financial support for students 2011/12
DESCRIPTION
Your guide to the funds available to help you study at City College PlymouthTRANSCRIPT
www.cityplym.ac.uk
Financial Support for Students 2011/12Your guide to the funds available to help you study at City College Plymouth
t: 01752 305381www.cityplym.ac.uk
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If you would find it easier to read this guide in a larger type or a different format, please call 01752 305300.
Fraudulent Claims The College must protect itself against the possibility of fraudulent claims. We ask for detailed information and may invite applicants for interview so we can distribute the funds fairly. If a claim is considered fraudulent we will ask for any money given to you to be repaid in full. If you fail to repay your grant we may take court action. You will not be allowed to collect any course certificates until all costs have been paid. The College reserves the right to notify the Police and/or any other relevant agencies with regard to our suspicion of fraudulent actions.
DisclaimerWhilst every effort has been made to ensure that this guide is correct at the time of going to press, due to circumstances beyond our control changes may occur and funding eligibility, availability and criteria etc may change. The College will use its reasonable endeavours to notify you of any such changes, wherever possible. No responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the information contained in this guide can be accepted by the College.
© City College Plymouth 2011
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T: 017521305381 [email protected]
What Help Can I Get?
16 - 18 SupportTransitional Education Main tenance Allowance (EMA)• What is Transtitional EMA?• How do I receive it?• What do I need to do?• What happens next?
16 - 19 Bursary• What is the 16 - 19 Bursary?• What help can I receive?• Who can apply?• How do I apply?• What evidence is required?• How do I receive it?
Discretionary Learner Support (dLS) Fund for those aged 16 - 18• What is dLS?• Who can apply?• How do I apply?• What income evidence is required?
19+ Support
Fee Concessions • Getting help with tuition fees
Transitional Adult Learning Grant (ALG) • How ALG works• Who is eligible?• Can I claim ALG if I am
receiving any benefits?• How is ALG paid?
Discretionary Learner Support (dLS) Fund for those aged 19+• What is dLS 19+?• Who can apply?• How do I apply?• What income evidence is required?
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Childcare Support
Care to Learn• What is Care to Learn?• Who can apply?• How do I apply?
Discretionary Learner Support (dLS) Fund - Childcare• How do I apply?• What help is available?• How will I know my application
is successful?
Housing Support
Residential Support Scheme (RSS)• What is the RSS?• Who is eligible?• How do I apply?• What evidence is required?• What help do I receive?
Deadline Dates
Terms and Conditions• Attendance• Withdrawals• Appeals• Further dLS conditions
The Student Funding Team
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Contents
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Enrolling on a course can be an expensive business. Before you start your course you will need to consider how you will afford some of the following costs:• tuition fees• examination or material fees• travel costs to and from the College• the cost of special equipment and materials• the cost of uniform• the cost of childcare• meeting your day-to-day living costs.
Finance is an important factor when deciding to come to College. However, you don’t have to let a lack of money prevent you from attending your chosen course here at City College Plymouth! There are various funds which may be able to help you with some of the costs, especially if you have a low income or are entitled to help from state benefits.
There are two types of funds in place to help students:
Funds which are managed and awarded by national agencies:• Transitional Education Maintenance
Allowance (EMA)• Transitional Adult Learning Grant (ALG)• Care to Learn (C2L)• Residential Support Scheme (RSS).
Funds that are managed by the College:• tuition fee concessions• Discretionary Learner Support funds
(dLS) for students aged 16 - 18, 19+ and childcare support
• Bursary for students aged 16 - 18.
What Help Can I Get?
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What is Transitional EMA?Transitional EMA is a weekly payment of up to £30 made to students aged 16 - 18 who have already received EMA in either 2009/10 or 2010/11. Students have to be undertaking eligible full-time courses. New applicants are unable to apply.
Students who have received EMA since 2009/10 will continue to receive EMA at their current rate of £10, £20 or £30 per week.
Students who received £30 EMA from 2010/11 will receive £20 per week in 2011/12. Students can be eligible for EMA whilst they work part-time (up to 24 hours). Being in receipt of EMA won’t make a difference to any benefits that parents receive.
How do I receive it?EMA is paid directly into a student’s bank account on a weekly basis, paid two weeks in arrears as long as they have full attendance (with a minimum of 12 hours attendance) and meet their College targets.
What do I need to do?If you are eligible you will be sent a Notice of Entitlement (NoE) over the summer months. When you have enrolled, please bring your NoE to the Student Funding or Student Services Help Desk to be signed. You’ll need to complete an agreement sheet and will be given a copy of the EMA College Guidelines. We will then activate your EMA.
What happens next?To receive your weekly EMA, you need to achieve 100% attendance. There are certain absences which can be allowed, these will be listed in the EMA College Guideline booklet. Evidence for any absence will need to be provided in writing to the Student Funding team within 14 days of the date of the absence. Any query regarding payments needs to be made to the Student Funding team within 14 days of the date of payment. Decisions can only be changed within this two week window.
Transitional Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
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16 - 19 BursaryWhat is the 16 - 19 Bursary?The government has announced that some students will be entitled to a bursary in 2011/12 to help with the costs of coming to College. Students must be under 19 on Wednesday 31 August 2011.
What help can I receive?Eligible students are entitled to a maximum of £1,200: the actual amount will depend of the length of your course. The bursary is to help support transport, equipment, uniform and other course related costs.
Who can apply?Students must be aged 16 - 18 (as of Wednesday 31 August), undertaking a publicly funded further education course and fall into one of the groups below:• living in care• a care leaver (if aged 18 and have been looked
after for 13 weeks or more since the age of 14, or you have ceased to be looked after or accommodated)
• receiving Income Support (in your own right)• disabled and receiving both Employment
Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance (in your own right).
Those on Apprenticeship programmes do not qualify. Normal UK residency rules apply.
How do I apply?You will need to complete the 16 - 18 Discretionary Learner Support (dLS) application form and return it to the Student Funding team or Student Services Help Desk with the relevant evidence by the following dates:
September enrolments by Friday 23 September 2011
January enrolmentsby Friday 10 February 2012
What evidence is required?You will need to provide either a benefits letter showing your name, address and the benefit you are receiving (dated within the last six months) or a recent letter from Social Services confirming your care status.
How do I receive it?Any funds remaining after initial deductions for costs and travel passes will be issued as monthly cash payments, subject to good attendance and meeting of College targets. These will be made directly into your bank account.
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What is dLS?This fund provides financial or ‘in kind’ help to eligible students aged 16 - 18 (as of Wednesday 31 August 2011) with a number of course related costs. These funds are aimed at those most in need and not in receipt of the 16 - 19 bursary or transitional EMA payments. The fund is cash limited and operated on a first come, first served basis for September and January applicants.
There are four main elements of support. You may apply for one or more elements unless you are in receipt of the 16 - 19 bursary or transitional EMA. In this case you can only apply for the emergency/hardship support.
TravelAssistance for the purchase of an annual subsidised bus pass is available for students living in the Plymouth and Saltash areas with the postcodes PL3, PL4, PL5 (excluding St Budeaux PL5), PL6, PL7, PL9 and PL12 and who are undertaking a full-time course. Depending on your postcode, the travel pass will be for either Plymouth Citybus or First.
The contribution that you will have to pay is dependent on household income and must not exceed £30,810. The lower the income the more support you can receive. Please note that you will have to make a payment before the bus pass can be released. A passport sized photograph will be required.
Students from Devon and Cornwall (excluding Saltash) are asked to apply to their local authority first and then apply to City College Plymouth for support if a pass is declined.
Attendance is checked regularly and a bus pass may be blocked if a student fails to attend College.
For full details see the travel policy booklet 2011/12.
Uniform and Kit CostsSupport is available to help you pay for course uniform and kit costs where the costs are more than £200 (eg hair and beauty, sport, travel and tourism). This grant is means tested and available to students whose household income is less than £20,817 (based on the financial year ending April 2011). Students can apply for a one-off payment of up to £320 to help with these costs. The amount you will be awarded is dependent on the course.
Please note you may need to purchase items before you start the course and the amount of the grant is not guaranteed to pay the costs in full.
Emergency/hardship supportAny student with exceptional hardship or emergency needs can apply for financial assistance to enable them to remain at College. This is normally a one-off support payment or very short term support. It cannot be used as a substitute for state benefits or living costs.
Continuation support (students previously receiving EMA)This support is available to City College Plymouth students who received £20 or £10 EMA during the 2010/11 academic year and are not eligible for EMA in 2011/12. Students who fall into this group can apply for a continuation payment to assist with course related costs and hardship.
A termly allowance of £50 is available to students who completed their course in 2010/11 and are enrolled onto the second year of a two year programme or progressing to the next level. Payment will be linked to attendance and activated during weeks commencing Monday 31 October 2011, Monday 9 January 2012 and Monday 23 April 2012.
Discretionary Learner Support (dLS) Fund for those aged 16 - 18
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Who can apply?General criteriaEligible students must be:• enrolled on a full-time or part-time course funded
by the government• attending all classes• fulfil normal UK residency rules.
The amount you are entitled to will depend on your household income.
How do I apply?You will need to complete the 16 - 18 Discretionary Learner Support (dLS) application form and return it to the Student Funding team or Student Services Help Desk with the relevant evidence by the following dates:
September enrolments by Friday 23 September 2011
January enrolments by Friday 10 February 2012 Application forms should be processed and decision letters sent to students within four weeks of us receiving the application, as long as all information has been submitted.
What income evidence is required?Please refer to the guidance notes attached to the dLS application form for more information.
Please note that the dLS fund is cash limited and issued on a first come, first served basis.
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Getting help with tuition feesTo enrol on a course you will usually have to pay tuition fees, however you may be eligible for reduced tuition fees depending upon your age, residency in England and any benefits you may be receiving. Fee concessions usually apply in the following circumstances:
Residents of England aged 19 and over if:• first full level 2 qualification• first full level 3 qualification (if aged 19 - 25 only)• first full level 3 qualification and you do not
already hold a level 2 qualification• the course is a Skills for Life course (adult
literacy and numeracy, and Functional Skills in literacy and numeracy - excluding English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
• you are wanting a level 2 qualification, but are first required to obtain an entry/level 1 qualification (certain other criteria apply)
• you are undertaking your first full level 3 qualification after leaving the British Armed Forces (after completing four or more years of service or have been medically discharged, due to an injury in active service, after completing basic training)
• you are in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) or Employment Support Allowance (ESA) - work related activity group only. Please bring to enrolment a benefit award letter confirming your name, address and that you are in receipt of one of the above benefits. This letter has to be dated within six weeks of your enrolment date.
Students aged 16 - 18 (as of Wednesday 31 August 2011) usually do not have to pay any tuition fees.
Students regardless of age and circumstance may be asked to pay a material fee at enrolment.
If you do have to pay tuition fees, the College offers the following options:• if you pay the full amount in one lump sum,
you could be eligible for a 15% discount• you may be able to spread the cost over four
equal instalments (subject to course and other criteria).
Support funds may be available, please see page 14.
Fee Concessions
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T: 017521305381 [email protected]
How ALG worksAdults enrolled on a full-time course could receive up to £30 a week during term time from the Adult Learning Grant if you have received ALG during 2010/11.
Please note, this scheme is now closed for new applicants.
Who is eligible?To receive ALG, you need to:• have been in receipt of ALG in 2010/11• be aged 19 or over (as of Wednesday 31
August 2011)• continue on the same course and level as in
2010/11, at the same institution• be enrolled on a full-time course.
Can I claim ALG if I am receiving benefits?You won’t be able to receive ALG if you are claiming benefits, such as Jobseekers Allowance or Income Support. However, most other types of financial help won’t make any difference to whether you can receive ALG.
Transitional Adult Learning Grant (ALG)
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How is ALG paid?If you have previously received ALG you will be sent a notification letter over the summer. If you fulfil the criteria above please bring your ALG contract to the Student Funding team or Student Services Help Desk where we will assess your application. You will then be provided with the College ALG guidelines which lists certain absences that can be allowed for payment still to be released.
Payments will be made directly into your bank account. You’ll get the payments each week during term time as long as you have satisfactory attendance. Payment is normally made two weeks in arrears. Please provide evidence of any absences in writing to the Student Funding team within 14 days of the date of absence. After this time, a payment decision cannot be reversed.
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What is dLS 19+?This fund provides financial or ‘in kind’ help to eligible students aged 19+ (as of Wednesday 31 August 2011) with a number of course related costs. These funds are aimed at those most in need. There are four main elements of support and students may apply for one or more elements.
Fee remissionThis is awarded to current students who are not eligible for fee remission and have to pay their own course fees. Priority is given to students who received fee remission in 2010/11 and are progressing but are no longer eligible for fee remission due to the changes in the national rules. Students eligible for this support will need to fulfil the general criteria of dLS. This support is not guaranteed and you need to make provision to pay your fees in full.
Application for this element will provide students with support towards their December payment of fees. Students need to have paid their first two instalments and have maintained high attendance to receive this funding. The Student Funding team will notify students who will benefit from this support as there are only limited funds available.
Uniform and kit costsSupport is available to help you pay for course uniform and kit costs. This grant is means tested and available to students whose household income is less than £25,521 (based on the financial year ending April 2011). There are four bands of grants available depending on the course costs:
Course cost Grant availableBelow £200 £100£200 - £300 £200£300 - £400 £300£400 or more £400
Please note you may need to purchase items before you start the course and the amount of the grant is not guaranteed to pay the costs in full.
TravelAssistance is available for full-time students. The amount will be dependent on home address. Support is means tested on household income below £25,521.
Students living within Devon and Cornwall will receive £200 over the academic year (in three termly payments) and students within the Plymouth city boundary (who are not in PL1, PL2 and PL5 St Budeaux) will receive £150 over the year. Any remaining contribution for a bus pass will need to be made in full before the pass is released.
Continuation supportThis is awarded to current City College Plymouth students who are no longer eligible for ALG (progressing from a level 2 to their first full level 3 qualification, or an EMA recipient who has turned 19 and is therefore no longer eligible and is undertaking the first full level 2 or level 3 qualification). Those eligible will receive a termly grant payment of £100 to assist with costs incurred with coming to College and this will be issued subject to attendance.
Hardship grantsAny student with exceptional hardship or emergency needs can apply for financial assistance to enable them to remain at College. This is normally a one-off support payment or very short term support. It cannot be used to substitute for state benefits or living costs.
Who can apply? General criteriaEligible students must be:• enrolled on a full-time or part-time course
funded by the government• have good attendance• fulfil normal UK residency rules.
The amount you are entitled to will depend on your household income.
Discretionary Learner Support (dLS) Fund for those aged 19+
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How do I apply?You will need to complete the 19+ Discretionary Learner Support (dLS) application form and return to the Student Funding team or Student Services Help Desk with the relevant evidence by the following dates:
September enrolments by Friday 23 September 2011
January enrolmentsby Friday 10 February 2012
What income evidence is required?Please refer to the guidance notes attached to the dLS application form for more information.
Please note that the dLS fund is cash limited and issued on a first come, first served basis.
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What is Care to Learn?If you are a young parent, Care to Learn can help pay for your childcare and any additional travel costs whilst you are learning.
Who can apply?You must be:• aged under 20 on the start date of your course• living in England (normal residency rules apply)• the main carer for your child/ren• using an Ofsted registered childcare provider
(this can be a childminder, nursery or pre-school).
How do I apply?You can pick up an application form from the Student Funding team or request one via the Care to Learn website www.direct.gov.uk/moneytolearn. You will need to complete the application form then get your childcare provider and the College to complete it before it can be processed. Please forward the application to the Student Funding team for completion - not your tutor. You will receive support of up to £160 per week towards costs based on your College timetable. This is paid directly to your childcare provider.
If you have any problems completing the application form, please contact the Learner Support Service on 0800 121 8989.
Care to Learn (C2L)
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How do I apply?Students aged 20 or over (as of Wednesday 31 August 2011) may be entitled to assistance with childcare costs from dLS.
You will have to complete the general 19+ dLS application form and fulfil the general criteria, and also fulfil the following:• have a household income below £17,729• be using an Ofsted registered provider• be the main carer for the child/ren (eg partner
is unable to care for them).
You will need to complete a childcare form for each child you require childcare support for - the form will also need to be completed by the childcare provider. Please provide a copy of your child’s Birth Certificate or recent Child Tax Credit notice.
You MUST apply within 28 days of your course starting for childcare costs to be fully backdated (childcare and main application form). Childcare forms received after this time will only be backdated to the Monday in the week the application was received by the Student Funding team.
What help is available?• Childcare costs will be covered for the time
spent in timetabled classes at College only • Up to £160 per week for full-time students• Up to £80 per week for part-time students• We may pay a 50% retainer for holiday
periods (excluding one week at Christmas and summer break) if required by your childcare provider
• One day’s additional placement will also be covered if compulsory for your course.
If your child is aged three or four and qualifies at any point during the academic year for the Nursery Education Grant (NEG), this cost will be deducted and dLS will only cover any remaining cost - term time only.
Payment is made monthly direct to your childcare provider - once a student is enrolled and subject to attendance. If your attendance falls below 90%, your childcare payments will be stopped and you will be liable for all remaining amounts.
How will I know my application is successful?• You will hear from us within four weeks of your
childcare application being received by the Student Funding team. If you do not hear from us within that time, do contact us as we might not have received your childcare form.
• Once your childcare application has been processed, a payment schedule will be sent to you and your childcare provider to sign. Payment will not be released until the signed copy is received by the Student Funding team. By signing the form, you both agree that the details are accurate. You and your provider only have 28 days to query the costs/days being paid from the date they signed the form; the only exceptions being due to a timetable change/change in nursery fees when we are informed in advance.
Until the offer letter is sent to you and your provider confirming your entitlement to childcare assistance, the College does not have any obligation to pay any childcare fees. You therefore need to consider how you will pay childcare costs if your application is unsuccessful.
If there are any changes in your childcare needs (ie timetable changes, fee amount changes) please inform the Student Funding team in advance. If this information is not passed to the team, any additional costs may not be covered.
This scheme is cash limited and issued on a first come, first served basis.
Discretionary Learner Support (dLS) Fund - Childcare
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Housing Support Residential Support Scheme (RSS)What is the RSS?The RSS provides financial support with accommodation costs (term time only) for those students aged 16 and above who need to study away from home because their course is not available locally.
Who is eligible?You will qualify for RSS if you:• are aged 16 or over• are undertaking your first full level 2 or level
3 qualification• have a daily return travel journey of over 15
miles, or over two hours in travelling time from home to College
• have a household income below £30,993• are ordinarily resident in England, and have
been for the past three years prior to the start of your course
• are attending a course where similar provision is not available locally.
Please note that your course must be government funded and of at least 15 hours per week for at least ten weeks in duration.
How do I apply?You can pick up an application from the Student Funding team or request one online at www.direct.gov.uk/moneytolearn. Once you have completed the relevant sections, you will need to bring your application form to the Student Funding team - along with a copy of your tenancy agreement.
If you change accommodation at any point during the year, please inform the Student Funding team immediately to ensure your entitlement is not affected.
What evidence is required?Household income evidence is required - please refer to the guidance notes in the application form for more details, or you can contact the Learner Support Service on 0800 121 8989 for more help.
What help do I receive?Annual support of up to £3,458 (dependent on household income) towards your lodgings costs will be made direct to your landlord each term - subject to your attendance. You will be liable for costs outside of term time. Your grant may not be able to cover the full rent costs, so you will be liable for any outstanding amount.
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Deadline Dates
SchemeTransitional EMA
16 - 19 Bursary
dLS - TransportCourse GrantContinuation Support
dLS - Emergency/hardship Situations
Need to provide ...Notice of Entitlement
16 - 18 dLS application form and supporting evidence
16 - 18 dLS application form and supporting evidenceTransport - payment required and passport sized photograph
Letter detailing the issue and what support is being requested
Deadline DateAs soon as you have enrolled
September enrolments - by Friday 23 September 2011January enrolments - by Friday 10 February 2012
September enrolments - by Friday 23 September 2011January enrolments - by Friday 10 February 2012
As soon as possible - addressed to the Student Funding Officer, Student Funding team
16 - 18 support
SchemeAdult Learning Grant
dLS - Course GrantTransportContinuation Support
dLS - Emergency/hardship Situations
Need to provide ...Notice of Entitlement
16 - 18 dLS application form and supporting evidenceTransport - payment required and passport sized photograph
Letter detailing the issue and what support is being requested
Deadline DateAs soon as you have enrolled
September enrolments - by Friday 23 September 2011January enrolments - by Friday 10 February 2012
As soon as possible - addressed to the Student Funding Officer, Student Funding team
19+ support
SchemeCare to Learn
dLS - Childcare
Need to provide ...Care to Learn application form and child’s birth certificate - to Student Funding team. Form needs to be completed by childcare provider first
19+ general application form with supporting evidence and dLS childcare form with copy of child’s birth certificate/child tax credit notice
Deadline DateSent to head office in Darlington within 28 days of childcare starting for childcare to be fully backdated
Handed in to Student Funding team within 28 days of childcare starting for costs to be fully backdated
Childcare support
SchemeResidential Support Scheme
Need to provide ...RSS application form and supporting evidence to Student Funding team
Deadline DateSent to head office in Darlington by December 2011 to be backdated for the autumn term
Housing support
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Attendance To receive financial support from any of the national schemes or any other funds from the College you must attend 100% of your classes. Reports for EMA and ALG will be made on a weekly basis. For all childcare schemes (including Discretionary Learner Support Childcare) this will be checked on a monthly basis, and the Residential Support Scheme on a termly basis. Failure to achieve 100% attendance will lead to the non-payment of assistance for the following week/month/term.
WithdrawalsIf you withdraw from your course you will not receive further financial assistance. You will also have to repay any financial assistance you have been awarded and pay any outstanding fees.
AppealsIf your assistance is stopped or withdrawn due to poor attendance then you have the right to appeal. You should appeal to the Student Funding Officer in writing, explaining the circumstance as to why payment/s should be reinstated and providing as much information as possible.
If you believe your dLS application has not been assessed correctly, you do not receive a grant or you are not happy with the level of support allocated, you can appeal. Your appeal should be made in writing and addressed to: Appeals, Student Funding Team, City College Plymouth, Kings Road, Devonport, Plymouth, PL1 5QG.
If, for any reason, you are not happy with the outcome of the appeal please let us know by writing to the Student Services Manager, City College Plymouth, Kings Road, Devonport, Plymouth, PL1 5QG.
You can only appeal once regarding a specific situation - if your appeal is declined, you are unable to re-appeal for the same reason again, unless you can provide new additional information to support your case.
If you are unhappy with the decision of the Student Services Manager you can make use of the College’s formal complaints procedure.
Further dLS conditions (16 - 18, 19+ and Childcare):• if you enrol and your dLS application is
unsuccessful, you will have to pay your course costs in full
• if you withdraw from your course(s), you will have to pay for the course(s) in full
• you must supply all necessary evidence with your application. Your application will not be assessed without it
• dLS funding is only available for one course per academic year. If you are on a two year course you will need to make a new application for help each academic year
• you will not receive funding if you have outstanding debts to the College or your household income is above the rates mentioned.
Terms and Conditions
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The Student Funding team is here to ensure that you get the best advice and support with your application for financial support.
If you need help, or would like to speak to someone on an individual basis, please do not hesitate to come to one of our drop-in sessions throughout term time, at Kings Road and Goschen, or you can arrange a private appointment if you would prefer.
Student Funding staff can provide you with more detailed information on any of the schemes mentioned in this guide or help with completing forms.
You can contact the Student Funding team by telephone on 01752 305381/305110 or by e-mail [email protected].
Student Funding TeamCity College PlymouthKings RoadDevonportPlymouthPL1 5QG
The Student Funding Team
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Student Funding TeamCity College PlymouthKings RoadDevonportPlymouthPL1 5QG
t: 01752 305381e: [email protected]