Undergraduate Fees and Funding

Undergraduate

undergraguate fees

While you’re studying you’ll have two main costs – tuition fees and living costs. You can get a range of funding to help with these costs.

There’s lots of financial help available from the Student Loan Company, the University and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

If you're considering studying at university, you may have questions around money. For example, how much support can you get to go to university, either at home or away from home, to help with the costs of rent, food and essentials.

Here you will find information to help guide you through the funding options and financial support available to help fund your time at University.

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TUITION FEES
STUDENT FINANCE
SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES
OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORT
CONTACT US

TUITION FEES

Tuition fees are the cost of studying a course at university. Each course may differ in its cost. 

Many students will be able to access funding to cover the cost of these fees. Please see the section on Student Finance below.


Tuition Fees for USW Courses - Image

Specific information regarding your course fees can be viewed through our course pages. Click on the 'fees and funding' tab within any course page for details.

Pay in full or arrange a payment plan for tuition and/or accommodation fees. Details regarding the University's available payment plans can be found on our Revenue Team's pages.

If you have any queries regarding the cost of tuition fees then please contact the Revenue Unit by emailing [email protected]

STUDENT FINANCE

You may be able to access financial support to help pay for university or college tuition fees and to help with living costs.

The amount you can access depends on a variety of circumstances, such as where you live, your current income, the income of your household and more.

The funding you may be able to access also differs depending on whether you choose to study a full-time or part-time course.

You might get extra means tested support if you have dependent children or other adults who are financially dependent on you.

You would usually apply to the funding provider for where you are ordinarily resident prior to the start of the course e.g. Wales, England, Northern Ireland or Scotland.

You can apply for this funding if you are a UK national or have no restrictions on your stay in the UK and have 3 years lawful residence in the UK and Islands prior to the start of the course. 

In some cases, you may be able to apply for funding if you have settled (and sometimes pre-settled) status under the EU settlement scheme. 

  • If you have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and have lived in the UK and Islands for 3 years before the start of your course you can apply for the tuition fee loan, maintenance loan, disabled students allowance, and dependants grant. You can apply for this funding through Student Finance Wales online. 

  • If you have pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and a migrant worker (or family member of one) or a child of a swiss national and have lived in the UK, the EU, the EAA, Gibraltar or Switzerland for 3 years before starting your course you can apply for the tuition fee loan, maintenance loan, disabled students allowance, and dependants grant. You can apply for this funding through Student Finance Wales online. 
  • If you have pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and have lived in the UK, the EU, the EAA, Gibraltar or Switzerland for 3 years before starting course before you start your course you can apply for the Tuition Fee Loan by downloading a paper application form found on the Student Finance Wales website. 


Student Finance Information - Image

You can also apply:

  • If you are an Irish Citizen who will be living and studying in Wales and have been living in the UK, Islands and/or Ireland for the three years prior to the first day of the first AY of your course or have been living in the UK since 31 December 2020 or earlier, and living in the UK, Gibraltar, the EEA and Switzerland for the three years prior to the first day of the first AY of your course

  • If you’re a family member of an Irish Citizen or a Person of Northern Ireland you need to have pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme and have also have been living in the UK since 31 December 2020 or earlier, and living in the UK, Gibraltar, the EEA and Switzerland for the three years prior to the first day of the first AY of your course


There are other status's which would also make you eligible for some funding for example if you are  child of a Turkish Worker, have been granted 'Calais Leave' etc.  For more information on this, see your funding provider's website.

 EU Settlement Scheme

The application deadline for the EU Settlement Scheme is 30 June 2021, but you must have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020.

You should visit the EU Settlement Scheme information guide for more information on how to apply.



When you are studying there will be two main costs:

  •  your tuition fees and
  •  your living costs (maintenance).

Eligible students can get student finance to help you with both costs.

Tuition Fee Loans are non-means tested and you can borrow up to the maximum amount to cover your fee charge each academic year (if you have previously studied this may affect your entitlement).

Some maintenance funding is based on the level of household income. This can be:

  • your parents
  • or if you are over 25 years old or meet other criteria (such as being estranged, a Care Leaver or being financially self-sufficient for 3 years before starting your course), you will be classed as an independent student and assessed on your own income. 
  • or if you are married or are over 25 and living with a partner as a couple, then your partner's income would usually be taken into account.

The amount of maintenance support you receive will also depend upon where you live during your studies, i.e. whether you live away from home or with your parents.

You will need to apply for your funding before stating your course, the earlier the better, and you will have to reapply for funding every academic year. 

To find out how to apply for your funding and the maximum support available from each funding provider please see our Student Funding information.

What funding is available for new part-time students in 2023/24? All eligible part-time students will be able to apply for a non-means tested Tuition Fee Loan.

Students may receive a loan up to £2,625 towards their fees, depending on their course intensity. 

Additional Support for Living Costs for Students Living in Wales

Eligible part time students living in Wales and commencing a course after 1 September 2023 will be eligible to apply for support for living costs via a Welsh Government Learning Grant and a Maintenance Loan. The level is based on the £1,000 minimum grant available to full-time students, so a part-time student studying at 50% of full-time hours would receive a minimum grant of £500.  The level of further grants and loans are dependent on the number of hours (i.e. the intensity) of study and household income. The maximum amount of combined loan and grant available to a student studying 75% intensity is £6,488.


Additional Support for Living Costs for Students Living in England

A part-time Maintenance Loan is available to those starting their course from September 2023 onwards, subject to intensity of study. The maximum available if studying 100% of the full time equivelent would be £9,978 for those living away from home (outside of London) and £8,400 for those living at home.


Applying for part-time grants (if applicable) and loans

Applications for Welsh residents starting in 2023/24 will be available via Student Finance Wales.

Applications for English residents starting in 2023/24 will be available via Student Finance England

Previous study may impact on your eligibility for student finance support. Please find further information regarding previous study rules on our Previous Study page and we encourage you to Contact Us or your funding provider if you have any further queries. 

There are a number of ways that you can be classed as an Independent Student by your funding body, and therefore assessed on your income alone. Below are details of some of these ways.

Age

If you are over 25 and single at the start of the academic year, you will automatically be assessed as independent.

Financially Supported Yourself

If you are under 25 and can evidence that you have been financially supporting your self for three years prior to the start of the course you may be able to be classed as an independent student. You would usually have to provide Student Finance with payslips, P60s and /or evidence of benefits claims and possibly evidence of rental agreements to evidence that you had enough independent income to support yourself and your living costs throughout these three years.

Estranged from your Parents

If you are under 25 and have become permanently estranged from both parents, then you may be able to be assessed as an independent student when applying for student funding. This could mean that you would receive more support or more grants than you otherwise would have done, as you can be assessed as an independent student.

You will need to provide evidence to Student Finance from an independent person e.g. social worker, school teacher, doctor etc. who can confirm the estrangement and that this estrangement has been for a considerable period of time and would be considered permanent. You may be required to provide evidence that this situation is continuing every academic year.

There is a helpful guide for estranged students who are applying for independent status and there is further advice and support available through Stand Alone.

If you would like more help and support in applying for this, please contact us.

In addition to the support offered through your funding body, the University of South Wales is committed to providing support for students who are estranged from their parents or become estranged during their studies. 

Care Leaver

As a Care Leaver, you can be assessed as independent.

In addition to the support offered through your funding body, the University of South Wales is committed to providing support for students from care and those leaving care who want to go on to higher education.

We at the University of South Wales can help you at every stage of your university experience, with specialist help and advice before, during and after you are a student with us – leaving you to concentrate on your studies and enjoy university life. 

To ask further questions and start to access the support available to you as a Care Leaver please contact the Care Leaver Coordinator

If you not quite sure if you qualify as a Care Leaver please contact us and we can advise you further. If you are a social worker or work on behalf of an organisation such as Barnardos please feel free to contact us also. 

For further information on being assessed as an independent student, please see your Student Finance provider's website.

Wales

England

Scotland

Northern Ireland

You may be able to get extra funding if you have adults or children who are financially dependent on you. This extra funding can include:-

  •       Adult Dependants’ Grant (ADG)
  •       Childcare Grant (CCG)
  •       Parents’ Learning Allowance (PLA)

The maximum amount available will depend on your course intensity. 

You will need to apply to your funding provider for further information.

Details regarding how and when you will repay any student loans can be found on the Government website.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES

You may be entitled to additional support from the University through USW Scholarships and Bursaries. 

How much a student receives, how it is paid and who can receive it will vary depending on the scholarship or bursary, but the money doesn't usually have to be paid back (unless you decide to leave the course early). 

Undergraduate Scholarships and Bursaries Information

USW Progression Bursary 2022/23

We offer our Progression Bursary to college students who choose to top-up their University of South Wales accredited HND or foundation degree to a full honours degree through a full-time top up course at one of our USW campuses. Worth £500, this bursary could provide financial support towards your travel, living and study costs while studying at a University of South Wales campus.

Find out more


USW Gwent Scholarship 2022/23

We offer our Gwent Scholarship to students resident at a NP postcode at the time of applying for a course at USW and achieve at least 128 UCAS points ( equivalent to ABB) at A Levels or equivalent. 

Find out more 


USW Sport Scholarship

Our Sports Scholarship is available to students performing to a high standard in their chosen sport, and representing the University in the British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) league. It is designed to support potentially elite athletes and sports people who are competing at least at junior national or international level in their sport. 

Find out more


Diagnostic Assessment Bursary  

Enrolled USW students studying a minimum of 60 credits in 21/22 academic year, may be eligible to receive a free internal dyslexia assessment with support from the Diagnostic Testing Bursary.  Please note that the Bursary fund is limited and assistance with assessment fees is not guaranteed.  

Find out more  


Welsh-medium Scholarships 

The University is awarding Welsh-medium Scholarships for UK home students entering the University for the first time in 2022 who commit to study at least 40 credits of an eligible degree course through the medium of Welsh. Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Scholarships are also available. 

Find out more


Summer School Bursary 

The University will automatically award a £500 USW Summer School Bursary to all students who attend the USW Summer School in August 2021, and who enrol as a student at the University in September 2022.

Find out more

USW Progression Bursary 2023-24

We offer our Progression Bursary to college students who choose to top-up their University of South Wales accredited HND or foundation degree to a full honours degree through a full-time top up course at one of our USW campuses. Worth £1,000, this bursary could provide financial support towards your travel, living and study costs while studying at a University of South Wales campus.

Find out more


USW Gwent Bursary 2023-24

We offer our Gwent Bursary to students resident at a NP postcode at the time of applying for a course at USW and have been offered and accepted a place at the university as part of the University’s Contextual Admission Policy criteria. 

Find out more


USW Undergraduate Ethnicity Equality Bursary 2023-24

The University of South Wales is offering 15 bursaries to undergraduate students commencing their studies in the 2023-24 academic year and have self-identified as one of the following ethnic groups under the following headings on this the UK government published list: Black, African, Caribbean, or Black British, Mixed or Multiple Ethnic Groups, Asian or Asian British, Other Ethnic Group. 

Find out more


USW Sport Scholarship

Our Sports Scholarship is available to students performing to a high standard in their chosen sport, and representing the University in the British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) league. It is designed to support potentially elite athletes and sports people who are competing at least at junior national or international level in their sport. 

Find out more


Diagnostic Assessment Bursary  

Enrolled USW students studying a minimum of 60 credits in 23/24 academic year, may be eligible to receive a free internal dyslexia assessment with support from the Diagnostic Testing Bursary.  Please note that the Bursary fund is limited and assistance with assessment fees is not guaranteed.  

Find out more  


Welsh-medium Scholarships 

The University is awarding Welsh-medium Scholarships for UK home students entering the University for the first time in 2023 who commit to study at least 40 credits of an eligible degree course through the medium of Welsh. 

Find out more


USW Summer School Bursary 

The University will automatically award a £500 USW Summer School Bursary to all students who attend the USW Summer School in August 2022, and who enrol as a student at the University in September 2023.

Find out more


USW Refugee Sanctuary Scheme

The USW Refugee Sanctuary Scheme is a scheme providing support to a limited number of eligible refugees via free English language tuition prior to starting an undergraduate course at the University.  

Find out more


USW undergraduate Sanctuary Scholarship

The Sanctuary Scholarship will support two successful undergraduate applicants with tuition fees waived for the duration of their undergraduate studies and a scholarship to assist with course related costs.  

Find out more


Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science (FCES) Travel Bursary 2023/24

The FCES travel bursary is a one-off non-means-tested bursary given to all students starting their sandwich year as part of their FCES degree course. The bursary is intended to provide financial support towards your travel costs to and from your sandwich placement.

Find out more


OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORT

You may be eligible for financial support from external Grants, Trusts or Charities or through other funding.

You may also be eligible for extra funding if you are an unpaid carer or you are eligible for the social work bursary.

Some students may also be able to claim state benefits while studying. 

Financial Help Information - Image

Grants, Trusts, and Charities can be a great source of funding. All will have their own individual criteria, eligibility and methods of application. Many can award partial funding for your studies.

Applications for funding from external bodies can take a considerable amount of time to process so you would need to be prepared to wait.

Find out more through our Alternative Funding webpage

Some students may be entitled to state benefits or tax credits while studying. Please see our Student and Benefits page for further information.

Whether you are eligible for a Social Work Bursary will depend on whether you have been nominated for a bursary by the University and where you are ordinarily resident.

If you qualify for a Social Work Bursary, this would be paid in addition to the statutory funding you may receive, e.g. Tuition Fee Support (if you do not already hold an honours degree), Maintenance Loan (and Grants, if applicable). Please note there are a limited number of bursaries available and not all students will be eligible to receive the bursary.

If you are ordinarily resident in England or Wales please see more information via the links below:

Wales -  Social Care Wales

England - NHSBSA Social Work Bursary website

https://socialcare.wales/learning-and-development/social-work-degree-funding

Please note that Bursaries are not currently available to students ordinarily resident in Scotland or Northern Ireland but studying Social Work courses in Wales - please see below for further information:

Scottish students

Northern Irish students

The University is keen to offer support to student carers, including providing a Bursary from its Student Support Fund to help those who are in need of financial support, as it is recognised that caring often has financial implications (such as less availability for paid work and increased travel costs). Find out more.

In addition to the support offered through your funding body, the University of South Wales is committed to providing support for students from care and those leaving care who want to go on to higher education.

We at the University of South Wales can help you at every stage of your university experience, with specialist help and advice before, during and after you are a student with us – leaving you to concentrate on your studies and enjoy university life. 

To ask further questions and start to access the support available to you as a Care Leaver please contact the Care Leaver Coordinator

If you not quite sure if you qualify as a Care Leaver please contact us and we can advise you further. If you are a social worker or work on behalf of an organisation such as Barnardos please feel free to contact us also. 

In addition to the support offered through your funding body, the University of South Wales is committed to providing support for students who are estranged from their parents or become estranged during their studies. 

Contact Us For Student Money Advice

We can help answer questions on student finance, scholarships and more.

CONTACT US