UCL Outreach

Access Agreement

UCL’s Undergraduate Bursary Scheme

a) From 2006/7 onwards repayment of tuition fees will be deferred until graduation and a Government-funded Higher Education Maintenance Grant scheme will be introduced to assist a significant proportion of students with day-to-day living costs. UCL shares the Government’s concern that, notwithstanding these important changes, there is a risk that some students, particularly the less well-off, may be deterred from applying to enter university by considerations of cost.

b) To counter this risk, UCL has developed a new maintenance bursary scheme specifically targeted at students from lower income households. The scheme is weighted toward the poorest students. UCL is keen, though, to offer support to those with relatively modest incomes who are often overlooked by bursary schemes of this kind but for whom the acquisition of what may be perceived to be high levels of debt may be a major concern.

c) Thus, from 2006/7:

• All undergraduate students in receipt of a Higher Education Maintenance Grant (HEMG) will receive, each year, a UCL bursary equal to at least 50% of their grant.

d) For example, those in receipt of a Higher Education Maintenance Grant of £2,000 will receive a UCL bursary of £1,000. Those in receipt of a grant of £200 will receive a UCL bursary of £100.

e) It is anticipated that the maximum HEMG of £2,700 will be payable to students whose family’s or whose own residual income is approximately £15,200 or less. The UCL bursary scheme is weighted toward assisting the poorest undergraduates. These students will receive a UCL bursary greater than 50% of their grant.

f) Thus, from 2006/7:

• Those with a residual income between £14,999 and £13,000 will receive, each year, a UCL bursary of £1,500.

• Those with a residual income between £12,999 and £11,000 will receive, each year, a UCL bursary of £2,000.

• Those with a residual income of less than £10,999 will receive, each year, a UCL bursary of £2,500.

g) UCL has set itself the goal of encouraging an even greater proportion of its students to spend at least part of their degree programmes studying abroad. UCL believes students gain immeasurably from such an experience. To this end a number of new four-year degree programmes, both language and non-language based (for example, in the areas of Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Classics, Earth Sciences, Language and Culture) have been and are being introduced. In addition, as a university that offers research-led teaching, UCL encourages students to pursue four-year MSci and MEng science and engineering degree programmes that enable the study of a discipline in greater depth. UCL wishes to ensure that all students have the opportunity to pursue these extended programmes regardless of their incomes.

h) In order to provide support and encouragement to lower income students to pursue the programme that is right for them:

• Those pursuing an MSci or an MEng programme or a programme entailing a year abroad will, in their fourth year of study, receive a UCL bursary equal to 100% of their Higher Education Maintenance Grant or double the UCL bursary received in their first three years of study whichever is the greater.

i) Thus, a student with a residual income of less than £10,999 who is eligible to receive one of these enhanced UCL bursaries, will receive a UCL maintenance bursary of £5,000 in their fourth year of study.

j) It is anticipated that approximately 45% of UCL’s UK undergraduates will benefit from the bursary scheme. The scheme subsumes the minimum £300 payment universities charging tuition fees of more than £2,700 have been asked to make to those in receipt of the maximum Higher Education Maintenance Grant. The value of UCL’s maintenance bursaries will rise annually to take account of inflation. All students, including those benefiting from the bursary scheme outlined above, will continue to be eligible to apply for those department-specific bursaries UCL currently offers to which academic criteria are normally attached. All students will also be able to apply for assistance from UCL’s Friends Programme Hardship Fund. The Fund was established in 1998, with the generous support of alumni, to assist students during their studies. In 2004/5, £80,000 is available for award.

Other Aspects to the Agreement

Page last modified on 21 aug 09 11:39

Page Support l Request printed information l Disclaimer
Page maintained by Publications and Marketing Services