Lancaster University Year Abroad 2013/2014 Student Funding Service Colleges and Student Life Student Based Services Dia

1. Lancaster UniversityYear Abroad 2013/2014 Student Funding Service Colleges and Student LifeStudent Based Services Diane Shipperd Laura Davies Student Funding Adviser Student Funding Adviser

2. Applying for Student Finance • Funding Support - Loans and Grants • Tuition Fees • Lancaster University Awards • Discretionary Funding (ALF) • General advice/Budgeting

3. Applying for Student Finance Application deadlines: • Student Finance England – 28th June 2013 • Student Finance Wales – 31st May 2013 • Student Finance N.Ireland– 14th June 2013 • Applications made after the deadlines dates may result in your funding being delayed • Log into Student Finance Online https://www.gov.uk/browse/education/student-finance

4. Choose to be income assessed or non-income assessed • Tick the box where you will be spending most of year, for example – Abroad • Tick the box if you are an ERASMUS student • Add placement name if known • Paid or unpaid?

5. Student Registry will inform Student Finance of your earlier start date • First instalment is generally paid in early August • Don’t forget to re-apply for the 2013/2014 academic year whilst you are abroad (you should do this online from February 2014)

6. FUNDING SUPPORT(Paid or Unpaid Employment placement) Non-Erasmus Students • Reduced Overseas rate of Non-Income Assessed Maintenance Loan only - £2780 • No Maintenance Grant entitlement • Income assessed this year and received a Lancaster Bursary? – complete all sections of PR1

7. FUNDING SUPPORT(Study/Employment placement) Erasmus Students • Entitled to full government income assessed support • May receive a small Erasmus non-repayable grant. Additional money to be treated as an “extra” for emergencies

8. FUNDING SUPPORT(Study/Employment placement - Erasmus) • Max amount of main maintenance loan will be reduced by £0.50 for every £1 of maintenance grant received • -------------------------------- • Household income above £50,778 – contribution of £1 for each additional £5 of household income until 72% of full maintenance loan remains (£60,000) Maintenance Loan Maintenance Grant and Loan

9. Non-income assessed this year? • Usually, no need to re-apply for funding • Automatically assessed and sent a Notification of Entitlement letter at end February • Check details are correct - Log into Student Finance Online https://www.gov.uk/browse/education/student-finance • Make any amendments if necessary

10. Travel Grant • Income assessed and non-repayable • Up to 3 return flights • Necessary daily travel costs • Mandatory medical tests (where condition of entry) • Medical insurance • Disregard of £303 (you pay first £303 of expenses) • All are subject to being “reasonable” • You must supply receipts and details of travel • Reimbursements paid into your bank account

11. TUITION FEES UK/EU Students • Study Placement (non Erasmus) £1,725 • Study Placement (Erasmus) £0 • Employment Placement (full year) (non Erasmus) £750 • Employment Placement (full year) (Erasmus) £0 http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/studreg/undergrads/ugfees.htm Islands students – rates TBC in Spring 2013

12. TUITION FEES Overseas Students • Study Placement (Band 1) £6,320 • Study Placement (Band 2) £7,340 • Study Placement (Band 3) £7,925 • Employment Placement (Band 1) TBC • Employment Placement (Band 2) TBC • Employment Placement (Band 3) TBC http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/studreg/undergrads/ugfees.htm

13. LANCASTER UNIVERSITY AWARDS • LU Awards – assessed and awarded automatically, no need to apply • LU Bursary - £500, £1,000, £1,005 or £1,315 – based on household income and year of entry • Consent to share 0845 603 4016 • LU Scholarship – based on A-level entry or equivalent and continued academic progress (2011 cohort receive Scholarship in first year only)

14. Additional Discretionary University Funds • Access to Learning Fund • You must have taken out full loan entitlement • Your income will be means tested (not your parents) • Funding Notification Letter, Rent Contract and 3 months bank statements • Form available at:- http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/database.html

15. General Advice/Budgeting • Things to consider: • Larger loan, but it has to last longer. • Does your host institution have an obligatory meal plan? Do you have to pay in advance? • Do you have to pay for obligatory health insurance through your host institution? • Does your host institution allow payment of rent by instalments? Do you have to pay a deposit? • Keep all your detailed receipts to give to: SFE/SFW/SFNI/SAAS. Re-imbursement of costs will not be made without receipts.

16. Insurance/Medical Matters • make sure it covers all your needs • SFE/SFW/SFNI/SAAS will usually cover 40% of standard premium • arrange vaccinations in good time • have a dental check up before you go • have your eyes tested before you go • if you wear contact lenses see if supplies can be posted out to you by the optician or family • take any doctor or optician prescriptions with you in case of emergencies • if you are on long term medication see if you are allowed to take enough supplies to last the year, or perhaps family could post them to you • Check to see if you have to take out an obligatory health insurance plan with your host institution

17. Money • see if your bank charges for using ATM machines abroad, most do • if your bank does charge for ATM use, try to take cash out just once a week (also helps with budgeting!) • keep an eye on the exchange rate • consider on-line banking to enable you to keep track of your spending • Make sure you have told your bank you are going abroad • You may find living costs are cheaper in the country you are studying in so your money may go further • Check moneysaving expert http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

18. Rates of Exchange (as at 7.2.13) • Argentina 1 GBP = 7.80 Argentinian pesos (ARS) • Australia 1 GBP = 1.51 Australian dollars (AUD) • Canada 1 GBP = 1.56 Canadian dollars (CAD) • Europe 1 GBP = 1.15 European Euros (EUR) • Hong Kong 1 GBP = 12.14 Hong Kong dollars (HKD) • Mexico 1 GBP = 19.78 Mexican peso (MXD) • New Zealand 1 GBP = 1.85 New Zealand dollars (NZD) • Singapore 1 GBP = 1.94 Singapore dollars (SDG) • USA 1 GBP = 1.57 US dollars (USD) • Ref: http://www.expedia.co.uk

19. USEFUL WEBSITES Student Finance England http://www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk/ Student Finance Northern Ireland http://www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/ Student Finance Wales http://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk Student Awards Agency for Scotland http://www.saas.gov.uk/

20. Currency converter http://www.xe.com/ucc/ LU - tuition fees http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/studreg/undergrads/ugfees.htm Budgets http://www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/international/abroad/finance.htm LU – Access to Learning Fund http://www.lancs.ac.uk/studentservices/funding/alf.htm LU – Bursaries and Scholarships awards http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/uniawardfaqs.htm LU – funding database http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/database.html LU Student Based Services Finance http://www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding/ General LU information for outgoing students http://www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/international/abroad/index.htm Erasmus Grant http://www.lancs.ac.uk/study/international-students/study-abroad/outgoing/erasmus-outgoing/

21. Student FundingService Information, Advice and Guidance Website: www.lancs.ac.uk/sbs/funding Email: studentfunding@lancaster.ac.uk Helpline: 01524 (5)94848