Money Matters

There are two main costs associated with studying a university-level course:

Tuition Fees

University Campus NPTC Group of Colleges offers competitive tuition fees, with full-time HNC and HND courses costing significantly less than many universities. Studying locally can also help reduce living and travel expenses, allowing many students to continue living at home while earning a recognised higher education qualification.

Current tuition fees can be found on individual course web pages.

Living Costs

Examples include:

• Accommodation
• Travel and transport
• Food and groceries
• Course costs –  For example – textbooks, printing, stationery, specialist equipment, course trips, or professional memberships
• Digital Costs: Laptop, software, mobile phone contract, and internet access

Paying for Your Studies

There are several ways to fund your studies:

Student Finance Wales may provide eligible students with a Tuition Fee Loan to cover course costs and Maintenance Funding to support living expenses.

Employer-sponsored students may have all or part of their tuition fees paid by their employer. Payment arrangements can be agreed directly with the College.

Self-funded students can pay their tuition fees directly to the College and can spread the cost through instalment plans paid by Direct Debit.

Please note:

• Students who receive a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance Wales will not normally make repayments until they have completed their studies and their income exceeds the applicable repayment threshold. However, self-funded students and employers are responsible for paying tuition fees in line with the agreed payment schedule
• If a student suspends studies, withdraws from their course before completion, or transfers to another course, fee liability may apply depending on the point at which they leave the course.

Fees Policy

Fee Limit Statement

Student Finance Wales

Welsh students may be eligible for financial support through Student Finance Wales, the Welsh branch of the Student Loans Company. Funding is generally available for the duration of your course, plus one additional year if required.

Applying for Student Finance

Undergraduate Finance | Student Finance Wales

Guide to Student Funding from Student Finance Wales

Student Finance Online Application Guide

Student Finance for Part-Time Students

Tuition Fee Loans

If you are studying an eligible Higher Education course, you may be able to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees.

• Available to eligible full-time and part-time students, subject to Student Finance regulations.
• The amount available is not based on household income.
• Tuition Fee Loans are paid directly to the College on your behalf.
• You do not need to pay course fees upfront if your loan application is approved.
• Repayments only begin once you have completed or left your course and your income exceeds the relevant repayment threshold.

Maintenance Support

Maintenance support is designed to help with the costs of studying and everyday living expenses while studying.

• Support may be available in the form of a Maintenance Loan, grant, bursary, or other funding, depending on your circumstances.
• The amount you receive is typically based on factors such as:
  • Household income
  • Where you live during your studies
  • Whether you study full-time or part-time
  • Your personal circumstances
• Funding is usually paid directly into your bank account in instalments throughout the academic year.

Additional support may also be available through:

• Parents’ Learning Allowance: Also available if you are a full-time undergraduate student with children | Student Finance Wales
• Childcare Grant: Extra help available if you are a full-time undergraduate student with children | Student Finance Wales
• Adult Dependants’ Grant: Extra help available if you are a full-time undergraduate student with dependent adults | Student Finance Wales
• Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA): Extra help available if you are a full-time undergraduate student with a disability | Student Finance Wales
• Healthcare, medicine, dentistry and social work student bursaries: Bursaries available for full-time undergraduate medical and social work students | Student Finance Wales
• Special Support: Special Support | Student Finance Wales

Student Bursaries

The University-Level Student Bursary Scheme provides financial support to eligible full-time students studying university-level courses at NPTC Group of Colleges. A bursary is financial assistance that does not need to be repaid and is intended to help with the costs associated with higher education while encouraging progression and participation.

Bursaries are awarded annually by the College. Eligible students who meet the published criteria and attendance requirements are guaranteed to receive the relevant award. The scheme is not available to students who are repeating a year of study.

The bursary process uses information provided during enrolment to assess eligibility and is subject to students maintaining a minimum attendance rate of 80%.

Updates relating to the bursary scheme and application cycle will be published on this webpage and via the HE Student Community Team on Microsoft Teams. Further information is available from the HE Services Team.

Bursary Awards

£1,500

• Full-time students enrolled on any university-level course.
• Fee-paying international students.

£500

• Students enrolled on full-time directly funded (Pearson) HND courses.
• Students living in eligible Lower Super Output Areas identified within the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD).

£400

• Looked After Children and Care Leavers studying on full-time university-level courses.

£300

• Students progressing directly from an NPTC Group Level 3 qualification (A Levels, BTEC or Access to Higher Education) onto the first year (Level 4) of a full-time university-level course.
• Students progressing directly onto a Top-Up Degree or the third year of an undergraduate degree course.

Terms and conditions apply. Eligibility criteria and bursary values are subject to annual review.

The Higher Education Hardship Fund provides discretionary financial assistance to students experiencing genuine and unavoidable financial difficulties during their studies.

Students must normally have applied for support through Student Finance Wales before submitting a hardship application.

Students should contact heservices@nptcgroup.ac.uk for initial advice and for the application form.

Additional Study Costs

In addition to tuition fees, some courses may require students to cover additional costs, including:

• Stationery and learning resources
• A suitable laptop or digital device
• Internet access
• Travel costs associated with work placements
• DBS checks, where required for professional placements
• Course trips

Students are encouraged to discuss any additional course-related costs with their Course Coordinator before enrolment. Information about any specific additional costs will also be published on the relevant course page.