On Placement or Studying Abroad?
To make sure you still receive payments from Student Finance Wales or England, here’s what you need to do:
This lets your Student Finance Team know you’re studying abroad or on a work placement during the academic year. If they need written evidence that the placement or study abroad opportunity is a part of your course – and whether it’s paid or unpaid – ask on Advice Zone Online.
You still need to do this, even though you’re studying abroad or on work placement. If you’re eligible for support this will be paid directly to the University. If you have to contribute to the fees yourself, you still need to arrange payment of these to the University.
If you’re attending USW for less than 10 weeks, you may be charged lower fees for that academic year. Our Revenue Team will be able to confirm your fee charge.
As long as you’ve told your relevant Student Finance Team that you’re on placement or studying abroad – and as long as the Student Loans Company have received your loan request form – your student loan instalments should be paid into your nominated bank account.
If you’re on placement, the amount of maintenance support available to you depends on the type of placement you’ll be undertaking – plus how many weeks you’ll be attending University during the academic year. It’s possible you may receive a reduced rate of Maintenance Loan:
Student Finance England 2024/25
- Parental Home - £2324
- London - £4350
- Elsewhere - £3098
Student Finance Wales 2024/25
- Parental Home - £4655
- London - £7085
- Elsewhere - £5575
Students on certain specified unpaid placements in the public or voluntary sectors are potentially eligible to grants or higher loans for living costs – subject to means-testing – even if the periods of full-time study in the academic year are less than 10 weeks. Check with your funding provider, or contact us to see if your placement qualifies, if you have any queries, or if you are funded by a different authority e.g. SAAS or SFNI, as funding may be different.
If you’d like to request an earlier payment of your student finance, ask a question on Advice Zone Online, so the University can liaise with the Student Loans Company.
Participating in a global experience can enhance your employability prospects, increase your confidence, and help to build a network of connections whilst travelling the world!
We understand that there are many factors to think about when considering a period abroad, one of which is money. USW has been successful in its bid for Taith and Turing funding.
Both schemes are available to UK & International students to provide financial grants to support a period of activity abroad from a little as 2 weeks up to a full year.
Additional enhanced funding is also available to students who meet disadvantaged background criteria outlined by the funding schemes.
Contact: [email protected]