We want to ensure that students with the potential to succeed and gain from a Canterbury Christ Church degree aren’t put off by the change in fees, so we’ve established a fund for 2012/13 to provide financial support to our students (postgraduate students are excluded except in the case of PGCE students who may be entitled to our fee-waiver and bursary providing they meet our criteria).
National Scholarship Programme (NSP)
The National Scholarship Scheme (NSP) is a new programme introduced and part-funded by the Government to help students entering higher education from autumn 2012. At Canterbury Christ Church the National Scholarship Programme provides £3,000 worth of assistance to eligible students in their first year of study: This comprises:
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a fee waiver of £2,000
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a £1,000 cash bursary (for full-time students ordinarily resident in England only. See Government criteria for more information)
In years two and three a £1,000 fee waiver will be available each year to eligible students under the University Fee Waiver Scheme. However this is means-tested and you will be required to confirm that your financial circumstances have not changed at the start of each year. Scholarships are limited to 238 and meeting all the guidance does not constitute entitlement to a scholarship.
Am I eligible?
You’ll be eligible for support in your first year of study if you:
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Meet the Government criteria, and
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achieve top 25% of predicted attainment in our target schools and colleges
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select Canterbury Christ Church University as your ‘Firm’ choice
For part-time students, in addition to the above, you must be studying at an intensity of 25% of a full-time course paying fees over £4,500 per year.
OR
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Meet the Government criteria, and
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have spent time in (foster) care (where your fees aren’t already paid by your Local Authority)
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select Canterbury Christ Church University as your ‘Firm’ choice
For part-time students, in addition to the above, you must be studying at an intensity of 25% of a full-time course paying fees over £4,500 per year.
You will be considered automatically if you meet the criteria and will be contacted accordingly. We will arrange for your fee-waiver to be taken after enrolment and the bursary will be paid in instalments.
Please note: We will require verification from Student Finance England of income before we offer an award. Students who are in default of a previous loan with the Student Loans Company (Student Finance England) will not qualify for university financial support in the form of the NSP.
All offers are non-negotiable and one offer excludes all others (with the exception of Sports/Music scholarships).
What if my family income is less than £25,000 but I'm not eligible for the NSP?
The Canterbury Christ Church University Fee Waiver Scheme
A Fee Waiver Scheme is a non-repayable sum of money awarded to students who meet the eligibility criteria set by the University. A fee waiver is a reduction in fees, available to prospective students who fulfil the University’s criteria.
We’re providing a fee waiver scheme of £1,000 per year for students who come from low income households but who don’t meet all the criteria for the NSP.
You’ll be eligible for support from the Canterbury Christ Church University Fee Waiver Scheme if you:
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are a UK student, and
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come from a low income household (classified as an annual residual family income* of £25,000 or less), and
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don’t meet other criteria for the NSP, and
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are paying over £6,000 each year in tuition fees. Or, if part-time studying at an intensity of 25% of a full-time course paying fees over £4,500 per year.
The fee waiver applies to you at the start of every year of your degree course, not just the first year. However this is means-tested and you will be required to confirm that your financial circumstances have not changed at the start of each year.
NB: PGCE students in receipt of a Teaching Agency national bursary aren't eligible, nor are NHS or Social Work students.
You will be considered automatically if you meet the criteria and will be contacted accordingly. All offers are non-negotiable and one offer excludes all others (with the exception of Sports/Music scholarships).
Please note: We will require verification from Student Finance England of income before we offer an award. Students who are in default of a previous loan with the Student Loans Company (Student Finance England) will not qualify for university financial support in the form of the Fee Waiver.
The Canterbury Christ Church University Bursary Scheme
A Bursary is a non-repayable sum of money awarded to students who meet the eligibility criteria set by the University. We’re providing a bursary of £500 per year.
You’ll be eligible for support from the Canterbury Christ Church University Bursary Scheme if you:
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are a UK or EU student, and
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come from a low income household (classified as an annual residual family income* of £25,000 or less), and
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don’t otherwise qualify for the NSP
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aren't in receipt of a PGCE bursary
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aren't a NHS or Social Work student
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don’t qualify for Government Maintenance Grants or Loans, and
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are paying over £6,000 each year in tuition fees. Or, if part-time studying at an intensity of 25% of a full-time course paying fees over £4,500 per year.
The bursary applies to you at the start of every year of your degree course, not just the first. However this is means-tested and you will be required to confirm that your financial circumstances have not changed at the start of each year.
You will be considered automatically if you meet the criteria and will be contacted accordingly. All offers are non-negotiable and one offer excludes all others (with the exception of Sports/Music scholarships).
Please note: We will require verification from Student Finance England of income before we offer an award. Students who are in default of a previous loan with the Student Loans Company (Student Finance England) will not qualify for university financial support in the form of the Bursary.
Sports Scholarships
You could be eligible for a Sports scholarship if you are an elite level sports performer as judged by the Canterbury Christ Church University Sports Scholarships panel.
You don't have to be studying a sports-related degree to be eligible to apply for the Sports Scholarship, but you do have to be studying full-time on an undergraduate degree.
You will be considered automatically if you meet the criteria and will be contacted accordingly. You can find out more about our Sports Scholarship on the Sports Scholarships web pages|.
Music Bursaries
A range of scholarships and bursaries are also available from the Department of Music and Performing Arts for students of Music. Contact the Department for more information.|
Is there anything else?
Do I have to pay any of this back?
The NSP fee waivers, Canterbury Christ Church Bursaries and Sports Scholarships/Music Bursaries do not have to be paid back.
You will be considered automatically if you meet the criteria and will be contacted accordingly.
Please note: We will require verification from Student Finance England of income before we offer an award.
How do I apply?
For all loans and grants you need to apply online at Direct Gov website|.
You don't need to wait until you have a place at university - you can start applying for your loan from March 2012.
Please note there may be additional support for international students. For more information please contact the International Office| at Canterbury Christ Church University
Am I eligible for these scholarships, fee waivers and bursaries if I’ve already started studying?
These scholarships, fee waivers and bursaries are currently only available for students starting their studies in September 2012. Continuing students who started their programmes between 2006-07 and 2011-12 will remain on the state and institutional financial arrangements that were advertised when they applied.
What about government loans and other assistance?
For information about government loans see below, under ‘What support can the government offer?’
Terminology explained
*Residual family income
Money Saving Expert.com defines residual income like this:
This is effectively the household income BEFORE tax and AFTER any pension contributions or allowances for dependent children.
Are you an independent student? If you're over 25 or have financially supported yourself for more than three years, have no living parents or are caring for a child, then you're an independent student and will be assessed on your income (or if married/civil partner it depends on your joint income with your spouse).
It depends on your parents' income for everyone else. For all those dependent students (i.e. not independent) then the income assessment is based on your combined parents' income – though if you have substantial savings/investments of your own generating income they will be taken into account.
If your parents are divorced or separated then they will assess the income of the parent you live with most of the time (if that's not clear cut, it's at the discretion of the Student Loans Company) – if that parent remarries or has a cohabiting partner, their joint income will then be assessed.