Facts on funding

Tuition fees - how much will I pay?

Tuition fees for full-time students from the UK and other EU countries who are beginning a PGCE course with Cornwall SCITT in September 2010 are £3,290 a year.

Tuition fees - when do I pay?

You don't need to pay your tuition fees whilst you are studying (although you can if you wish). You can 'study now and pay later' by taking out a student loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees. You don't have to begin repaying your Student Loan until you finish your course and are earning more than £15,000 a year, or equivalent. These student loans have a low rate of interest which is linked to inflation.

Funding package for PGCE students

A range of incentives and financial support are available both during and after your training. All grants and bursaries are subject to conditions and you are not guaranteed funding but the funding package available to you as a PGCE student is influenced by your chosen subject and includes a non-means-tested grant, a student loan for maintenance, a training bursary and 'golden hellos' for students training to teach certain subjects.

Training bursary

PGCE students from the UK and other EU countries may be eligible to receive a training bursary for the duration of the course.

Training bursary by subject

Payment

This will be paid in monthly installments between October and June, via the institution.

Students do not need to apply for the PGCE training bursary before they start their course.

Golden hellos

If you take up an NQT position in a maintained school or non-maintained special school, you may be eligible to receive a one off taxable ‘golden hello’ of between £2,500 and £5,000. This will usually be paid at the start of your second year of teaching after successfully completing your induction period.

Science and Mathematics receive £5,000 and Design and Technology, Information and Communications Technology, Modern Languages, Music receive £2,500.

Cornwall SCITT bursaries

PGCE students from the UK and other EU countries are eligible for Cornwall SCITT income-related bursaries, which are worth over £320 a year and are available to students entitled to the maximum maintenance grant. You will automatically be assessed on your bursary entitlement from on receipt at the institution of your financial assessment form from the SLC. Cornwall SCITT pays this bursary in 3 amounts at the end of each term that you are registered. You do not need to pay this money back.

Applying for funding

Student Finance England (SFE) assesses your eligibility for the maintenance grant and student loans to cover tuition fees and living costs. This assessment is also used to determine your eligibility for a Cornwall SCITT bursary - you do not need to apply for this separately.

If you are planning on starting your course in September 2010, you can apply for student loans for tuition fees and for living costs and grants. Additional financial support is available to students with disabilities and students with children and other dependants.

No fee loans will be approved without a National Insurance number, so you will need to provide this when you complete your application for student finance.

Student support for new students starting full-time postgraduate ITT courses from 2010/11

• Fee Support
  
  For 2010/11, new students starting full-time postgraduate ITT courses will be eligible for a non means-tested loan for fees of up to £3,290.

• Living Cost Support
  
  From 2010/11, new students starting full-time postgraduate ITT courses will be able to apply for a fully means-tested Maintenance Grant of up to £2,906.  Students on household incomes of £25,000 or less will be eligible for the full grant. For household incomes exceeding £25,000 up to and including £34,000, the grant is reduced by one pound for every £5 by which the income exceeds £25,000. For household incomes exceeding £34,000 up to and including £50,020, the grant is reduced by one pound for every £15.17 by which the income exceeds £34,000. A student whose income is £50,020 will be eligible for a minimum grant of £50. A student whose income exceeds £50,020 will not be eligible for a grant.
  
  New full-time ITT Students will also be entitled to apply for a full rate loan for living costs of up to £4,950 / £6,928 for students living away from the parental home and studying outside / in London or up to £3,838 for students living in the parental home, although the amount they receive will be reduced if they are in receipt of a Maintenance Grant. Where a student’s household income does not exceed £50,020, the maximum amount of loan for living costs will be reduced by £0.50 for every £1 of Maintenance Grant payable.
  
  New full-time ITT students starting their course in 2010/11 who are in principle eligible for means tested benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions will be able to apply for a £2,906 means-tested Special Support Grant.
  
  Students who are eligible for the Special Support Grant will not be eligible for the Maintenance Grant. The amount of Special Support Grant payable will be assessed in the same way as for the Maintenance Grant. However, students who receive the Special Support Grant will not have any of their loans for living costs reduced.

Find out more about student finance

For more information visit:

• www.direct.gov.uk/en/educationandlearning
• www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk

Students from the European Union can access information on funding arrangements at www.direct.gov.uk