What if my employer is paying my fees?
If your employer is paying your fees you will need to bring a completed Employer Authorisation Form with you when you enrol: For further information please contact Registry (01206) 712555.Finance Overview
If you are attending, or are hoping to attend, a Higher Education course and you require advice on any of the following; the Student Services Finance Adviser may be able to help you.
- Applications to the Student Loan Company for Loans and Grants
- Advice on student funding including University Centre Colchester scholarships
- Hardship Funds
- Self-financing or work supported study.
We encourage you to apply for a full-time loan as soon as possible, even if your place is not yet confirmed.
To learn more about loans and how to apply for a loan please see Student Finance England.
Student Loans
These downloadable guides include information on:
- Money you may be entitled to
- How and when your money will be paid
- Repayment examples an example of repayments rates for when earn above the threshold after graduating.
Full Time Study Loans (New Students)
Full Time Study Loans (Continuing Students)
Part Time Study Loans
Postgraduate Loans
Student Finance England’s new Postgraduate Loan application service is now open! If you plan to take a postgraduate master’s course you may be able to get a Postgraduate Loan of up to £12,000 to help with course fees and living costs.
The loan isn’t means tested, so is not dependent on your income or your family’s income. The quickest and easiest way for students to apply is online at: https://www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
For further information on Postgraduate Loans, students can visit SFE’s student finance zone on The Student Room which has been updated with a dedicated Postgraduate Loan section and includes answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
ELCAS Credits
We also accept the ELC credits from the Ministry of Defense The ELC scheme provides financial support in the form of a single up-front payment in each of a maximum of three separate financial years.
ELC funding is only available for pursuit of higher level learning i.e. for courses that result in a nationally recognised qualification at Level three or above on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (England and Wales).
http://www.enhancedlearningcredits.com/
Please speak to our team who are able to process the claim for using your credits at University Centre Colchester.
Postgraduate Discount
For 2024/25 University Centre Colchester is offering discounts for new students on its postgraduate courses.
The discount will apply to all those holding a full Bachelor’s Degree (gained at either University Centre Colchester or any other UK degree awarding provider).
Eligible courses for the Postgraduate Discount in 2024/25 are:
- PGCE
- MA Education
The discount will be applied at the point of registration and be removed from the new student fee. For 2024/25 a 10% discount will be applied to the annual tuition fee for either one year of full-time study, or two years of part-time study. The reduction is available to graduates who have achieved the following classifications:
- First Class undergraduate degree
- 2:1 undergraduate degree
- 2:2 undergraduate degree
The discount is not awarded in combination with other University Centre Colchester discounts. If a student is eligible for more than one University Centre Colchester discount, the discount with the greater value will be applied.
NB: A copy of degree certificate will be required to obtain the postgraduate discount and University Centre Colchester reserves the right to remove the discount in the event of any fraudulent claim becoming apparent.
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
As a higher education student living in England, you can apply for a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) if you have a disability, including a:
- long-term health condition
- mental health condition
- specific learning difficulty, eg dyslexia
You can get help with the costs of:
- specialist equipment, eg a computer if you need one because of your disability
- non-medical helpers
- extra travel because of your disability
- other disability-related costs of studying
More information is available from the DSA website.
Colchester Institute Foundation Trust (CIFT) is an independent charity which raises funds to support students who due to financial pressures, might otherwise be at risk of not completing their programme of education. This includes students studying Further Education, Higher Education and Apprenticeships.
The principle purpose of CIFT is to benefit Colchester Institute students who are experiencing financial hardship to the extent that they are struggling to participate at College / University and complete or achieve their qualifications.
Whilst the College has access to Government awarded discretionary Learning Support Funds to provide financial support for students on low incomes, who meet pre-defined eligibility criteria, in the current economic climate there are often cases where an individual student needs more financial help than these funds can provide. Additionally, some students who do not meet the eligibility criteria for government-funded support, can still struggle to meet the costs associated with studying on vocational programmes and CIFT can often provide support here too.
In most cases students should first approach the College / University Centre Colchester to see if funded support is available to them after which they can then submit an application to CIFT, see application form below,
Colchester Institute Foundation Trust awards can only be considered where a student can demonstrate commitment to their chosen course of study and that the impact of the award could mean the difference between them staying on the course or having to withdraw.
Support for Apprentices
As apprentices are classed as being in full time employment, the College is unable to use government funds to support their expenses, this group of students are often the ones most in need of financial assistance as they, and their families, are unable to claim most state benefits. CIFT actively encourage applications from Apprentices.
Direct Solutions Travel Bursary
As part of the CIFT support for Apprentices there is a discrete bursary set aside for apprentices who would benefit from support with the costs of travelling to work and / or College.
Please apply using the standard application form below and return this form to Clare Garner – Student Services (clare.garner@colchester.ac.uk).
