PROMOTING PART TIME STUDY UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL ENTRY 2011/12

Where there are no available full-time places on a course, applicants should be encouraged to consider part-time study options if a validated part-time route is available. Applicants should be encouraged to consider that: Options for part-time study are more flexible, allowing for a better home/workstudy balance. Students may study up to 80 credits per academic year on a part-time basis although the optimal load for funding is 60 credits (50% of the full time load) each year (6 years to complete) or 80 credits in the first three years and 60 credits in years 4 and 5 (5 years to complete) otherwise the student may not meet the required volume of study in their final year to be eligible for funding. Fees are lower than full-time study options (charged by the number of credits/modules) Students on part-time courses may retain their eligibility to some pre-existing benefits (for example Income Support and Housing Benefit) Some Government funding is available (see below) but, part-time students have no recourse to other government loans for living costs and must be able to meet these themselves. Part-time students should also be aware that if they continue to study on a parttime basis (normal progression) their fees will remain at a pre-2012 level (subject to annual inflationary increases only). If a student begins on a part-time basis and transfers to full-time mode from 2012 they will be charged the higher fee levels.

UW Part-Time Fees 2011/12 Undergraduate (Bachelors) Courses 460.00 per 20 credit = 1380.00 for 60 credits = 1840.00 for 80 credits module
Fees are lower for HNC/D, FD, Cert Ed and Foundation Year Courses see website. Fees are higher for ELQ applicants and ELQ applicants are not eligible for Government support.

Means-tested Government funding (non-repayable) is available to support the cost of fees (paid directly to the University) and course costs, books + materials (paid to the student); where the course lasts a minimum of one year and no more than twice as long to complete as the equivalent full time course, leading to an undergraduate qualification.

Maximum Government Grants 2011/12 The maximum grant is available where the Studying a 50% + load 820.00 individuals gross taxable income is less (60 credits) towards fees. than 16,845. Variable, partial assistance is Studying a 60% + load 985.00 available up to an income of 28,066. (80 credits) towards fees.
The maximum additional course materials grant available is 265.00 per year.

The University operates an Additional Fee Support Scheme (AFSS) for part-time students who are awarded the maximum fee grant, to support any shortfall in tuition fee costs. Applicants considering part-time study should always seek advice about their individual funding situation as this is highly variable and complex subject to individual circumstances and eligibility on an annual basis. Advice is available from: The University www.wlv.ac.uk/moneymatters Contact The Gateway Team for individual advice on 01902 321032 www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance Government Then Apply: Prospective students should apply on line via the University website, using the course finder tool. From the home page, follow the link: APPLY TO US.