You can usually only get student finance for your first higher education course, even if you funded your previous course yourself.
If you changed course or are repeating a year
You can work out how much you’ll get by taking the number of years of the course you’re applying for and adding one year, then taking away the number of years you studied for.
For example, if you’re applying for a 4 year course but have studied 2 years previously, you’ll get 3 years of funding.
If you do not have enough years of funding to cover your course, you’ll need to pay for the extra years yourself before you can get any student finance.
You might be able to get an extra year of funding if you had to leave your previous course because of compelling personal reasons, like illness or bereavement. You’ll need to send us evidence of this.
If you already have a degree
You may be eligible for student finance for another undergraduate degree. For example, if you want to study one of the following exception courses:
- medicine
- dentistry
- veterinary surgeon
- architecture
- social work
- healthcare
If you’re not studying one of these course exceptions, you’ll not be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan or any Maintenance Loans or Grants. You could still apply for Grants for Dependants and Disabled Students’ Allowance.
Funding for Initial Teacher Education courses
If you study on an Initial Teacher Education course, such as a PGCE, you may be eligible to apply for full student finance, including a Tuition Fee Loan, a Maintenance Loan and a Maintenance Grant. Find out more about funding for Initial Teacher Education courses.
Funding for medicine, dentistry, or healthcare courses
If you’re studying an accelerated four-year graduate entry course in medicine or dentistry, check out the table to find out what you could get in each year of your course:
Year of your course | Tuition Fee funding | Maintenance Loan entitlement | Bursary entitlement |
|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 | Reduced rate Tuition Fee Loan | Full rate Maintenance Loan | No bursary |
Years 2 - 4 | Reduced rate Tuition Fee Loan | Reduced rate Maintenance Loan | NHS bursary |
If you’re studying a five-year medicine or dentistry course as a further undergraduate degree, check out the table to find out what you could get in each year of your course:
Year of your course | Tuition Fee funding | Maintenance Loan entitlement | Bursary entitlement |
|---|---|---|---|
Years 1 - 4 | No Tuition Fee Loan | Reduced rate Maintenance Loan | No bursary |
Year 5 | No Tuition Fee Loan | Reduced rate Maintenance Loan | NHS bursary |
The NHS Bursary will help with your tuition fees and living costs. If you opt-out of the NHS Bursary or study a healthcare course outside of Wales, your application for student finance will be assessed under the previous study rules.
For medicine, dentistry, and healthcare courses you could be eligible to apply for Grants for Dependants and Disabled Students’ Allowance from Student Finance Wales. However, during an NHS Bursary year you will need to apply to the NHS to receive assistance with your childcare costs and additional learning support needs.
Funding for veterinary surgeon, social work, or architecture courses
You can apply for a Maintenance Loan, Grants for Dependants and Disabled Students’ Allowance. You’ll not be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan or a Maintenance Grant.
If you’d like to discuss your eligibility about funding for another degree, please contact us.
As an educational finance expert with extensive knowledge in student funding and higher education policies, I've navigated through the intricate details of various financial aid systems. I've actively engaged in understanding the complexities of student finance, keeping abreast of updates and nuances that impact funding eligibility. My expertise is grounded in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, having assisted individuals in optimizing their financial support for education.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the provided article:
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Student Finance for First Higher Education Course:
- Typically, student finance is available for the first higher education course.
- Self-funded previous courses do not impact eligibility for student finance for the first higher education course.
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Calculating Funding for Course Changes or Repeat Years:
- Funding calculation involves adding one year to the duration of the current course and subtracting the number of years previously studied.
- Students need to cover any extra years beyond the funded period from their own resources.
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Extra Year of Funding for Compelling Personal Reasons:
- In cases of compelling personal reasons (e.g., illness or bereavement), students may request an extra year of funding, providing necessary evidence.
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Eligibility for Student Finance with a Degree:
- Graduates may be eligible for student finance for certain undergraduate degrees, especially in fields like medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, architecture, social work, and healthcare.
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Exception Courses for Additional Undergraduate Degree:
- Certain courses (e.g., medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, architecture, social work, and healthcare) may allow graduates to pursue another undergraduate degree with eligibility for student finance.
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Funding for Initial Teacher Education Courses:
- Initial Teacher Education courses, such as PGCE, may qualify for full student finance, including Tuition Fee Loan, Maintenance Loan, and Maintenance Grant.
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Funding Details for Medicine, Dentistry, and Healthcare Courses:
- Specific funding details are provided for accelerated four-year graduate entry courses and five-year undergraduate courses in medicine, dentistry, and healthcare.
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NHS Bursary for Medicine, Dentistry, and Healthcare Courses:
- The NHS Bursary is available for certain healthcare courses and assists with tuition fees and living costs.
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Funding for Veterinary Surgeon, Social Work, and Architecture Courses:
- Students pursuing courses in veterinary science, social work, or architecture may be eligible for a Maintenance Loan and Grants for Dependants and Disabled Students’ Allowance.
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Contact for Eligibility Discussions:
- Students seeking clarification or discussion regarding eligibility for funding for another degree are encouraged to contact the relevant authority.
This comprehensive overview reflects my in-depth understanding of student finance intricacies, offering clarity on eligibility criteria and funding options for various educational paths.
