INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

The UCL Undergraduate Bursary/National Scholarship Programme will provide support for prospective students from low income families first entering higher education from September 2012.

Eligibility:

All full-time UK/EU students who submit an application for income-assessed student support (including students resident in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland or those assessed by the NHS Grants Unit) where assessed household income is £42,600 or less will be eligible to receive a UCL Undergraduate Bursary/National Scholarship award.

All part-time UK/EU students studying at a level of at least 25% of the full-time equivalent will be eligible to receive a bursary, provided that their household income is £42,600 or less.

Value: Benefits and Duration - First Year Only

Full-time students with a family household income equal to or less than £25,000 will receive a bursary based upon their term-time address:

• Band 1A  - if you are living in UCL Student Residences* you will receive a £2,000 accommodation bursary and a £1,500 cash bursary (payable in termly instalments).

• Band 1B - students not living in a UCL Student Residence* will receive a £3,500 cash bursary (payable in termly instalments).

Full-time students with a family household income between £25,001 - £42,600 will receive a bursary at the following rate:

• Band 2 - £1,000 cash bursary (payable in termly instalments).

Part-time students will receive a pro-rated amount based upon their intensity of study.

Value: Benefits and Duration - Second Year Onwards

Full-time students with a family household income equal to or less than £25,000:

• Band 1 - £3,500 cash bursary.

Full-time students with a family household income between £25,001 - £42,600.

• Band 2 - £1,000 cash bursary. 

*UCL Student Residences - for bursary eligibility these are defined as Halls of Residence and Student Houses listed under those headings on this Student Accommodation site only.

Students who started their course before September 2012 will only be eligible for support through the UCL Higher Education Bursary and Scholarship Scheme (HEBSS). This scheme provides financial support for current undergraduate students from low income families who started their course between 2006/07 and 2011/12.

Eligibility

All UCL undergraduate students receiving a Maintenance Grant/Special Support Grant awarded by their Regional Funding Authority* will receive, each year, a UCL Bursary equal to at least half of their grant.

Value: Benefits and Duration

The bursaries bands for the 2011/12 academic year are: 

• Band 1 - students with a family household income equal to or less than £12,400 will receive £2,905;

• Band 2 – students with a family household income between £12,401 - £14,500 will receive £2,300;

• Band 3 – students with a family household income between £14,501 - £16,900 will receive £1,730;

• Bands 4 & 5 – students with a family household income above £16,901, will receive a UCL bursary equal to 50% of their HEI Maintenance Grant/Special Support Grant.

Enhanced Bursaries

Eligible students in their fourth year of study after returning from a year of Study Abroad and those in the fourth year of an MSci or MEng programe, will receive an 'Enhanced UCL Bursary' equal to double the bursary value stated in UCL Bands 1, 2 or 3 above. If their income level falls outside the levels specified in Bands 1, 2 and 3 students will receive a bursary equal to 100% of their maintenance grant or special support grant.

All other eligible students in year 4 will receive a bursary at the standard UCL rate (above).

*(SFE, SAAS, SFW or SFNI).

The 2012/13 bursary rates for this scheme will be announced shortly. Recipients should expect to receive similar levels of funding to those outlined above.

Disclaimer: Students funded by the NHS are not eligible for support through this scheme. EU students unless they qualify for a UK Government Higher Education Maintenance Grant / Special Support Grant.

Full-time Students

You do not have to complete a separate application form for the new UCL Undergraduate Bursary Scheme (including NSP) or the UCL Higher Education Bursary and Scholarship Scheme (HEBSS) award.

Once you have applied to study an undergraduate course at UCL, you can then make an application for student finance - for further information please visit the Direct Gov website. UCL will then receive your household income assessment, as determined by your Local Authority or Regional Funding Authority*. Provided that you do not opt-out of sharing your household income data when you complete your student finance application form you will be automatically assessed for a bursary. If your family household income assessment changes, your entitlement to a bursary may also change.

*SFE, SSAS, SFW or SFNI

NHS-funded students must first apply for the NHS Bursary Unit for support. Once you have received your NHS 'Notice of Award (NOA)' you must bring a copy to the UCL Student Funding Office. We will then calculate your UCL Bursary entitlement based on the 'contribution rate' included in your NOA as this relates directly to your household income assessment.

EU students must first apply to the EU Team (SLC) for support with their tuition fees via Direct Gov. The EU team will automatically check if you are eligible for a UCL Bursary and send you a form requesting details of your family/household income. You must complete this form and return it to the EU Team to be considered for a UCL Bursary.

Only NHS funded students and EU Students who start their course in Sept 2012 or later, are eligible for the UCL Undergraduate Bursary/National Scholarships Programme.

Part-time Students

(who first entered Higher Education in 2012/13 only)

After you have submitted your application to study or change your method of attendance at UCL you should email studentfunding@ucl.ac.uk and request a UCL Undergraduate Bursary Application Form.

When will your bursary be paid?

If you are eligible for a UCL Bursary, have fully enrolled at UCL and submitted your application form for student finance by 30th June, then the first payment will be made during October, followed by payments at the start of the second and third terms. The exact dates will be confirmed by an award letter and payments will be made directly into your bank account. For those students who receive an accommodation bursary - this will be paid directly to the UCL Residences Office (see next question also).

If you submitted your student finance application form after the deadline or you enrolled late, then there is no guarantee that you will receive your payments on time. Payment will then be made as soon as possible after you have submitted your application form and fully enrolled. You should be aware, however, that it will take your Local Authority or Regional Funding Authority between six and eight weeks to assess your application.

Can I choose between the accommodation and cash bursary?

No - once you have secured a place in a UCL Hall or Student House you will automatically receive the accommodation bursary in your first year. This will be transferred directly to the UCL Accommodation Office at the start of the first term and the balance of your accommodation costs will then be split across each term.

Please note that you should apply as early as possible for UCL Accommodation as places are limited. You can apply online from January and you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place. All queries regarding accommodation should be directed to the UCL Accommodation Office.

If you are concerned about being able to pay your accommodation deposit in advance, then you can contact the UCL Student Funding team via studentfunding@ucl.ac.uk to discuss your options.

What happens if you are reassessed?

If your family household income assessment changes, your entitlement to the bursary may also change. If an overpayment occurs where the bursary amount is reduced as the result of a reassessment of income, the overpayment will be recovered by adjusting the amount for any future payments.

What happens if you withdraw?

You must notify the Student Funding Office that you have withdrawn. You are not entitled to payments of the bursary due after the date you leave your studies. In most circumstances you will not be asked to repay any of the bursary instalments already received prior to that date.

What happens if you transfer?

You are not entitled to payments of the bursary due after the date you leave your studies at UCL. In most circumstances you will not be asked to repay any of the bursary instalments already received prior to that date.

What happens if you take a break in your studies?

Bursary payments will stop for the duration of the break and restart when you return.

What happens if you transfer in or from another institution?

If you transfer from another institution and you are eligible for a bursary, it will be pro rated to reflect the number of weeks remaining in the year.