Investing in your future
At University Centre Somerset, our dedicated Student Support Team is here to help you navigate the financial side of your studies.
From government-funded tuition and maintenance loans to our own targeted bursaries and grants, there are numerous ways to fund your studies.
Explore the options below, or reach out to our team for personalised guidance on securing the financial support your need.
Loans and Grants – Student Finance England
Students studying for a full-time degree (or on a part-time pathway through a full-time course) can apply for the following loans and grants:
- Tuition fee loan
- Maintenance loan – to support living costs.
Loans are required to be paid back, on terms agreed with the Student Loans Company. You won’t have to pay anything back until you are earning over £26,575 a year. For more information click here.
There are others state-funded sources of financial support, which include:
- Adult Dependents’ Grants
- Childcare Grant
- Disabled Students’ Allowance
- Parents Learning Allowance
For more information on these click here.
Bursaries – Apply directly to UCS
Information about bursaries that are available to UCS students, and the criteria for each, can be found in the HE Student Support Funding Policy 2020-25. The purpose of the policy is to provide financial support to applicants and enrolled students who, because of their background and personal circumstances, may not normally aspire, or be able to access, higher education provision. To apply, please follow the links below:
• HE Diagnostic Support Fund Application Form
• HE Technical Support Fund Application Form.
UCS offers 37 bursaries of £600 to students with a household income of less than £25,000. Students no longer need to apply for the HE Bursary, they will be automatically assessed based on the information provided within their Student Finance application. Bursaries will be awarded to students based on their background and personal circumstances, who may not normally aspire, or be able to access higher education provision. Funds are granted on a priority basis to identified priority groups, such as carers, care leavers, students with disabilities, students from BAME groups, and students with children, especially single parents.
For more information, or if you require assistance to complete the form, please contact Student Support on 01278 441233 or email studentsupport@btc.ac.uk.
Advanced Learner Loans (for Access to HE courses and other Level 3 courses)
If you are aged 19 or over and are thinking about further education or training in England, you might qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan. It is easy to apply for and you won’t have to pay anything back until after you are earning over £26,575 a year.
For further information click here.
Advanced Learner Loan Bursary
Students who live over 2 miles from the campus they are studying at and/or who have childcare costs can apply for help from the Advanced Learner Loan Bursary if they have a low household income. For more information or to request an application form please contact Student Support on 01278 441233 or email studentsupport@btc.ac.uk.
NEW – Alumni Bursary!
We are pleased to be able to offer a new £1,000 bursary for students progressing straight from a Level 3 course at Bridgwater College, Cannington College, Strode College or Taunton College into a full-time degree programme at University Centre Somerset. This bursary is paid in two equal instalments of £500 to eligible students in year 1 and year 2 of their higher education studies. Students just need to make sure they select their current college on their UCAS application in order for UCS to check their eligibility and arrange to make the payments. For more information contact HE@btc.ac.uk
For further information click here.
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