,324 | Up to 7,529 |
| Living away from home (outside of London) | Up to £8,700 | Up to £8,944 |
| Living away from home (in London) | Up to £11,354 | Up to £11,672 |
| Studying abroad (for 1 year) | Up to £9,963 | Up to £10,242 |
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 £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 2018/19. 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?
Health students
Students enrolling on a Nursing, Midwifery or Allied Health Professional course in England on or after 1 August 2017 may qualify for a student loan even if they have accessed student loan funding for other programmes in the past. 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
There's a range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and other funding available to support you in getting your degree.
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 2019/20 academic year. It is a non-repayable bursary designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000.
In 2019/20 there are up to 90 full or part time Cumbria Bursaries available, worth £1,000 per year of study (full time) or £500 per year of study (part time) for up to 3 years 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 2019, who also meet the eligibility criteria.
*Part time students must be studying at least 50% of the time and registered on a minimum three year course.
NHS courses
If you are studying an NHS course (ie. Nursing, Midwifery, Occupational Therapy, Diagnostic Radiography, Physiotherapy), the university will cover the costs of your uniform, DBS check and occupational health check if you enrol onto an undergraduate programme in 2018/19 or 2019/20.
The NHS has not yet confirmed the financial support arrangements for students enrolling in 2019/20. In 2018/19, this included, for eligible students:
- a non-repayable grant of £1,000 per year for students with eligible child dependents
- access to exceptional support of up to £3,000 per year for those students in severe hardship
- support for excess travel and dual accommodation expenses incurred due to attending practice placements.
Further details of the 2018/19 arrangements are available on the NHSBSA website. We will provide an update once the arrangements for 2019/20 are confirmed.
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.
Postgraduate Loyalty Award
Having a postgraduate degree will ramp up your job prospects and plump up your earning potential. But, at the University of Cumbria it's possible to do it without racking up the extra debt.
We’ve waived the fees for many postgraduate courses* to students like you planning to start an undergraduate degree with us to help you extend your education.
So, students who commence a designated full-time undergraduate degree will be eligible to progress on to a specified Postgraduate programme (or an equivalent alternative programme designated by the University*), with zero tuition fees payable for the specified postgraduate programme.
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 2019/20 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.
Gymnastics scholarship (first year undergraduate sport students)
Are you a passionate gymnast? Do you want to study for a degree at a university that gives you the support to continue your passion?
We are offering a fantastic gymnastics scholarship opportunity to 10 successful applicants to the following undergraduate sport degree courses to start in September 2019 in Lancaster:
- BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science
- BSc (Hons) Sport Rehabilitation
- BA (Hons) Sport Coaching and Physical Education
The scholarship will include 10 items:
- £1,000 off accommodation (£500 semester 1 and £500 semester 2)
- Free Biomechanical Analysis
- Free Fitness Testing
- Free lifestyle coaching
- Free Sport Psychology support
- Free Access to Sport Rehabilitation clinics
- Free nutrition advice
- If you hold suitable coaching qualifications, you will have the opportunity to coach at the nationally renowned Lancaster Gymnastics Club and ‘earn while you learn.’
- Access free training at the Lancaster Gymnastic Club if you are of competition standard.
- Flexibility in your study to allow international competition.
This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who is passionate about continuing their development in gymnastics-acrobatics or trampolining, and wants to be surrounded by people with the expertise to help them achieve this while studying towards a degree in sport.
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.
For students with children
- Parents’ Learning Allowance - means-tested on household income. Maximum available £1,716
- Childcare Grant - means-tested on household income. A maximum of 85% of your weekly childcare costs may be paid on your behalf, up to £169.31 per week for one child and £290.27 per week for two or more children. For example, if childcare for one child is £150, you may receive a £127.50 grant (85% of £150).
For students with adult dependants
- Adult Dependants’ Grant - means-tested on household income. Maximum available £3,007.
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; eg non-medical helper, specialist equipment etc.
Armed Forces
- If you currently serve (or have recently served) within the Armed Forces and wish to enhance your education, then you can receive help covering your funding through the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme. Find out more.
NHS Learning Support Fund
Eligible students on a nursing, midwifery or Allied Health Professional course may be able to access support from the NHS Learning Support Fund:
- a non-repayable grant of £1,000 per year for students with eligible child dependents
- access to exceptional support of up to £3,000 per year for those students in severe hardship
- support for excess travel and dual accommodation expenses incurred due to attending practice placements.
More information and eligibility criteria
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 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years (between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2020). This includes new students starting in 2019/20 and continuing students who began in 2016/17, 2017/18 or 2018/19.
Full-time
These fees apply to the 2018/19 and 2019/20 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 |
| BA, BSc, BEng or LLB - accelerated 2 year degree | To be confirmed |
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 2018/19 and 2019/20, this means that each 10 credit module will cost £771. The tuition fee payable for modules will 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 2018/19 and 2019/20. 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 2018/19. 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
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 2019/20 academic year. It is a non-repayable bursary designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000.
In 2019/20 there are up to 90 full or part time Cumbria Bursaries available, worth £1,000 per year of study (full time) or £500 per year of study (part time) for up to 3 years 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 2019, who also meet the eligibility criteria.
*Part time students must be studying at least 50% of the time and registered on a minimum three year course.
Progression Award (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 2019/20 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.
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 2018/19 or the 2019/20 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 2018/19 or 2019/20. Please read the full Governmental statement for more details.
Whilst there is not yet official confirmation of financial support for new entrants for 2020/21 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 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years (between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2020). This includes new students starting in 2019/20 and continuing students who began in 2016/17, 2017/18 or 2018/19.
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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)† £10,500 (years 2-4) |
| Sandwich or placement year | £1,650 |
| BA, BSc, BEng or LLB - accelerated 2 year degree | To be confirmed |
| Foundation degree (FdA, FdSc) | £10,500† |
| Premium Foundation (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) | £3,108 |
† An early payment discount is available for international students.
Please note: These fees apply to the 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study.
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.
International scholarship
The University of Cumbria is delighted to announce the launch of a new international scholarship programme for 2019 entrants. We have a number of scholarships available for undergraduate students to the value of 50% of tuition fee costs for the first year of study.
Scholarships will be awarded on a merit basis for outstanding academic achievement, assessed in accordance with the terms and conditions.
How to apply
Who is eligible?
University of Cumbria international applicants, who have applied directly to the university, who hold an unconditional offer and have accepted their place, are eligible to apply for a scholarship.
Scholarships are available in the following subject areas:
- Business
- Creative Arts
- Law
- Science
- Literature
- Sport
- Outdoor
- Social Sciences
Scholarships are not available for NHS-funded courses (Nursing, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Social Work etc.) or for degrees leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). To check whether or not your course participates in the scholarship programme, please email scholarships@cumbria.ac.uk
How to apply
Please read the terms and conditions carefully and complete the International Scholarship application form. The application deadline is Friday 5 July 2019 at 5pm.
Terms and conditions
These terms and conditions apply to all International Student Scholarships offered at University of Cumbria.
Applicants must hold an offer of a place of study on an eligible full-time bachelor’s degree, top-up degree or a taught master’s degree (180 credits) at the University of Cumbria. For students enrolling on programmes lasting more than one year the scholarship is awarded for the first year of the programme only.
- All scholarship applicants/recipients must be self-funding students with overseas fee status.
- Applicants must hold an unconditional offer for their place of study and must have accepted their offer.
- Applicants must have applied for a place of study directly with the University, not through an agency.
- Applicants must have no outstanding offer conditions attached to their place of study except for the tuition fee deposit and passport photocopy.
- All scholarship applicants/recipients must provide evidence of funds to cover the remaining tuition fee balance and living costs, as per Home Office requirements, for one academic year in the UK.
- The balance of tuition fee is due at or before registration.
- Scholarship applicants must complete the scholarship application form.
- The closing date for applications is 5:00pm (GMT) Friday 5th July 2019; scholarship applications received after this date will not be considered.
- Applications should be submitted by email to scholarships@cumbria.ac.uk.
- Scholarship applications will be considered and assessed by a Scholarship Award Panel. The Panel may take into account the following aspects: academic performance, English language, merit of personal statement and the short essay.
- The Scholarship Award Panels decision will be finalised during the last two weeks of July 2019 and applicants will be notified of the decision on their application by email by the end of July 2019.
- The decision of the Scholarship Award Panel is final - the university will not provide feedback or enter into any correspondence with unsuccessful candidates regarding their decision.
- Successful scholarship applicants must meet any outstanding conditions (i.e. tuition fee deposit / passport photocopy) by 5.00pm (GMT) on 2nd August 2019 to receive the scholarship.
- Scholarships can only be taken for the academic year 2019-2020 and may not be deferred to any other period
- Scholarships will not be awarded to applicants in receipt of a scholarship from any other source
- By accepting the scholarship, it is expected that scholars will assist the university with internationalisation events and provide a photograph and statement to be included in our publicity
- Courses which are eligible for scholarship awards are in the following areas of study: creative arts, business, law, science, literature, sports, outdoor and social sciences. It is the applicant’s responsibility to check that their chosen course is eligible for scholarship applications before an application is submitted (please email scholarships@cumbria.ac.uk if you require clarification)
The Award
- The scholarships will not be paid in cash. Scholarships will be deducted from the first year's tuition fees on registration at the University of Cumbria.
- Scholarship winners will be asked to provide a case study which may be used in university publications or on the website.
- This award cannot be held in conjunction with any other university awards or discounts.
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Additional costs
Students will be issued with reading lists in advance of each year of study indicating primary texts which you will need to purchase. In addition two key fieldtrips are included in the programme - a visit to Brantwood and a visit to Dove Cottage. Students contribute to the costs but the remainder is subsidised by the department.
Additional costsResources and facilities
One of our most important resources is our proximity to the Lake District, a beautiful part of England with a rich literary heritage. The programme team have long standing arrangements with key literary organisations in the region, including Brantwood, Dove Cottage, the National Trust, and the Words by the Water Literary festival and we use these excellent working relationships to enhance your studies with input from external speakers and a fieldtrip.
The course is taught at the Brampton Road Arts campus in the historic border city of Carlisle. The campus has a friendly and lively atmosphere and offers a great environment for your studies. Just across from the campus is the beautiful Rickerby Park. The River Eden, described by the poet Wordsworth as his ‘life’s neighbour’, flows through the park and from here you have views across to Carlisle’s castle and medieval Cathedral, at which your graduation ceremony will take place.
The campus itself has its own theatre and art gallery, and Carlisle has a vibrant literary and cultural scene. It also has one of the best Independent Bookshops in the country as well as its own annual literary festival, Borderlines.
Awards and recognition
English Literature staff were awarded a Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Award for 2011, making English the top-rated teaching team in the university's higher education provision for the academic year 2010-11. The award citation said that tutors "demonstrated a highly innovative and adventurous approach to the design of a single honours English degree, taking a usually traditional disciplinary area and introducing elements which address a range of agendas to enhance the engagement of students with English in the world and the development of skills and attributes for employability and further study."
English at Cumbria was also shortlisted for the Student Experience award byEducate North (June 2015).
Programme Leader, Dr Penny Bradshaw’s new critical edition of Ann Radcliffe’sObservations during a Tour to the Lakes was runner up for Lakeland Book of the Year in 2015. Penny is an Editorial Board Member for Romanticism: Life, Literature and Landscape (a digital resource published by Adam Matthew Digital and Adam Matthew Publications using archives held by The Wordsworth Trust) and she reviews for Green Letters, the journal of the Association for Literature and the Environment.
Dr Paul Ferguson reviews for the journal Literature, Interpretation, Theory and has been invited to give a lecture at the Scottish Universities’ Summer School at Edinburgh University in 2016.
Steve Longstaffe has had an article on employability and the English Degree published in The Times Higher Education Supplement in 2015. He reviews for a variety of journals and has acted as external consultant for curriculum reviews of Drama, English, and Creative Writing at Bath Spa University and London Met. He also reviews theatre for The Stage and Northern Soul.