Full-time Undergraduate Financial Support

Some grants and part of the Maintenance Loan depend on household income i.e. they are income assessed. If you are under age 25 on the first day of the relevant academic year, your parents’ income is usually taken into account (less certain pension contributions and an amount for their dependent children).

If you are estranged from parents or classed as an Independent Student then parental income is not used and in the case of estranged students you would not be expected to try and contact parents for income details. 

If you are age 25 or over on the first day of the relevant academic year, and live with a partner then their income will be taken into account for student finance purposes.

Student’s own income from paid work is not normally considered; usually only taxable unearned income is used, such as money received from renting out a property.

See www.gov.uk/student-finance for further details.

Household income is usually taken from the financial year before the last full tax year before the start of the academic year. For example if the academic year starts in September 2025 then the income from financial year 2023–2024 will be used. 

If household income in the current financial year is likely to be at least 15% lower than the previous one then you can ask Student Finance England to use the current year’s income for the assessment.

The amount of Maintenance Loan paid to eligible students in their final year of study is less than the amount paid in Years One and Two. In academic year 2025/26 the maximum Maintenance Loan a final year student, living at home with parents can expect to receive is £8,353 pa and £9,972 pa if they live elsewhere.

Amounts of Maintenance Loan for students over age 60 depend on household income only and are a lower amount, up to a maximum of £4,461 a year.

Students who started their course after September 2012 undertaking a work placement year as part of their course will only be charged 10% of the full-time tuition fee rate for the year in question. Eligible Home students will be entitled to a reduced rate non means tested Maintenance Loan from Student Finance England of £3,194 per annum if they are living away from home, and £2,396 if living at home.

1. Apply as early as you can.

2. Make sure you read the guidance notes where indicated; if you make a
mistake your application could be delayed for a long time.

3. Be careful to supply evidence where requested (Student Finance England indicate where they need this with an “e”).

4. Be especially careful to read the guidance notes if you need to prove, for example, that you are single, are estranged from parents or are financially independent from parents, eg. If you supply evidence from someone like a teacher to say that you are estranged, the letter should contain the words “…. I have known X for X years and she/he is irreconcilably estranged from her/his parents and is likely to be so for the foreseeable future” (if accurate).

5. Check that the evidence you supply is for the period of time requested; it’s
not always the period you assume.

6. When you send evidence or information separately, make sure you put your name and Student Finance England or NHS Grants customer reference number on, and use Recorded Delivery. Make sure you keep a copy. Some evidence can be uploaded to your online account.

7. Three weeks after sending your application, telephone or email your student finance provider and make sure your application and evidence is
OK. Don’t be afraid to keep checking. (Student Finance England phone
number is 0300 100 0607 and NHS Student Bursaries is 0300 330 1345).

8. Don’t assume that if there’s a problem with your application you’ll be contacted quickly. If you haven’t heard anything that doesn’t mean everything’s OK.

9. Make sure you complete the income sections where appropriate. If you
don’t give income details for yourself and/or your parents or partner where
needed, then the assessors won’t be able to calculate your full financial
entitlement.

10. If you’ve studied at university level before, your student finance may be
affected and you should check with your student finance provider if you
think this may apply. If you left because of compelling and compassionate reasons and can provide evidence of this, the time may be disregarded. Collect evidence eg. a letter from a doctor if appropriate. The letter should include dates of illness or incident and the words “this meant that X could not reasonably be expected to complete his/her course” (if accurate).

It is important to note that previous study at Higher Education level or above (i.e. above Level 3) can affect your entitlement to student financial support, depending on what you plan to study, and you should contact Student Finance England if you think this may apply to you. Previous study can be disregarded if you have evidence that you left for compelling personal reasons such as illness; you can also speak to the University’s Money Advisers if you think this may apply to you.

Student Finance England funding for tuition fees is available to eligible students for the length of their course and for only one extra year if needed to complete the course, unless compelling personal reasons apply and extend funding eligibility. The limit does not apply to the Maintenance Loan or Dependants Grants.

There is no charge for having a module reassessed although postgraduate students are charged 20% of the fee for having their Independent Study reassessed. If a module needs to be retaken then the student will be charged the cost of the module. Tuition Fee Loans are not available through Student Finance England to pay for retakes within the normal duration of the course. However, students may receive Tuition Fee and Maintenance Funding if they extend the length of their course to include the retake under the “gift” year system (see above).

Student Finance can continue to be paid automatically by Student Finance England, for up to 60 days to students on temporary withdrawal due to illness, but for payments to extend after that financial hardship needs to be demonstrated.

Students withdrawing from their course before the end of a year may still have a liability to pay tuition fees. An example of percentages due is shown below; for more details contact the University’s Finance Office by emailing them on creditcontrol@worc.ac.uk.

*excluding induction week