The vast majority of British applicants are eligible for both types of loan offered by Student Finance England.

Tuition Fee Loan: is paid directly from the Student Loans Company to the provider in 3 instalments to cover the cost of tuition fees. In this instance, the tuition fee loan will be £9,535.

Maintenance Loan: is paid directly to the student in 3 instalments to cover their living costs. A percentage of this is non-means tested, but around £5,000 of the loan is dependent upon income and circumstances. Those living with parents will have their parent’s income taken into account, and those living with a partner may also need to provide evidence of income. The maximum maintenance loan awarded is around £8,900, although Cornwall SCITT trainees tend to get a little more as our course runs for longer than average Higher Education courses.

EU students who have lived in the UK for more than 5 years may also be eligible for both tuition fee and maintenance student loans, but those from the EU who have been in the UK for less than 5 years may only be entitled to the tuition fee loan. International students are typically ineligible for student support.

Please be aware that student loans are automatically deducted from earnings in the UK once you earn over £25,000 p.a. You will pay 9% on all earnings above this amount (so if you earn £30,000 then you would pay back 9% of £5,000 (£30,000-£25,000) each year. Students loans are only repayable while you are earning and if you are earning is less than £25,000 then you will not be required to make repayments. Student loans are subject to interest.

The Department for Education offer bursaries to support those undertaking their training year. The amount awarded depends on the subject which you intend to train to teach and the classification outcome of your degree. Bursaries are paid in monthly instalments during the course and are not repaid once your training has finished.

Click here to find out how much you might be entitled to.

In order to receive a bursary you must evidence your eligibility to receive student support (whether or not you choose to use this funding option). For this reason we ask everyone to make an initial application with Student Finance England/Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland to demonstrate their eligibility. International Students entering the country on a Tier 4 VISA will not be able to accept bursary support as a condition of their entry into the UK.

Through the student finance application, there are several other grants that can be applied for.

The most commonly accessed are:

Special Support Grant: typically offered to lone parents or those with certain disabilities.

Disabled Support Allowance: typically offered to those with specific learning needs, with the allowance allowing access to specific support such as one-to-one tutorial support or additional equipment costs/

Childcare Grant: This covers up to 85% of childcare costs for dependents under the age of 15.

Parent’s Learning Allowance: This helps with course costs for those with dependent children.

Adult Dependent’s Grant: This helps with costs if adults rely on you financially. Please be aware that you may have to repay this grant if you withdraw from the course.

Cornwall SCITT offer an additional termly contribution to those whose household income is £25,000 or less as assessed by student finance. Those who can demonstrate financial hardship may also be able to apply for support with course costs such as petrol costs from our access to learning fund.