FULL-TIME FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Assistance is available to help keep your studies worry free from financial matters. A number of funds can help you pay for travel, books, childcare or living expenses.
Fees
Further Education Courses
If you are aged under 19 years on 1 July 2010 then all full-time further education courses are FREE (unless it is an examination resit).
There are no tuition fees if you are aged over 19 years on 1 July 2010 and on a vocational full-time course up to level 3. The course must be to help improve work-related skills or to develop new vocational skills. Academic courses are not included.
Higher Education Courses
Tuition Fees for all Degree, Foundation Degree and HND full time courses at SERC in 2011/2012 are:
Year 1 - new entrants £2150
Year 2 - 2010/2011 entrants £2000
Year 3 - 2009/10 entrants £1310
Year 1/2/3 - International Students £5,000
Year 1/2 - QUB Multi-Media £2250
Skills for Work/Pre-Apprenticeship/Apprenticeship courses
These courses are free to all learners regardless of age.
Funds are shown in the table below
|
Fund |
What Is It? |
What Do You Need? |
How Do I Apply? |
|
Student Finance NI Higher Education Support (PN1 Form) |
Non-Means tested and Means tested loans and Means tested grants to help with the costs associated with studying on an HE course. |
No age requirements. Student should be studying on a Full Time Higher Education course e.g. Higher National Diploma or degree course. |
PN1 forms are available from the college or downloaded from www.studentfinanceni.co.uk Applictions should be submitted to your Education & Library Board by 4 May 2011 to ensure that you will receive your first payment at the start of term. Applications submitted after this date will be processed as soon as possible, however your first payment may not be available at the start of term.
|
|
Further Education (FE) Award |
For students who are required to pay fees and/or need assistance with other costs including childcare. If your intended course is GCE AS/A2 without a vocational element (i.e. not linked to a BTEC or other vocational qualification) then you are not eligible for this award). |
Aged 19 or over on 1st July 2011. |
Application packs are available from the College or Student Finance NI Tel: 028 8225 4546 or www.welbni.org > click students & young people > StudentfinanceNI - Further Education
All eligible applications received before 30 June 2011 will be guaranteed to receive funding, all other applications received up to and including 31 August 2011 will be funded until the FE Awards budget has been exhausted. Students should not wait for confirmation that they have been accepted on the course before applying for financial assistance. |
|
Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) |
Means-tested fortnightly payment to help with the costs of continuing in education for students studying on a full time further education course e.g. NVQ’s, BTEC, A-Level. Students will receive up to £30 per week, paid fortnightly. |
Age 16-19 on or between 2 July 2010 and 1 July 2011 |
Application packs are available from the College or can be downloaded from www.emani.gov.uk
Completed applications should be returned to EMA by 30 September 2011 to ensure payment from the start of the academic year.
|
|
Free Meals |
Meal tickets that can be exchanged for food and drink, to a set maximum value, in the College canteen. |
Age 18 or under on 31 July 2011 and parents are in receipt of certain benefits |
Application forms are available from the College or ELB. |
|
Care to Learn |
If you are a main carer for a child, then you may be entitled to assistance with childcare costs. |
If you are, or will become a parent and are aged between 16 and 19 at the start of the course. |
Contact a Student Funding Officer for further information and an application pack. Email: funding@serc.ac.uk |
|
Travel Pass |
This pass enables students to travel to and from the College by bus or rail without charge. Students may be eligible for fuel assistance if travelling by car. |
Under age 19 on 1 July 2011, on a full time further education course of study and live more than 3 miles from the closest College campus. |
Application pack available from the College or local Education & Library Board (ELB). |
|
SERC Hardship Fund |
Financial assistance for students experiencing exceptional financial hardship. Ordinarily students in receipt of EMA, FE Awards or HE Grants & loans cannot be assisted. |
Age 18 or over on 1 July 2011 and suffering from financial hardship. Assistance from the Hardship Fund is means tested and can only be provided once all other sources of funding have been explored. |
Application pack is available from the College. Students can only apply once they have commenced their course of study. |
Need to talk with someone?
Contact the Student Funding team on
0845 600 7555 or funding@serc.ac.uk