Funding your future: University Centre Rotherham’s guide to financial support
Taking the step into higher education can feel like a big decision, and one of the biggest concerns for many learners is money.
Tuition fees, childcare costs, or even cutting back on work can all make the idea of studying feel financially out of reach.
However, there is lots of support available to help you manage the cost of higher education – from student finance options to government grants and bursaries provided by us here at University Centre Rotherham.
If affordability is overshadowing your decision to study a degree or other higher education course, here’s a guide to what financial support is out there.
- Reduced income: Learners who cut back their working hours or step away from employment entirely to study may worry about how to manage financially.
- Additional expenses: Books, equipment, placements, and childcare are often overlooked but can make a big difference to a student’s budget.
Financial Support
Covering tuition fees with Student Finance
The thought of paying course fees at the start of each academic year can feel daunting, especially for those without savings or family support.
However, there’s no need to pay tuition fees out of your own pocket if this is your first time studying a higher education course. Student finance is designed to ensure money isn’t a reason to miss out on education.
Depending on eligibility, learners you may be able to access a Tuition Fee Loan via Student Finance England. This covers the full cost of your course and the money goes straight to us so you can focus on your studies without worrying about finding thousands of pounds upfront.
At University Centre Rotherham, our course fees are much lower than the UK average – up to £7,600 per year compared to maximum £9,535 that other large universities charge.
All undergraduate students who haven’t already got a degree are eligible for a tuition fee loan. You must be a UK citizen or have ‘settled’ status and have lived here for at least three years.
More information about our course fees
What if you study part-time?
If full-time study doesn’t work for you, part-time courses can be a great option, allowing you to balance learning with work or family commitments.
You may still be able to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, so long as the course intensity is at least at least 25% of the ‘full-time equivalent’ each year.
Our part-time course fees are up to £4,750 per year of study.
More information about tuition fee loans
Maintenance Loans to help with living costs
Living costs are often the biggest concern for students. Rent, food, travel, and bills all add up, and balancing these with study commitments can be tough.
That’s where the maintenance loan comes in.
There’s a common misconception that maintenance loans are only available for students who move away from home to study. But that’s incorrect. All students, regardless of where they choose to live while studying, can apply for a maintenance loan.
At University Centre Rotherham, many of our students choose us because they live in Rotherham and want to study without moving away. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need extra financial support during their studies.
There is, however, a maximum you can borrow if you stay at home. This is up to £8,877 per year if you live with parents or up to £10,544 a year if you don’t.
Unlike tuition loans, maintenance loans are means-tested so the amount you receive will also depend on the total income of any adults in your household (i.e., parents, spouse or partners).
Maintenance loans are paid directly into your personal bank account three times during the academic year – at the start of each term rather than a monthly amount.
It’s also important to remember that these are loans. Whatever you borrow will need to be paid back once you graduate, so think long and hard about whether you really need a maintenance loan to support your studies.
More information about maintenance loans
Understanding loan repayments (and why they’re different from other loans)
It’s normal to feel nervous about taking out a loan, especially if you’re worried about debt or your credit rating. But student loans work very differently from things like bank loans, credit cards, or overdrafts.
Repayments are based on what you earn, not what you borrowed.
You only start paying them back once you’re earning over £25,000 a year. Even then, you pay 9% of anything over £25,000. So say your salary is £30,000 a year, your monthly repayments will be £37.50. If your income drops below this, your repayments stop automatically.
Payments are automatic. If you’re employed, they’re taken directly from your salary through the tax system just like National Insurance. If you’re self-employed, it’s handled through your tax return.
They also don’t affect your credit rating. Student loans don’t show up on your credit file, so they won’t impact your ability to get a mortgage, car finance, or other forms of credit in the future.
For many graduates, student loan repayments feel more like an extra form of tax than a traditional loan. You’ll never be asked to pay more than you can afford.
Student loans in England do have interest added, but they work differently from most loans you might be familiar with. The monthly repayment is the same regardless of how much interest has built up, because it’s linked to your salary, not the total amount you owe.
Under the current system in England, any remaining balance is written off after 40 years, even if you haven’t repaid it in full.
Extra support if you need it
On top of loans, there are extra grants and allowances to support students with additional responsibilities or needs. These do not have to be repaid.
Childcare Grant
The Childcare Grant is to help cover the cost of registered childcare if you’re a full-time student. You could receive up to 85% of your childcare costs which is around £199.62 a week for one child or £342.24 for two or more children. Childcare grants are dependent on household income.
Parents’ Learning Allowance
The Parents’ Learning Allowance is for students from low-income households with dependent children, to help with study-related costs. This is between £50 and £2,024 a year, with a threshold household income of £18,957.98.
Adult Dependants’ Grant
The Adult Dependancts’ Grant is for learners who support an adult financially while studying. You could receive up to £3,545 a year. The dependant adult can’t be a child or a relative who earns more than £3,700 a year. So it could be a partner or spouse who isn’t working and relies on you financially while you study, or an elderly parent you care for who doesn’t have their own income.
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
The Disabled Students’ Allowance is to help with study-related costs if you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition, or specific learning difficulty. It is to pay for things like specialist equipment or computer software, non-medical helpers like BSL interpreters, or extra travel costs to get to lectures. The maximum amount received is £27,783 a year but you will require a needs assessment.
If your situation changes while you’re studying, such as you have a child or your household income goes down significantly, you may be able to apply for extra support or have your existing student finance reassessed.
Support from University Centre Rotherham
If you’re considering a higher education qualification but are unsure about how you’d manage financially, the best thing you can do is speak to our student support team. They can guide you through what you’re eligible for and help you apply.
Don’t wait until you’re struggling. Let us know early so we can guide you through the options.
If you are at any point struggling with unexpected costs, we can also a one-off payment of £300 from our HE hardship fund. However, you will have to show evidence of your household income and that you’ve accessed the maintenance loan.
Money shouldn’t stand in the way of your future. With the right support, higher education is more affordable – and achievable – than you might think.
Three Steps to Get Started
- Check your eligibility – Visit the Student Finance website to see what loans, grants, and allowances you can apply for.
- Apply early – Get your Student Finance application started as soon as possible so your money is ready for the start of term.
- Research the best student bank accounts – Look for perks such as an interest-free overdraft, cashback or free railcard.