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Can I get higher education funding in Wales for a part-time course?
If you normally live in Wales, regardless of where you’re studying in the UK, you may be eligible for funding from Student Finance Wales – a partnership between the Welsh Government, local authorities and the Student Loans Company (SLC). To get the funding, you and your course must be eligible for it.
The eligibility rules for part-time study are the same as for full-time, except that for part-time students ‘course intensity’ determines what you’re entitled to. This means the percentage of time that you’re studying compared to a student taking an equivalent full-time course. You need to study at a rate of at least 50 per cent of an equivalent full-time course in each academic year in order to get funding from Student Finance Wales. You can check course intensity with your university or college.
The funding is available for your first undergraduate or equivalent course only – if you already have a UK qualification at the same or a higher level, you’re not eligible.
For more details about eligibility, see Can I get higher education funding in the UK?
Where can I study?
Funding from Student Finance Wales is available if you’re undertaking a course at a UK institution. If you study in England, Northern Ireland or Scotland, you can get the same funding as if you were studying in Wales.
If you want to take your entire course at a university or college outside the UK, you can’t get the funding outlined here. See I want to study outside the UK – what higher education funding can I get?
What government support can I get?
If you’re starting your course in 2013/2014, the Welsh Assembly intends to introduce a system of tuition fee loans. Check Student Finance Wales for more details coming soon.
If you started your course before 1 September 2013 you can get the following support from Student Finance Wales (these figures are for 2013/2014):
- Fee grant: each year you can get a grant to help pay your tuition fees. The amount you get depends on your income (and your partner’s income if you have one) and your course intensity – up to £1,025 for a course intensity of 75 per cent or more. If your income is more than £25,435 you can’t get the grant. The money is paid directly to your university or college, and you don’t need to pay it back.
- Course grant: each year you can get a grant to help pay your course costs. The amount you get depends on your income (and your partner’s income if you have one) – up to £1,155. If your income is more than £28,180 you can’t get the grant. The money is paid directly into your bank account and you don’t need to pay it back.
Here’s Student Finance Wales’s information on student finance for part-time students. There’s also a calculator to help you get an idea of what you’re entitled to.
You can still get funding from Student Finance Wales if you’ve taken time out from your studies or changed your course. For more information, see:
How does my household income affect the grants I can get?
To assess how much you get for these grants, Student Finance Wales takes into account your income and your partner’s income (if you have one). Your parents’ income doesn’t matter, regardless of your age or if you still live with them. If your income is:
- £16,864 or less, you get the maximum tuition fee grant available for your course intensity, and the maximum grant for course costs.
- Between £16,865 and £25,434 you get a percentage of both grants, based on your income and course intensity.
- Between £25,436 and £28,179 you don’t get a tuition fee grant, but you do get a percentage of the grant for course costs, based on your income.
However, if you’re married, in a civil partnership, over 25 years old and living with your partner, and/or you have children, Student Finance Wales deducts the following amounts from your annual income:
- £2,000 for your partner
- £2,000 for your eldest child
- £1,000 for every other child.
What other government support is available?
As well as the standard package of support from Student Finance Wales outlined above, lots of other funding options are available, depending on your circumstances and the kind of course you’re taking.
Find out more here:
How do I apply for government funding?
You apply for funding through Student Finance Wales. For more information, see How do I apply for higher education funding in Wales?
Where else can I get funding?
As well as government funding, you may be able to get funding from your academic institution, charities or other sources. To find out more, see Can I get higher education funding from my university or college? and other sources of funding.
If you work, your employer might sponsor you to take a part-time course, especially if the qualification will help advance you in your role. Ask your employer whether this is an option, or whether they’ll help by giving you study leave or flexible working arrangements. They might pay all or part of the fees.
If you’re not eligible for any funding, find out whether your university or college will let you pay the tuition fees in instalments to help you spread the cost over the duration of your course. If they do, make sure the repayment scheme is interest-free, so you don’t end up paying more than you need to.
Related topics
What higher education funding is available in Wales?
I’ve already got a UK honours degree – can I get funding for more higher education?
I’ve undertaken a higher education course before – can I get funding again?
This information was updated in March 2013. NUS provides this information in good faith and has taken care to make sure it’s accurate. However, student finance issues can be complicated, and rules change frequently. You should contact the advice centre in your students' union, college or university for support if you’re uncertain or need more help.