University support for undergraduates
Access to Learning Fund: How are applications assessed?
Your application will be treated either as a
standard or a
non-standard claim. We will assess standard applications under an
additional need method that looks at the difference between accepted
reasonable expenditure and expected income. If you have unforeseen
circumstances your application can then be considered under a
non-standard assessment.
The assessment process for standard and non-standard awards is
designed to identify students who have particular financial needs and
those who are in unforeseen financial difficulty. This should result in
most of the available funding being directed towards students with a low
income and those who have exceptionally high course-related costs.
Standard awards
Standard awards can help to meet general costs associated with being
a full-time undergraduate student such as living costs e.g. rent,
mortgage payments, food, utility bills etc. In addition, assistance with
course related costs such as childcare, travel, books and field trips is
available for all students including part-time and postgraduate
students.
For full-time undergraduate students being assessed for a standard
award there is an assumed income, set at a realistic level of £1,694 per
year for full year students and £565 per year for final year students.
This assumes income from a number of sources including part time work /
additional support from your parents/partner/bank overdraft/savings etc.
For full-time postgraduate students a weekly notional postgraduate
income amount is applied to standard assessments. This is set at £161
for those studying outside London and £194 for those studying in London
(i.e. Loughton-based students). For students with children or who are
unable to work due to a disability these amounts will be £129 for those
studying outside London and £161 for those studying in London (at the
Loughton campus). For postgraduate students, if you cannot show
that you have made provision for tuition fees and at least £2,500
towards your living costs, your application to the Access to Learning
Fund will not be considered.
On top of these assumed incomes, Undergraduate and Postgraduate
students must also show that they have the provision to pay for their
tuition fee costs, as the Access to Learning Fund cannot be used to
cover these.
We also apply a set expenditure level, known as the
Composite Living Cost, which is based upon state benefit amounts for
general living costs such as food and usual household costs such as
utility bills. The relevant amount will be set depending on your
circumstances, for example if you have children.
Expenditure on other costs including accommodation, travel and course
costs, are capped and fixed each year by the Access to Learning Fund
Committee.
Non-standard awards
Non-standard awards can help to meet exceptional costs, such as
repairs to essential household equipment, high costs for students
dependent on continuing medication and assistance with priority debts.
Emergency situations (including travel costs for family illness or
bereavement and hardship due to burglary or fire) can also be considered
under the non-standard award assessment. In addition to these examples,
costs for disabled students not met by the Disabled Students Allowance
(DSA) can be considered.
Composite Living Cost
The Composite Living Cost or CLC is fixed each academic year by the
Government and covers expenditure on basic costs, such as food,
household bills, clothes and entertainment. The CLC ensures that
all applicants are treated fairly regardless of where they study and
their individual lifestyle choices.
For example:
| Student profile |
Colchester or Southend-based |
Loughton-based |
Total (Colchester/Southend) |
Total (Loughton) |
| Single student |
£69 |
£107 |
£2,691 (39 weeks) |
£4,173 (39 weeks) |
| Student with partner |
£109 |
£147 |
£4,251 (39 weeks) |
£5,733 (39 weeks) |
| Student with partner and 2 children under 16 |
£255 |
£293 |
£10,965 (43 weeks) |
£12,599 (43 weeks) |
Single student with 2 children
under 16 |
£215 |
£253 |
£9245 (43 weeks) |
£10,879 (43 weeks) |
Further information: