Undergraduate student finance 2017
The information below is for the 2017/18 academic year.
For information about 2018/19, please visit the 2018 finance page.
Tuition fees for UK students
The following tuition fees are for undergraduate students studying in the 2017/18 academic year (between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018). This includes new students starting in 2017/18 and continuing students who began in 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 |
Please note: These fees apply to the 2017/18 academic year only and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study.
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 2017/18, 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 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 2017/18. 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.
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 may be able to apply for the following amounts in 2017/18:
| Living at Home | Up to £7,097 |
| Living away from home (outside of London) | Up to £8,430 |
| Living away from home (in London) | Up to £11,002 |
| Studying abroad (for 1 year) | Up to £9,654 |
You can work out how much of a loan you are entitled to apply for using the Student Finance Calculator.
If you're eligible, you may be able to access a reduced rate maintenance loan. The amount depends on where you live during the year:
- £2,425 (if you live away from home and study outside London)
- £3,405 (if you live away from home and study in London)
- £1,819 (if you live with parents)
Repaying your loan
Graduates with a home address in England, who have a student loan, only start repaying their tuition fee loan the April after graduation and once they earn over £21,000 per year, and then only on the amount above £21,000 (e.g. £7 a month for earners of £21,000).
To repay the whole amount you would need to earn £37,000 a year or more (and even then it would still take up to 30 years). This means you may have some (or even all) of your loan written off.
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 terms of student loans are set by the Government rather than the University.
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.
These loans are not means-tested and you can be apply for up to the maximum amount of your fees, which is £6,935 in 2017/18. 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 students are currently not eligible to apply for a maintenance loan, however, as a part time student, you do have the opportunity to pursue part-time employment along with your studies to balance the costs. Depending on your circumstances, you may also qualify for additional support.
For more information about funding for part-time study, you can download this handy guide.
We recommend applying to your local funding body as soon as the application process opens in January/February. You do not need to have an offer of a place before you apply-just put down which university and course would be your first choice on your application. You can change this information very easily online later.
For more guidance on applying for a student loan, visit the Student Room's student finance guide.
Financial support
There's a range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and other funding available to support you in getting your degree.
Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCAS)
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.
Find out more
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 £1,573.
- Childcare Grant - means-tested on household income. A maximum of 85% of your weekly childcare costs may be paid on your behalf, up to £155.24 per week for one child and £266.15 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 £2,757.
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.
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.
Support funds
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 2017/18 academic year (between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018). This includes new students starting in 2017/18 and continuing students who began in 2016/17.
Full-time
These fees apply to the 2017/18 academic year 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 |
Please note: These fees apply to the 2017/18 academic year only and may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study.
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 2017/18, 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 2017/18. 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 £21,000 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.
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.
These loans are not means-tested and you can be apply for up to the maximum amount of your fees, which is £6,935 in 2017/18. 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 students are currently not eligible to apply for a maintenance loan, however, as a part time student, you do have the opportunity to pursue part-time employment along with your studies to balance the costs. Depending on your circumstances, you may also qualify for additional support.
For more information about funding for part-time study, you can download this handy guide.
We recommend applying to your local funding body as soon as the application process opens in January/February. You do not need to have an offer of a place before you apply-just put down which university and course would be your first choice on your application. You can change this information very easily online later.
For more guidance on applying for a student loan, visit the Student Room's student finance guide.
Financial support
There's a range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and other funding available to support you in getting your degree.
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.
Support funds
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, 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, are still eligible for student support and home fee status.
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 Student Loans Company has given reassurance about financial support for current students and those starting in 2017 and 2018. We include a statement on this below for your convenience.
Whilst there is not yet official confirmation of Student Loan support for new entrants for 2019 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 2017/18 academic year (between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018). This includes new students starting in 2017/18 and continuing students who began in 2016/17.
Read more
| Course level | Tuition fee (annual) |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree (BA, BSc, LLB) | £10,500† |
| 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 | £1,600 |
| 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) | £1,554 |
| Pre-sessional English (12 weeks) | £3,108 |
† An early payment discount is available for international students.
Please note: These fees apply to the 2017/18 academic year only 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 11-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 11-week pre-sessional fails to progress as a result of non-attendance, poor attendance or lack of effort, the deposit for the substantive programme will not be repaid.
Deposit refunds
A refund of the deposits will only be considered where a student has been refused a visa for other than fraudulent reasons. Students may apply for a refund by sending copies of the official visa refusal notification from the British Embassy or High Commission, together with passport details. The university reserves the right to verify details with the embassy or High Commission.
Where the university decides to make a refund of the deposit, 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. Refunds will not be made if the refusal, or a CAS withdrawal, is 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 you can follow our instalment plan.
An early payment discount is available if you choose to pay your full annual tuition fee by registration and not in instalments. 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 you choose to pay 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.
| Start date | Due date for payment |
|---|---|
| September 2017 | 75% due on registration (September), 25% due by 1 December 2017 |
| January 2018 | 75% due on registration (January), 25% due by 12 March 2018 |
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.
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.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation pages 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.
Student Financial Regulations
The Student Financial Regulations describes your contractual obligations to the university regarding finance. It includes our policies about:
- Tuition fees and payments
- Cancellations, withdrawal from programmes and interruption of studies
- Debt management procedures
- Other fees, fines and charges
- Bursaries and scholarships
Please download and read the regulations before starting your course.
Download the Student Financial Regulations for 2017-18 starters (PDF)