The main features are as follows:
- New fee levels will only affect those higher education students who start university or college from September 2012.
- The Government's new fees policy applies only to students from the UK and EU countries.
- Tuition fees will not have to be paid up front; the cost of tuition will be paid by a government loan which students will only start to repay once they have left their course and are earning over £21,000.
- A wide range of financial support will be available to help with tuition fees and living costs.
- If you have already started a degree you will not be affected by the fee increase in your later years of study.
- Interest on your loan will be charged at inflation plus 3% while you are studying, and up until the April after you leave university.
- All outstanding repayments will be written off after 30 years.
Following the changes the Government have made to the way higher education will be funded, Leeds College of Art are to charge £8,250 per year for full time higher education home and EU students for 2012 entry.
As a specialist institution in art & design the College invests in a high level of dedicated resource to enhance the student experience. To ensure we are able to invest to maintain and improve resources for our students we need to charge fees in excess of £6,000.
Whilst our fee is £8,250, there will be a range of financial support available to reduce the tuition fee for approximately 40% of students in their first year. In addition a range of access measures will be put in place to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds to ensure they are not discouraged from applying. Financial support available for eligible students will be in the form of the National Scholarship Programme, Fee Waivers, Hardship funds and a comprehensive Outreach programme.
These new tuition fees will only be repaid once you’ve finished your course and earning £21,000 or more. The repayment value will be fixed at 9% of salary above £21,000.
Existing Leeds College of Art higher education students will not be affected by the new tuition fees, they only apply to those students starting at our College from September 2012.
Our priorities are, and will continue to be, to exceed students’ expectations and to prepare them for successful futures.
Principal of Leeds College of Art Simone Wonnacott said ‘The College is a community of artists and designers and we believe that our model of providing high quality studio based teaching and professional workshops equip our students with the necessary skills and abilities to succeed in the creative arts. We have set our fees after careful consideration, to ensure that we are able to continue providing this. We have also proposed a generous package of support measures for those from less well off backgrounds, so all who wish to learn in an environment immersed in creativity are able to do so.’
This information is subject to change so please continue to check the Directgov website and the BIS website and www.leeds-art.ac.uk for further up-to-date information.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
There is financial support available to make this affordable and a valuable investment in your future.
There will be no upfront costs of the new fees, as with 2011. Tuition fee loans and loans for living costs are available for all students. In some cases students may be eligible for grants, depending on family income. Other support is available as follows:
NSP Scholarship
The National Scholarship Programme is a new national scheme, which will be piloted for students starting in 2012/2013.
Eligibility for Scholarships
The College will award these scholarships to ensure that the students in greatest need receive this targeted support.
- Ordinarily resident in England or the EU
- Liable to pay the new proposed fee £8,250
- A new full time undergraduate student starting for the first time in 2012
- Household income of £25,000 or less
And at least one or more of the following criteria will be used by the College to assess entitlement:
- Students with dependents
- Students who were looked-after children/care leavers
- Students with a diagnosed and statement supported disability who have applied for the Disabled Students Allowance
Please note: Meeting this criteria will not automatically mean an entitlement to a scholarship.
What is the award worth?
The National Scholarship Programme will provide benefit to certain eligible students. 40 scholarships are available to new entrants in 2012. These students will receive a fee waiver of £3,000 in their first year which means the first year tuition fees will be reduced to £5,250.
This award is a one year benefit and will not be repeated in subsequent years.
What should you do if you think you are eligible for the NSP Scholarship bursary?
Please click on the following link which will enable you to apply for the bursary. When applying for your Student Loan please state the full fees £8250 also remember to give permission to share your information with the College.
NSP Scholarship form 2012-2013.pdf93k
Upon receipt of the application the bursary panel will meet and those eligible for the NSP bursary will receive notification either via email or letter.
Once this has been confirmed the College will notify the Student Loan Company and tuition fees will be adjusted in year
Fee Waiver Bursary
A fee waiver is different to the National Scholarship
Those students whose household income is £25,000 or below but do not qualify for a national scholarship may still be eligible for a College fee waiver. The College wishes to ensure that the most disadvantaged students are not discouraged from applying. Therefore a fee waiver of £1,500 each year will be offered to all full-time undergraduate entrants whose household income is £25,000 or less. The actual fee for these students will therefore be £6,750 in 2012-2013.
Those students who have received the Scholarship (NSP) of £3,000 will not be eligible for the additional fee waiver in their first year. They may, however, be eligible to receive the Fee Waiver in their 2nd and 3rd years. This also includes those students topping up from a Foundation Degree to a BA Honours programme.
What to do if you believe you are eligible for a fee waiver bursary.
If you believe that you are entitled to a Fee Waiver bursary please ensure that you still apply for the £8250 tuition fee loan from the Student Loan Company also ensure that you give permission to share your information.
The College will be confirming after registration which individuals are entitled to the £1500 tuition fee waiver bursary directly to the Student Loan Company, your fees will be adjusted at this point
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why Leeds College of Art?
We are a specialist institution in art & design and invest in a high level of dedicated resource to enhance the student experience. We have:
- Outstanding, industry-standard equipment and facilities.
- Experienced staff - many of our staff are actively involved in the creative arts movement.
- Low student staff ratios.
- Course communities.
- Track record of successful students.
- A recent survey was undertaken (Creative Graduate Creative Futures, 2009) tracking career trajectories of students 5 years after graduating. From the responses received over 75 percent reported that they were employed in the Creative Industries sector.
- National and increasing international reputation.
How much will Leeds College of Art charge for fees from 2012?
Leeds College of Art will charge £8,250 per year for full time higher education home and EU students for 2012 entry.
I'm applying for 2011 entry; will I be affected?
No, the changes will only affect students who start at College from September 2012. If you have already started your higher education course you will not be affected by the fee increase in your later years of study. The annual tuition fee will remain at the same level for current students and students starting in 2011, but will be increased by a small amount (linked to inflation) each year. Details will be published on our website.
What financial support will be available?
There will be a range of financial support available to reduce the tuition fee for approximately 40% of students in their first year. In addition a range of access measures will be put in place to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds to ensure they are not discouraged from applying. Financial support available for eligible students will be in the form of the National Scholarship Programme, Fee Waivers, Hardship funds and a comprehensive Outreach programme.
It's important to remember that tuition fees from 2012 will not have to be paid up front.
We will continue to update the relevant web pages on www.leeds-art.ac.uk
How much will I repay, how and when?
- Graduates only start paying back their tuition and living cost loans once they are earning £21,000 or more.
- The amount repaid each month will depend on a graduate’s earnings.
- Repayments will be 9% of any income over £21,000; for example on an annual salary of £25,000 the weekly repayments would be £6.92, or around £30 a month.
- The debt is written off after 30 years.
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The loans for tuition fees and for maintenance are treated as one when making repayments
For example; a graduate earning £21,500 would initially make repayments of £4 per month. The monthly repayment would increase to £23 for someone earning £24,000 per year; £30 on a salary of £25,000; £45 on £27,000; and £68 on £30,000. - The repayments will normally be deducted automatically from your pay packet through the tax system.
- Interest on your loan will be charged at inflation plus 3% while you are studying, and up until the April after you leave university.
- From the April after you leave university if you are earning below £21,000, interest will be applied at the rate of inflation.
- Graduates earning between £21,000 and £41,000 will be charged interest on a sliding scale up to a maximum of inflation plus 3%.
- Graduates earning above £41,000 will be charged interest at the full rate of inflation plus 3%.
- All outstanding repayments will be written off after 30 years.
How do the new fees affect international students?
The changes only affect students from the UK and European Union. Fees and financial support arrangements for international students are available on our website go to http://www.leeds-art.ac.uk/home/international-students/
If you are planning to apply for 2012 entry, the College will agree tuition fees by July 2011. Once a decision is made we will update our website.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information about the new fees for 2012 is available at the following websites:
Directgov website - The direct gov website contains up-to-date information for all students, including those from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, other EU countries and international students.
BIS website - The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills explains about how the Government's plans for reforms to higher education and student finance will offer a more generous package of financial support for students from low income backgrounds to go to university.
Your future website - A user friendly guide to what you need to know about going to university from September 2012
Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert - The 20 key facts on fees, loans & grants everyone should know.
Martin Lewis Student Finance 2012 You Tube clip - Outlines the changes to student finance in England from 2012 (see above), dispelling some of the myths and revealing some of the unknown truths about the new system.
Our Student Advice Team is also on hand to support you and make sure you have access to the information you need.