Full-time higher education
In 2006 the Government introduced ‘top-up’ fees, allowing universities and colleges of higher education to charge up to £3,000 per annum for fulltime degree courses. The fees have gradually been increased in line with inflation. Loans are available to cover the cost of those fees and the loan does not have to be repaid until the graduate is earning a salary of more than £15,000. Additional loans can be accessed to cover some of the living costs.

Many universities and colleges offer bursaries to help those from lower-income families and some institutions charge less than £3,000 for their courses. If the cost of the fees is off-putting you should be aware that many colleges that offer BTEC HE courses also charge significantly less than universities’ own degree courses.

For further information on loans and the cost of higher education click here.

Part-time higher education
The cost of part-time courses is usually proportional to the full-time courses, so a part-time course that delivers half of a full-time course will generally cost 50% of a full-time equivalent course, but this is not always the case. BTEC courses such as HNCs and HNDs usually cost significantly less. In 2004 the Government introduced non-repayable grants for part-time study that are means tested on the student’s income. The grants have two components - the fee grant, worth up to £805 for a 50% full-time equivalent course, for those starting a course in 2009, and the course grant, worth up to £260, that can be used to help with the cost of books, travel, etc. The maximum grant in 2009/10 is payable to single people whose income is less than £16,510. The grants are provided by the Local Authority in which the student lives.

For a more-detailed explanation of the grants, including how to apply, a document can be accessed by clicking here.

The website for more general information on grants for part-time study can be accessed by clicking here.

Courses offered by the Open University also attract grants to help with the cost of study. These are provided directly by the OU rather than the Local Authority. Further information and a ‘ready reckoner’ can be found by clicking here.