Ensure your studies are a sound financial investment. With Staffordshire University your prospects look good with our high graduate employability, plus you’ll get more for your money with the low cost of living. Here's our detailed guide to what studying with us costs and the help that's available to pay for it.
What will it cost to go to university
You'll need to consider:
- Tuition Fees
- Living costs, including food, accommodation, travel, books and stationary
Our tuition fees
The annual fee for most of our full-time undergraduate courses is £9,250. If you're studying a 2 year accelerated degree course that starts in academic year 2022/23 the annual fee will be £11,100. Fees for our part-time undergraduate courses are charged pro-rata to the full-time fee depending on the number of modules you choose to study.
Course intensity explained
‘Course intensity’ measures how much of your course you complete each year compared to an equivalent full-time course. This is calculated based on the number of credits you study each year. For example, if a full-time student was expected to study 120 credits per year and a part-time student was expected to study 30 credits per year then the ‘course intensity’ would be 25%.
Most of our courses are designed so that part-time students are expected to study at least 25% of the course that full-time students would study each year, meaning you'll be able to apply for a loan to cover your fees. However, if you have any questions, please speak to our enquiries team on enquiries@staffs.ac.uk.
Advice on finance
A great place to start is the GOV.UK website. Here you'll find everything you need to know about student loans, bursaries and grants, if you qualify and how to apply for them.
If you've already had some experience of living independently, you'll have a good idea of what your living costs will be. If you're not sure, visit the UCAS website for more information on how to plan your budget, or check out this useful guide from Money Saving Expert.
The Students' Union advisers are on hand to offer free, confidential and impartial advice on funding, budgeting and debt. Contact the Student Advice Centre (Tel. 01782 294629 or pop to their reception above the Ember Lounge) to arrange to speak to an Adviser.
Funding for student parents
Help with childcare costs
You may be eligible for government help with childcare costs through tax-free childcare, 2, 3 and 4 year old free childcare, (15 hours over 38 weeks) or (11 hours over 50 weeks), 3 and 4 year old free childcare (30 hours over 38 weeks) or (22 hours over 50 weeks), tax credits, universal childcare, care to learn. Please refer to the links on childcarechoices.gov.uk.
Childcare Grant Scheme
Student Childcare Grants may be available from Student Finance England to help with the costs of childcare. For more information, visit www.gov.uk/childcare-grant. For assistance with the forms, or for any further financial advice please call:
Undergraduate student loans
Key facts
What can I apply for?
You can apply for the following support:
- Tuition Fee Loan – To cover the cost of your tuition fees.
- Maintenance Loan – To support you with living costs such as food, accommodation and travel.
Am I eligible?
Whether you qualify for student finance depends on:
- Your university or college
- Your course
- If you’ve studied a higher education course before
- Your age
- Your nationality or residency status
Visit GOV.UK for full eligibility criteria.
How much can I borrow?
Tuition Fee Loan – Your tuition fee loan will be paid directly to the University.
Maintenance Loan – The maintenance loan will be paid directly to you in three equal instalments. The first instalment will be normally be paid within 3-5 working days after the start of term and once your application for a maintenance loan has been approved by Student Finance and the University has confirmed your registration to Student Finance. The second and final instalments will normally be paid at the beginning of the second and third term and should be in your account within 3-5 working days of the start of term.
If you’re late applying for your maintenance loan, this could affect when you receive your first payment as your registration can only be confirmed once your application for a maintenance loan has been approved by Student Finance.
When should I apply?
The application window opens in February and although late applications will be processed it could cause delays to your funding and is not recommended.
You can make an application without having made a firm decision about where to study. You’ll be able to confirm details of the course and university at a later date without delaying your application.
Apply online as early as possible at:
To complete your application, you’ll need your:
- Passport number
- NI number
- Household income details (P60’s etc.)
- Bank account details (for maintenance payments)
Top tips
- Apply early to make sure your student finance is ready for the start of your course. For 2022/23 entry the application window is due to open in February 2022. To check whether the application window is open for 2022/23 please see the GOV.UK website.
- Apply with your preferred choice of course and institution. If necessary, you can change these details later.
Are there any age restrictions?
There's no upper age limit for Tuition Fee Loans. If you're 60 or over you may be able to get a reduced maintenance loan if all of the following apply:
- You're 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of your course
- You're studying full-time
- Your course started on or after 1st August 2016
Visit GOV.UK for full eligibility criteria.
Are student loans means tested?
Tuition fee loans are not means tested. You can apply regardless of your existing income or savings. If you want to be assessed for the maximum available maintenance loan you will need to provide details of your household income.
For further details on what information you'll need to provide visit the GOV.UK website.
When will I be paid my loan?
Tuition fee loan – Your tuition fee loan will be paid directly to the University.
Maintenance loan – The maintenance loan will be paid directly to you in three equal instalments. The first instalment will be paid once your application for a maintenance loan has been approved by Student Finance and the University has confirmed your registration to Student Finance. The second and final instalments are paid at the beginning of the second and third term and should be in your account within 3-5 working days of the start of term.
If you’re late applying for your maintenance loan, this could affect when you receive your first payment as your registration can only be confirmed once your application for a maintenance loan has been approved by Student Finance.
When will I have to repay my loan?
The earliest you’ll start repaying your loan is from the April after you leave your course and only then if your annual income is over the minimum threshold (currently £27,295). The amount you'll repay will depend on your earnings and not the amount borrowed.
You'll repay 9% of your annual income over £27,295 or more per year. If your income falls below £27,295 a year, for any reason, repayments will stop until your income rises above the threshold again.
If you want to make additional repayments you can do so at anytime by debit card, cheque, postal order or direct debit and will not incur any additional charges for doing so.
For further details including how much you'll repay and how interest on the loan is calculated please visit Student Loan Repayment.
Information for part-time students
Can I apply for a tuition fee loan?
Part-time students can apply for a loan to cover the full cost of their tuition fees. providing you are studying at least 25% of the equivalent full-time undergraduate course per year. The maximum part-time tuition fee loan available for 2022/23 is £6,935.
Please note: If you’re repeating modules from a full-time course, you’ll be considered a full-time student for funding purposes and should, therefore, apply as a full-time student.
Visit GOV.UK for full eligibility criteria.
Can I apply for a maintenance loan?
Yes, maintenance loans are available to eligible part-time students starting an undergraduate or integrated Masters degree. The maximum amount of maintenance loan you can borrow will depend on the length/intensity of your course, your household income, the year of study and where you live during term-time.
Visit GOV.UK for full eligibility criteria.
Maintenance loans are subject to different financial arrangements and eligibility criteria depending on whether you are domiciled in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.
If you are domiciled in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, you should refer to the website of your relevant funding body.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for Disabled Students Allowance?
DSA provides extra support for those students who incur extra course costs as a direct result of their disability. This support is not income assessed and you don’t have to repay it.
You can apply for DSA before you start your course and should contact your student finance provider for more details.
If you're a part-time student you can apply for a pro-rata DSA as long as you are studying at least 50% of the course that full-time students would study each year.
Read more about DSA and how to apply.
Can I apply for extra support if I have children and/or dependents?
Eligible students with dependents can apply for the following grants and allowances and will receive these on top of their tuition fee and maintenance loans:
- Adult Dependants Grant - up to £3,263 (income assessed but not repayable)
- Parents Learning Allowance - up to £1,863 for those with children (income assessed but not repayable)
- Childcare Grant - can assist with up to 85% of childcare costs up to a specified limit (income assessed but not repayable)
- Up to £183.75 per week for one child only
- Up to £315.03 per week for two or more children
If not already receiving them, students with dependents can apply for Tax Credits through HM Revenue & Customs.
Is there any extra support for care leavers?
The Children Leaving Care Act 2000 and the ’Every Child Matters’ policy outline how local authorities have a responsibility to support care leavers up to the age of 21 and care leavers within education up to the age of 25.
Care leavers will be considered as independent students by the Student Loans Company and so should receive full funding without having to provide their parents income (please be sure to supply proof of your care leaving status when submitting your loan application).
Here at Staffs we're committed to supporting students who come from a care background. For information on how we'll support you during your studies and after you graduate please click here.
Can I apply for extra support if I'm struggling with money?
We understand that going to university is a large financial commitment and sometime resources can be stretched, so to help we offer a Student Success Fund. The fund can assist students in the following ways:
- To support students who incur unexpected costs because of an unforeseen emergency that is beyond their control.
- To support students who have exhausted their available funds while they await their next maintenance loan instalment and/or seek employment.
- To support students whose maintenance loan/grant is delayed by providing short term delayed funding loans.
- To support students requiring dyslexia assessments by paying the cost of a full assessment.
Read more about our Student Success Fund and how to apply
Is there any support to help me find part time work I can fit around my studies?
Part time work is a great way to help make ends meet, develop new skills and meet new people. It will also look great on your CV.
Unitemps is our specialist on-campus recruitment service and can help you find a job to fit around your studies. They’ll source interesting and varied opportunities on campus and in local businesses. Rates of pay are competitive, and work is flexible to suit you. There are also work opportunities available through our Students' Union, see staffsunion/getinvolved for further information.
You can register with Unitemps from the moment you accept an offer to study with us. Get ahead of the game and register before you arrive.
Visit Unitemps or telephone +44 (0) 1782 294995 for further information.
I already hold an honours degree and want to do another one, can I get another loan?
Your eligibility for student funding may be affected if you've previously studied all or part of a higher education course before coming to university.
- Previous Study - If you have studied a higher education course (level 4 or level 5) before, even if you didn't complete it you may not get student funding for the full length of your course, meaning you'll have to pay some or all of the fees yourself.
- Equivalent and Lower Qualifications (ELQ) - if the course you are studying is of an equivalent or lower level to one you already hold you may not receive student funding for your fees or living costs.
There are exceptions to this rule. Students who already hold a degree and are joining a nursing, midwifery or allied health profession award (excluding Paramedic Science) will still be able to access tuition fee and maintenance loans from the Student Loans Company.
If you think your eligibility to receive student funding may be affected by previous study, it's important to check this before you start your studies. You don't have to be a student or applicant to contact us. Our friendly support services can provide advice and in some cases may be able to help you in dealing with Student Finance.
If you have any questions or want to to arrange to speak to an Adviser contact the Student Advice Centre on 01782 294629 or pop to their reception above the Ember Lounge.