Fees & Finances

The Foundation degree route into higher education offers attractive financial incentives which are increased if you study locally and live at home.

Take a look at the table below and see how much you could save by studying locally and living at home. It could be as much as £125 - £169 per week. Even if you have to contribute to the household budget while studying, you will still be spending less than if you went away to the University of Plymouth.

 

Foundation degree at Strode College

(30 weeks attendance)

Honours degree at University of Plymouth

(30 weeks attendance)

Saving if take Foundation degree route

Tuition fee

£2095

£3226

£1130

Accommodation in halls

-

(live at home)

£50 - 100 per week

£1500 - 3000

Laundry

-

(live at home)

£5 per week

£150

Food

-

(live at home)

£30 per week

£900

Travel

Say £5 per day x 2 days per week = £300

Say to and from uni once a half-term on student ticket = £200

(£100)

Socialising

£30 per week

£30 per week

-

Clothes/books

£10 per week

£10 per week

-

Potential Savings overall

 

 

£3774 - £5074

Weekly outgoings

£50 per week

£140 per week

 

Maintenance grant
Maximum

 

£113 per week

£113 per week (leaving £27 per week to find)

 

 

These savings mean that the loans or grants that you will need are minimised and thus the debt is less likely to cause hardship in the future.

 

Financing your studies

Every EU citizen who obtains a place for a Foundation degree is entitled to apply to their Local Education Authority (LEA) for a loan which is provided by the Student Loan Company.  You should apply to your LEA as soon as possible - do not wait until you have a place confirmed.  This loan is not means tested.

 

Tuition loan

If you take out a loan from the Student Loan Company to cover tuition fees, you will need to repay this but only once your annual income exceed around £15,000 per annum. 

 

Living expenses grant

The LEA can also give you a grant for living expenses which is not repayable.  If you are living at home, outside London, the maximum in 2007 is £3415 (or about £113 per week).  This grant is means tested and only those with household incomes of less than around £17000 will received the full grant and those with household incomes exceeding around £38000 will receive not receive a grant.

 

Disabled Student Allowances

Students with disabilities should apply to their LEA at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss their needs and also meet with the Strode college equality and diversity manager in order to ascertain whether the college can meet the needs.