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Helpful advice on Student Finance is provided on the Directgov website

NEW VARIABLE FEES FOR UK AND EU UNDERGRADUATES

From September 2006, universities can charge new students up to to £3,000 a year for the tuition of their full-time degree level courses. The variable tuition fee applies to undergraduate students from the United Kingdom and the European Union, and amounts charged will vary between courses, as well as between different universities and colleges.

So depending on what you study and where, your fees may be up to a maximum of £3,000 a year. Don't worry though - this money does not have to be paid before or during your time at university. Instead, students will be eligible for a student loan for fees to cover these costs. Students start repaying these loans once they have left university and are earning over £15,000 a year. Put simply, you pay as you earn, not up front In addition to student loans, maintenance grants of up to £2,700 will be available depending on income.

There are two types of student loan available - one for fees to cover the tuition fees charged for your course and one for maintenance to cover your living expenses.

• Student Loan for fees -you apply for the exact amount your university or college charges for your course and the money will be paid direct to your university or college to
  cover the cost of your fees. You only start repaying this loan once you have finished studying and are earning more than £15,000 a year.
• Student Loan for maintenance - the maximum loan amount for maintenance is being raised above the rate of inflation from September 2006, with the biggest increase for I
  students in London (including Royal Holloway). The exact dates will be announced nearer the time, and will be available to both new and existing students. How much you
  get will depend on how much of the new maintenance grant you are entitled to.

Student Loans

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Student loans to help with living costs attract interest only at the rate of inflation. This ensures that the value of the loan that is repaid remains the same in real terms as the amount borrowed. In September 2004, the interest rate was 2.6%. All eligible students are entitled to 75% of the maximum figure. Whether they can get any or all of the remaining 25% depends on the student's income and that of their household, and the amount of maintenance grant they receive.

Students studying at Royal Holloway receive the higher London rates of loan. As a guide, in 2005/6 students living away from parents and studying in London received a 75% loan of
£3,880 and a maximum of £5,175. Those living with parents (under 25) receive a 75% loan of £2,490 and a maximum of £3,320.

The Government will raise the maximum rates of the student loan for maintenance above the rate of inflation from September 2006, with the biggest increase for students in London, to reflect the basic living costs of students. The exact rates will be available nearer the time and will be available to new and existing students.

Student Loans are arranged through the Student Loans Company (SLC). Your Local Education Authority (LEA) will send you more details about the terms and conditions of
student loans when you apply for financial help. Take some time to read these so that you understand your responsibilities. You can get a copy of the Terms and Conditions guide from the Department of Education & Skills (DiES) website or from your LEA or by calling 0800 731 9133

Government Maintenance Grants

From 2006, new full-time UK students from lower income households will be eligible for a non-repayable maintenance grant of up to £2, 700 a year. How much a student will get will depend on their income and that of their household. If that income is around £15,000 or less you are likely to be eligible for a full grant worth £2, 700. Partial grants are likely to be available for those with a household income of between around £15,000 and around £33,000. Around half of all new full-time students are likely to be eligible to apply for a full or partial grant. Grants are payable in three instalments -one at the start of each term.

OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING

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Access to Learning Funds

Every university is allocated a sum of money, which is intended to assist students with financial difficulties. At Royal Holloway, applications for support are assessed by the Student Financial
Advisor.

Students with Dependants

If a student has a dependant, further financial help could be available from your Local Education Authority (LEA).

Students with Disabilities

Students with a disability can apply for a Disabled Student Allowance from their Local Education Authority (LEA).

Employment

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Many students supplement their income through working in the vacations or- on a part-time basis -during term time. At Royal Holloway, the Students' Union employs over 350 students working in various roles across the campus, for example bar staff. Students are also employed in areas such as the Library, Facilities Management and the central administration. The Education and International Liaison Office employs students in their Prospectus enquiry room. In addition, there are many opportunities for part-time and vacation work in the local area. College Regulations set a limit of working 20 hours a week for full time students.

The College is currently reviewing employment on campus with a view to offering a greater range of opportunities as 'packages' of financial support. At postgraduate level there is already a scheme to employ students in the Library at weekends; a year's such work is intended to cover the postgraduate tuition fee.

Tuition Fees for the Compulsory Year Abroad (4 year degree course with a compulsory year abroad)

For non-EU students, the tuition fee for the compulsory year abroad will be £1,500.

Students who pay variable fees and who spend a year of their programme abroad as part of a four-year programme, will be charged half the full rate, that is £1,500 or the equivalent, for the
the year in which they are abroad.

Where a student incurs additional tuition fees which are charged by the host institution overseas, while on a course of study formally approved by the home department at Royal Holloway, the Registry will reimburse the student for up to £500 upon presentation of a receipt of payment.

Hardship Funds will be available to full-time HEU sudents from low income households.

Students on a recognised Socrates scheme for a full academic year are not required to pay tuition fees to Royal Holloway.

OVERSEAS STUDENTS (NON-EU)

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Tuition fees for undergraduate overseas (non-EU) students for 2006-2007 have been set as follows:*

* The College reserves the right to vary the level of tuition fees and students should check exact details at the time of making an application.

EU STUDENTS (NON-UK)

It is the government's intention that all EU (non-UK) nationals should be assessed in a similar way to British students in reIation to tuition fees. Therefore you may be eligible to receive help towards the £3,000 fee if you, or your parents' gross income is below the equivalent of around £33,500. (The application for financial support in these circumstances should be made to the DfES). Currently, we are awaiting confirmation from the DfES on the financial arrangements for students from the EU.

ROYAL HOLLOWAY'S FEES, BURSARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS

For 2007 entry, Royal Holloway, University of London will charge the full rate of £3,000 per year to all undergraduate students from the United Kingdom and the European Union. These fees will be charged for all full-time (and in proportion for part-time) undergraduate courses on offer at
Royal Holloway. Students can apply to take out a student loan for fees which will be paid directly to the College, on their behalf.

To assist full-time UK undergraduates financially while they are students, Royal Holloway is offering an exceptional range of bursaries and scholarships worth up to £4,000 per year. Bursaries will be offered to all students in receipt of the partial or full government maintenance grant (household income up to around £33,500). Scholarships provide extra
financial support for well-qualified candidates.

• Minimum Standard Bursaries of £500 a year will be made available for all full-time students in receipt of the partial or full UK government maintenance grant.

• Royal Holloway Excellence Scholarships of £500 a year are available for all students who receive the £500 bursary and achieve 320 UCAS tariff points (eg 3 A level grades of ABB) or equivalent in their offer qualifications. The Founder's Scholarship and the Minimum Standard Bursaries together provide support worth £1,000 a year.

• Founder's Scholarships of £3,500 a year are available on a competitive basis for students who receive the £500 bursary and achieve 360 UCAS tariff points (eg 3 A level grades of AAA) or equivalent in their offer qualifications. The Thomas Holloway Undergraduate Scholarship and the Minimum Standard Bursaries together provide support worth £4,000 a year.

• Bedford Scholarships of £1,000 a year are offered on a competitive basis, and are awarded irrespective of income for students who achieve 360 UCAS tariff points (eg 3 A level grades of AAA) or equivalent in their offer qualifications.

Master's Scholarships

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Royal Holloway is also launching an innovative '3 + l' Master's Scholarship scheme. This is designed to recognise and reward academic excellence and help alleviate debt for students who wish to progress to a taught Master's degree. The Master's Scholarships are worth £3,010 (at 2004/05 rates), and they are available to Royal Holloway students who make satisfactory progress as undergraduates, who achieve a 2.1 class degree or above from 2009, and who meet the entry requirements of a master's degree at Royal Holloway. Students who apply must be receiving the partial or full government maintenance grant in their final undergraduate year, and must start their postgraduate programme within 18 months of completing their undergraduate course at Royal Holloway.

Bursaries and Scholarships are grants which are not repayable. Click here for details of how all our scholarship schemes operate and eligibility. Details, including application procedures, are also provided in our separate Student Finances booklet available on request.

Students who begin their undergraduate degree in September 2006 and hold a deferred place may be subject to the previous fee arrangements, providing the offer of a deferred place was received by the student no later than 1 August 2005.

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