From 2012 the cap on tuition fees for UK/EU students has been lifted, but still regulated, as a way of investing in the future of English universities. In the vast majority of cases, universities have lost most of their Government funding for university places.

No fees will be payable upfront by students but will be repaid after graduation.

Find out about the latest Government fee information.

No.

Students covered by the new fees regime will not have to pay the cost of tuition while they are studying at BU.

Government-backed student loans will be available which will be paid back only once a graduate is earning over £21,000 a year.

The increase will come into effect from September 2012.

It will not affect any BU current students or those going to university in 2011.

• No upfront costs - loan repayments will start only when you have finished your studies and when you are earning over £21,000 per annum. They are calculated at 9% of the income over £21,000
• For example: if you are earning £25,000, you will pay back £6.92 a week (£30 a month, or £360 a year)
• Loans for course fees will also be available for part-time students
• Loans available to cover living costs expenses for those both living at home or away from home
• There will be one repayment as the maintenance and tuition loans are combined
• This repayment will be paid through the tax system, by using your national insurance number
• Any outstanding loans will be written off after 30 years
• Non-repayable grants up to £3,250 are also available (criteria apply)

Students from lower income families will be able to benefit from a new £150m National Scholarships Programme.

Find out more at the HEFCE website.

• Maintenance loans are paid to you to help with day to day costs, such as accommodation, travel and domestic bills
• The level of the maintenance loan available to you will be assessed on your parental or household income and will range from £3,500 to £5,500
• All students are entitled to a level of maintenance loan support, even those students from the very highest income background
• Lower maintenance loan levels are offered to students living in the parental home while they are studying

• Maintenance grants are paid to students to help with day to day costs - typically accommodation, travel, domestic bills etc. They do not have to be repaid
• The level of support a student will receive depends totally on their parental/household income
• The grant level will range from £0 to £3,250
• If you are from a household with an income of £25,000 or below, you will qualify for the full £3,250 grant
• If you are from a household with an income ranging between £25,000 and £42,600, you will qualify for a reduced grant awarded on a sliding scale

During your study and up until the Statutory Repayment Due Date (the date you become eligible to repay your loan, in April after you graduate), interest will be set at the Retail Price Index (RPI), plus an additional 3%.

• Salary less than £21,000 - interest set at RPI
• Salary £21,000 to £41,000 - interest set at RPI - RPI+3% on a gradual scale depending on your income
• Salary more than £41,000 - interest set at RPI plus 3%
• RPI is variable and set at 3.6% (April 2012)

It is important to note that the amount you pay back each month will not be affected by the interest you are charged.

For further information about the support available including repaying your tuition fee loan, living cost loans and non-repayable grants and the benefits of going to university, visit the student finance page at Directgov.

For students starting in 2012, both Degree and Advanced Diploma students will be funded in the same way. Students can apply for full fee assistance from the NHS bursary office to cover the cost of tuition, so you do not pay any fees yourself or need to take out a fee loan to cover this cost.

A new non- means tested Grant of £1,000 will be available together in addition to the NHS Means Tested Bursary. All NHS Funded students will also be able to take out a non-means tested maintenance loan.

Tuition fees for Channel Island students (in Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man) enrolling at an English University in the academic year 2012/13 are not yet confirmed.

The three states negotiate as one body with Universities UK (UUK) to set the tuition fees for Channel Island students (with UUK acting on behalf of universities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Island).

No.

Students who normally live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland will receive financial support for university from the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government or the Northern Ireland Executive.

EU students from outside the UK that meet certain criteria will have access to a loan to cover the cost of their graduate contribution (tuition fee). They will generally not be entitled to support for their living costs.

The changes to tuition charges for UK/EU students will not affect BU international students. To find out more about financing your studies as an international student, please visit our international student pages.

This would be a decision for the loan provider, but student loan information won't be shared with credit reference agencies by Student Finance England.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders has advised that a student loan is very unlikely to impact materially on an individual’s ability to get a mortgage. The amount of mortgage available may depend on net income.

Graduates do not have control over how much they repay each month via the tax system. However you only ever pay at 9% of your total income that is over £21,000

• For example: if you are earning £25,000, you will pay back £6.92 a week (£30 a month or £360 a year)

There is no early loan penalty on student loans.

Our fees and funding packages apply to new students for the 2012/13 academic year. The student support package for 2013/14 and future years has not yet been decided by the Government and may change for both new and continuing students. More information will be available in Spring 2012.

If you have further questions about fees and funding in 2012, please contact askBU, our enquiries team.