Fees and Support

The right skills and qualifications can open all kinds of doors. As well as being fun and rewarding, learning can help you secure a job or move up the ladder in your chosen career. At UHOVI our aim is to help you start your learning journey so you can fulfil your ambitions. Along with our partner institutions, we will provide information and guidance to assist you in accessing the financial support available.

How much does it cost?

There are a range of grants, bursary schemes, loans and allowances available to help with course fees and living costs. Depending on your personal circumstances, you may be eligible for financial support meaning studying could cost less than you think. The information below will assist you to understand the relevant costs and the financial support available.

Part-time course fees:

Most UHOVI part-time courses cost £11.90 per credit. This means a bite-sized 10 credit module will cost £119 and a 20 credit module would cost £238. There is however a UHOVI Bursary Scheme for bite-sized courses so eligible applicants could benefit from a FREE place.

We also have a range of part-time qualifications including HNCs, foundation degrees and top-up degrees. Tuition fees for these courses are usually £11.90 per credit although fees can vary for professional qualifications (please check before making an application). The number of credits you study per year can vary depending on the course and the number of modules selected, but typically a part-time foundation degree would be studied over 3 years, meaning you'll take 80 credits per year at a cost of £952 per annum in 2013/14.

You may be eligible for financial assistance meaning the cost may actually be lower - Download our leaflet on Fees and Financial Support for Part-time Students 2013/14

Full-time course fees:

The fees for full-time university level study have changed but the cost of studying may be less than you think. The standard tuition fees for a UHOVI full time foundation degree is between £5000 and £7500. However Welsh students only pay £3,575* per year and many students will also qualify for financial support - Download our leaflet on Fees and Financial Support for new full-time Students 2013/14. Plus the rules have changed on repaying student loans so you now won't have to repay until you're earning more, and you'll repay a smaller amount per year.

*The standard full-time fee for a HND or a foundation degree is between £5000 and £7,500 per annum. For students starting a course in 13/14 the difference between £3575 and the full fee is covered by a non means tested tuition fee grant funded by the Welsh Government for eligible students. You need to apply to Student Finance Wales for this, terms and conditions apply. For UHOVI eligible returning students the difference between £3575 and the full fee is covered by UHOVI.

What financial support is available?

If you are a part-time student studying at least 50% of an equivalent full-time course, you may be entitled to receive a Fee Grant to help with your tuition fees, depending on your household income. You could also be eligible for a Course Grant to help towards the cost of studying. These grants are means-tested but you don't have to pay them back.

If you are a full-time student, you can choose to pay tuition fees up front (£3,575* per year) or you may wish to defer payment by applying for a Tuition Fee Loan. You could also be eligible for a means-tested Assembly Learning Grant of up to £5,161 per year and/or a Maintenance Loan to help with your living costs. The Assembly Learning Grant does not have to be repaid and any loans you borrow during your studies do not have to be repaid until you have finished the course and are earning at least £21,000 per year (if you are working in the UK).

Whether you're studying part-time or full-time, you may also be able to get extra help if you have adults or children who depend upon you financially. This does not have to be repaid and includes Adult Dependants' Grant, Childcare Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance.

If you have any additional course-related costs due to a disability, you might be entitled to additional help through the Disabled Students Allowance.

For more information on financial support available, download our leaflets detailing fees and support available for part-time or full-time students. Alternatively, visit Student Finance Wales at www.studentfinancewales.co.uk for information or to make an application, or you can speak to your Local Authority.

You can call UHOVI on 0800 1223 220 for more details or email: studentsupport@uhovi.ac.uk