Money advice for students

Started your course in 2011 or before

Full-time undergraduate student from the UK

This page provides a summary of the funding and fee system for full-time undergraduate students from the UK. Please follow the links provided for more detailed information on fees, loans, funding, and scholarships.

Tuition fees - how much are my fees?

UK and EU students who started University of Brighton courses in 2011 or before will be charged tuition fees of up to £3,465 in 2012/13. Fees rise by 3-4% each year. You don't need to pay your tuition fees whilst you are studying (although you can if you wish).

Tuition fees - how can I pay my fees?

You can 'study now and pay later' by taking out a student loan to cover the cost of both your tuition fees and living expenses. You don't have to begin repaying your student loan until you finish your course and are earning more than £15,000 a year. Payments are generally taken automatically through the PAYE tax system by your employer. Your payments are determined by what you are earning and not what you owe: if your earnings are below the £15,000 threshold your payments will stop.

Government help - the Student Loan for maintenance

You can also apply for a Student Loan to help with your living costs; the amount you receive is determined by your personal circumstances. It is repaid in the same way as the student loan for tuition fees, meaning you don't have to pay it back until you are earning more than £15,000 a year.

Government help - the Maintenance Grant

If you have an annual household income of up to £50,020 (students who started in 2009, 2010 and 2011) or £60,032 (students who started in 2008) you could qualify for a maintenance grant. This grant does not have to be paid back.

University of Brighton bursaries

All full-time undergraduate students from the UK who meet the household income and other qualifying criteria are eligible for a University of Brighton bursary. For students who started courses for the first time in 2011 these bursaries are worth between £500 and £900 a year. Your bursary entitlement is automatically assessed when you complete your student finance application, unless you choose to opt out. You do not need to pay this bursary back.

University of Brighton merit scholarships

In 2012, 74 University of Brighton scholarships worth £1,000 each will be awarded to eligible students at the end of years 1 and 2 of their courses. These scholarships recognise the achievements of students since starting at the university.

University of Brighton Sports scholarships

A range of sports scholarships are available which support the development of elite, talented and disabled athletes. These scholarships are worth between £500 and £1,500 per year.

Further financial help and advice

Specific government help is available for students with disabilities, care leavers and for students with children or other dependants. Depending on your family circumstances you could also be eligible for certain state benefits and child tax credits.

If you get into financial difficulties while studying, or you find yourself facing extra costs in completing your course, you may be able to get additional financial help from the Access to Learning Fund.

The university's Student Advice Service can provide you with financial advice relating to your specific circumstances as well as information on money management.

Find out more about student finance

For more information visit: