Frequently asked questions

How can I apply for the UK Access to Exeter Bursary?

You will not need to submit an application for the UK Access to Exeter Bursary. As long as you have applied for means tested student finance from the Student Loans Company, provided all the relevant evidence to support your application and provided that you have given consent to share your financial information when you made your application for student finance, your household income details will be passed to the University. We will use this information to assess you for a bursary. You will then need to accept the University terms and conditions by registering at the University.

Do I need to re-apply each year?

No, once you have accepted the University terms and conditions, you will be considered for a bursary for each year that you appear eligible (e.g. your financial circumstances do not change and you continue on a full-time undergraduate course at Exeter). You will need to complete a new means tested student finance application each year and remember to give consent to share your financial information as this information is how we assess your eligibility for a bursary each year.

How is my bursary paid?

All bursaries will be paid directly to your bank account.  You can add your bank details through the online MyExeter account, which can be accessed via the University homepage; click on the finance tab within the student records section, followed by the “add my bank details” link.

When are the bursary payment dates?

When will I find out how much my bursary will be?

The award is calculated from your Student Loans Company assessment, as soon as they pass your information to us, students will receive an email to their University email account later in the summer before the start of the next academic year.

How do I know if I’m eligible for this award?

In general terms you must be a full-time full-fee paying UK undergraduate from a low-income household.  Please check the eligibility criteria corresponding to the year you began you studies at Exeter for details of the household income thresholds.  You must also have applied for means-tested funding as this is the only way we can assess your household income.

I am a European Student, am I eligible for this award?

No, European students may apply for a tuition fee loan but are not eligible for the full package of means tested funding available to UK students; they are therefore not eligible to receive the bursary.

Is there a deadline for the UK Access to Exeter Bursary?

We will continue to review the eligibility of students for the bursary throughout the academic year, until the end of June. Therefore we must have received household income details by this time in order to consider a student for the bursary.

I have had confirmation of my bursary but no payments are coming through – what could the problem be?

Check the following:

• Have you completed your registration with the University for the academic year?
• Have you provided up-to-date bank details at registration or via the finance section of your online MyExeter account?

If you are still experiencing difficulties please contact the Student Funding Team on 08444 724724 or email sid@exeter.ac.uk.

Why am I getting this award?

All undergraduate UK students who have undergone a full assessment for means tested student finance and received confirmation of their funding will be considered for the bursary. The application process is automatic (see above).

Why is the first instalment paid in December?

The first instalment is paid after 1st December as the bursary is linked to tuition fees. If you withdraw prior to 1st December you may not be liable for the first terms tuition fees and would therefore not be eligible to receive a bursary.

Why are the bursaries not paid in equal instalments?

We reviewed the payment procedures in 2010/11 in light of feedback from our end-of-year survey.  It has been decided that termly payments should reflect the number of weeks in each term. The payments are therefore higher in the first 2 terms than in the shorter summer term.

What does ‘full variable-rate tuition fee’ mean?

This refers to the standard full-time fee for UK and EU undergraduates (£3375 for 2011/12).  Students paying this fee directly or through the Student Loans Company will meet this particular eligibility criterion. Some students, such as those funded by the NHS and those on full-years abroad, will not be paying this full-rate fee, so are not eligible for the bursary. If you are unsure of the level of fee you are due to pay please contact your course administration team.

Will I receive a bursary if I am on a year abroad/year in industry?

No, bursaries are not applicable to these students as they do not pay the full-rate fee during the study abroad/year in industry.

Will I receive a bursary if I am abroad/on work placement for a semester or part of the year?

You may spend time abroad or on a work placement for a portion of the academic year but still pay the full-rate fee; in this instance you will still receive the full allocation of your bursary for that year (subject to meeting all other eligibility criteria). If you are unsure of the level of fee you are due to pay please contact your course administration team.

What if I interrupt my studies?

If you interrupt or withdraw, the level of bursary you are entitled to receive for that academic year will depend on the number of terms for which you are liable to pay tuition fees.  The amount of fees you are due to pay will depend on your withdrawal/interruption date and is determined by the Student Fees Team.  For example if you withdrew at the end of the 1st term (end of December), you are likely to have paid 1 terms fees so would be entitled to 1 terms worth of bursary payment (i.e. your 1st term’s instalment).

Who are the bodies assessing my application for Student Finance?

Students will be assessed on the basis of the where they are living at the time of their application. For queries relating to your assessment, please refer to relevant contact details below:

• SAAS (Scotland): telephone 0300 555 0505
• Student Finance England: telephone 0845 300 5090
• Student Finance Wales:  telephone 0845 602 8845
• Student Finance Northern Ireland: telephone 0845 600 0662

What is the Student Loans Company?

The Student Loans Company pay your student maintenance loans and grants (direct to your bank account) and tuition fees (direct to the University). They are not involved with assessing your student finance application (see above).

How do I know if I’ve given consent for my household-income details to be shared with the University?

The online and paper application forms for Student Finance will include a question asking about giving consent to share your details.  You and your sponsors (parents etc.) must have agreed to this so that the University can view your household income figure when assessing your eligibility for the bursary. If you are not sure whether this consent has been given please contact the relevant assessment authority (see above). You and your sponsors can normally give consent to the relevant body over the phone.

Can the university carry out its own financial assessment?

No – we are required to take the income assessments carried out by the Student Finance assessment authorities (e.g. Student Finance England).

How can I provide the University with my bank details?

You will normally be asked to provide bank details when registering at the start of the academic year. You can check and update these details throughout the year using the finance section of the online MyExeter system (accessed from the University Homepage). Please note we do not receive bank details from the Student Loans Company.

What is the South West Access to Exeter Bursary?

The South West Access to Exeter Bursary scheme does not run anymore – this scheme ended for new students in the academic year 2009/10. Unfortunately no new schemes at present have been put in place to replace this scheme. This does not affect your eligibility to receive the UK Access to Exeter Bursary. For more information on this bursary please go back to the main bursaries page and follow the relevant links.

I would like to make a suggestion on how the bursary process could be improved – who should I contact?

The Student Funding Team are always happy to receive constructive feedback from students.  We also provide an end of year survey which gives students the opportunity to provide feedback on their experience with the bursary process.