Fees and Funding 2012 FAQ's
We know that it’s crucial for you to have all the correct information about fees in 2012, so that you can make a well informed choice about university. So we’ve gathered all the essential information here to ensure that you have a clear idea of what the changes to fees will be.
What will Middlesex's fees be?
The fee all undergraduate degree courses for UK and EU students from 2012 will be £9,000 per year. This is in line with the majority of University institutions in the UK who are also changing their funding structure. This decision was made after careful consideration on how to provide the best quality experience for our students. Our priority has always been and will remain to ensure that fees are invested wisely into quality teaching provision.
Why is the fee structure changing?
The Government has announced that from September 2012, all universities should charge new full-time students up to a maximum of £9,000 per year.
Until recently, universities have been principally funded by HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England), with a small proportion of funding coming from student tuition fees. However, there will no longer be any government funding provided through HEFCE, which applies to all universities in the UK.
Therefore, to cover the shortfall in funding, we will be charging higher fees from students to ensure that we can continue to provide higher education to the excellent degree that we always have. This philosophy has been essential to our decision making about fees.
How have we decided on our new fee?
We are mindful that changes in government policy mean that students will now be making a significantly higher contribution towards the cost of their education, and we expect that you will demand the highest standards from your chosen university. At Middlesex, we are carrying out ambitious development programmes to ensure that your expectations are met and that you reap the benefits of your investment into your education and your future. We are committed to providing a supportive study environment and the facilities, help and support you need to succeed on your course and prepare for your future career.
With a new £80 million art, design and media centre opening in October and a commitment to providing high quality teaching, Middlesex University intends to continue improving the student experience year on year to ensure that you thrive throughout your studies. We will also be providing a range of scholarships and fee waivers to offer financial support to those students that need it the most.
Our decision to charge £9,000 fees has been approved by the Office For Fair Access (OFFA). OFFA acts on behalf of the Government; their role is to ensure that all Higher Education Institutions demonstrate a considerable commitment to improving access to education for under-represented students, as well as improving student success and available scholarships and bursaries. You can find out more about OFFA by visiting their website.
What financial support is there?
Student Loans
All students will be entitled to a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees and living expenses whilst you study. This means that you will not have to pay fees out of your own pocket up-front, and can instead repay the cost of your degree once you have graduated and are earning a salary above £21,000. You can find out more about student loans, and how to apply, by visiting the Directgov Student Finance website.
Scholarships
The National Scholarship Programme (NSP) is a new £150m government programme which will directly benefit students entering Higher Education from Autumn 2012. The NSP will offer students from lower income families (less than £25k a year) additional financial support.
Under the new NSP, Middlesex will be offering 420 Scholarships in 2012 worth £3,000 for the first year of study. This will be based on family income and other criteria. £2,000 of this will be a fee waiver, with the remaining £1,000 given as a cash award.
In addition to this, to ensure support for students who most need it, we will also be awarding 675 students a £1,000 fee waiver for their first year of study.
There are application criteria that you must meet in order to be eligible to apply for the NSP.
You will receive an application form to apply for our NSP once you have been made an offer to study with us. If you have any questions you can contact our Enquiries Team on +44 (0)20 8411 5555 or email enquiries@mdx.ac.uk
Please note that any applicants for nursing and midwifery courses are not eligible for the National Scholarship Programme as they will receive their funding from the NHS. For more information on fees and funding for nursing and midwifery courses refer to our Rough Cuts finance leaflet for nursing and midwifery students.
Will I have to pay fees up front?
There are no up front payments to be made, as student loans will be available to cover the cost of fees, and the cost of living expenses. Both these loans will be available to all students irrespective of their financial circumstances, although maintenance loans will be subject to household income.
You can find out more about student loans, and how to apply, by visiting the Directgov Student Finance website.
If you would like to get an idea of what the repayments on your loan might be, based on a projection of your future salary, there is an excellent Student Finance Calculator tool on the MoneySavingExpert website which you might find useful.
Will there be funding for part time students?
Student loans will now be made available to part-time students, to support those returning to study after a break or those who wish to work alongside their studies. 36% of Middlesex students study part time, alongside working, which can help make university more affordable. Find out more about part time study at Middlesex, or more about student loans by visiting the Directgov Student Finance website.
How and when will I repay my loan?
Full-time students will begin repaying student loans in the April after finishing their course, once they start earning over £21,000. At this point you will pay 9% of your income above £21,000. So if your salary is £25,000, you pay nine per cent of £4,000 which is £30 a month. Repayments will be deducted from your salary, through the tax system.
If your income should ever fall below £21,000 a year e.g. during a career break, maternity, etc repayments will cease until you are earning over £21,000 again. If you have not repaid your loan after 30 years it will be written off.
You can find out more about student loans, and how to apply, by visiting the Directgov Student Finance website.
If you would like to get an idea of what the repayments on your loan might be, based on a projection of your future salary, there is an excellent Student Finance Calculator tool on the MoneySavingExpert website which you might find useful.
Information for parents and carers
If you are a parent or carer and would like more information on how to support your child into higher education, please visit our parents section.
How can I find out more?
For detailed information on the new funding system, provided directly by the government, you may find the following websites useful:
YourFuture.Gov
Student Finance England
Department of Business, Innovation and Skills
Martin Lewis and Universities UK video
If you would like to get an idea of what the repayments on your loan might be, based on a projection of your future salary, there is also an excellent Student Finance Calculator tool on the MoneySavingExpert website which you might find useful.
If you have any questions about our new fee structure, please contact our dedicated enquiries team who are on hand to provide further information.
You can email or call us: +44 (0) 20 8411 5555
