Full-Time Education Finance Information
Amenities Fee
Full-time Further Education students at the SouthWest College will be charged a fee of £15 upon enrolment onto their full-time course. This fee applies to all students and is a specific fund to help pay for class trips/donations etc.
Further Education Full-Time Fees
There are no course fees for full-time further education courses. Students resident in the UK may be entitled to a bus pass if they meet Education and Library Board (ELB) criteria and may also be entitled to free school meals and other allowances, so it is important to contact your ELB as soon as possible.
Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMAs)
Educational Maintenance Allowance is a payment of up to £30 per week with a bonus payment of £100 payable up to three times per year.
To be eligible you must:
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Be a full-time student
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Be aged between 16-19 on 1 July 2011
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Live in a household that has an annual income of £33,951.00 or less per year (2011/12 figures)
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Be ordinarily resident in the UK
Further information can be found at:
www.emani.gov.uk or telephone 0845 601 7646.
Care to Learn
Childcare support is available for 16/17/18/19/20 year old parents to help pay for registered childcare. To be eligible, a student must during their course of study be, or become:
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A parent; and
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At least 16 years old; and
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Under 20 years of age at the start of their course of study
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Living in Northern Ireland
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A student should also meet residency requirements in accordance with the Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland)
Higher Education Finance
South West College will be charging fees for Higher Education courses only – HNDs, Foundation Degrees and Degrees.
You do not have to pay fees for any other full-time courses.
How much are SWC charging for these courses?
- HNDs - £1,398. per annum
- FOUNDATION DEGREES
- University of Ulster - £1,600.00
- Queen’s University - £2,190.00
The BSc (Hons) in Social Work, validated by the University of Ulster, fees for 2011/12 are
- £3,375.00 per annum
- Adult Dependants’ Grant
If you have a partner (including a partner of the same sex) or another adult, usually a member of your family (but not any of your children), who depends on you financially, you may be eligible for this help. You could receive up to £2,695 a year, and how much you get depends on your income and that of your adult dependants. You will not have to repay this help.
What Help Is Available?
All students may apply to their Education and Library Board for the following package of support:
- tuition fee loan - repayable
- maintenance loan – repayable
- maintenance grant/special support grant – non-repayable
- Social Work Degree students also receive a Health Trust incentive bonus
South West College Bursary Scheme:
- HNDs £140.00
- Foundation Degree (UU) £160.00
- Foundation Degree (QUB) £438.00
- SWC will provide fourteen bursaries of £400.00 for years one and two of the BSc (Hons) in Social Work.
- The bursaries will be means tested under Student Loan Company Guidelines.
- Student loans are repayable when you leave college/university and are earning more than £15,000 per year.
How do I apply?
You apply on a form called the PN1 which is available from the Student Officer or Careers Officer at your campus, from your local ELB or online at www.studentfinanceni.co.uk
Please refer to the booklet “A Guide to Financial Support for Higher Education Students 2011/12" – available at www.studentfinanceni.co.uk
