Centenary Undergraduate Bursary 2014/15 FAQs

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1 Centenary Undergraduate Bursary 2014/15 FAQs 1. By what date do I need to apply for this Award to be eligible for consideration? For students who will be starting in September 2014 you will need to apply for the Bursary by 4pm on 25th April Applicants are reminded that they are solely responsible for ensuring that their application arrives at the Student Money Advice Team office by the closing date. You should normally expect to receive an confirmation that your application has been received and is being processed within 10 working days. Please ensure you keep this in a safe place as there will be no grounds for appeal without proof of your written confirmation. 2. Is there a deadline by which I must have applied for a place on a course at the University of South Wales? Yes. You must apply for an eligible course at the University of South Wales through UCAS by 15th January If you apply for a place on a course later than this, you will not be eligible to be considered for this Award. 3. Who is eligible to be considered for this Award? The main points of eligibility are below. However, the following FAQs clarify more detailed questions regarding eligibility. To be eligible you need to initially: apply to the University via UCAS by 15th January 2014 and firmly accept our offer by 7th May 2014 apply for the Centenary Bursary by 25th April 2014 be personally liable* to pay the full UK home rate as applicable to their course, as an eligible UK home student** i.e. not in receipt of the Welsh Government tuition fee grant reside 45 miles or more from the main University campus in Treforest (CF37 1DL) at the time of application, regardless of which campus you will be studying at reside during the first year of study in University owned or procured accommodation either in Halls on the Treforest or Caerleon campuses or in one of the University s nominated Halls in Cardiff successfully apply for the above accommodation by 30th June 2014 Be enrolled on an eligible course at the time of payment This bursary is not means tested. *you, your employer or your family may be paying the fee yourselves or you may be taking a tuition fee loan **this is defined by the student support regulations determined by the UK governments. These regulations are used by the government when assessing students for financial support and by the University when determining a student s fee liability.

2 4. How do I apply for my accommodation? You must apply through the University s accommodation system by 30th June You will be invited to apply for your place in Halls once you have confirmed the University of South Wales as your Firm choice on your UCAS application. Further information on how to apply for accommodation can be found on their website. 5. How much is the Bursary worth? This award is worth 1,500 in the first year of your course only. The bursary takes the form of a credit against the cost of University Halls accommodation in the first year of study and will make a direct credit transfer to the Accommodation department for those in Treforest or Caerleon Halls. Students residing in our nominated Cardiff Halls will receive a direct payment made to their bank account in the first year only. Please note that this payment will not be made until February 2015 and will not cover the full cost of the halls fees therefore it is the students responsibility to set up a payment plan for the outstanding amount. If you wish to find out how much your accommodation fees will be, or for any other query regarding accommodation, please visit the Accommodation pages. 6. When will the Bursary be paid? For applicants starting in 2014, we will aim to make the payment at the end of February I normally come from Wales and am in receipt of the tuition fee grant. Am I eligible to apply? No. The bursary is only for students who are liable to personally pay the full UK home rate as applicable to their course, as an eligible UK home student i.e. not in receipt of the Welsh Government tuition fee grant. 8. I am not eligible to receive the tuition fee grant as I already have an honours degree. Am I eligible to apply? Yes. 9. My tuition fees are being paid by my employer am I still eligible for the Bursary? Yes, providing the fees being paid are the full UK home rate as applicable to the course, and you are an eligible UK home student i.e. you are not in receipt of the Welsh Government tuition fee grant. 10. I live in Wales but over 45 miles away from the University. Am I eligible to apply? If you live in Wales and are not in receipt of the Tuition Fee Grant and you meet all other eligibility criteria, you are eligible to apply. 11. How do I calculate whether I am outside the 45 mile limit? Your home address must be more than 45 miles by road from the main University campus at Treforest, Llantwit Road, Pontypridd, CF37 1DL, as defined by the RAC Route Planner, irrespective of what campus you will be studying at. 12. Will I be automatically considered for a place in Halls? No. You must also apply for University Halls accommodation by the deadline of 30th June This is to enable the University to allocate you a suitable room and take into account your preferences. Applications will be online at Accommodation in 2014.

3 13. Do I have to live in Halls for the duration of my first year? Yes. You must reside in University Halls for the duration of your first year. If you do not reside in Halls for the duration of your first year, you will not be eligible for the Bursary and any money paid or allocated to you will be classed as an overpayment and you will have to repay the amount or pay your Halls fees in full. 14. Which courses are eligible for this bursary? This bursary is for students relocating to the University of South Wales in order to study a Full-Time Undergraduate Honours Degree. It is not applicable to students starting a HND/HNC, Foundation Degree, top up year(s), NHS funded degree or non-honours degree. 15. Do I have to be enrolled on an eligible course at the time of payment? Yes or any payments made will be considered as an overpayment and you will have to repay the bursary overpayment. 16. Are students from the Isle of Man and Channel Islands eligible for this bursary? No. This is because students from the Isle of Man and Channel Islands are not liable for the UK home rate of tuition fee. In order to be eligible for this bursary, applicants must be being charged the UK home rate of tuition fees. 17. I am a student from a non-uk country within the EU, and I am not eligible for UK loans or grants to assist me with my living costs. Am I eligible for the Centenary Bursary? No. You may however be eligible for the Welsh Government tuition fee grant to help towards the cost of your tuition fees. Go to the Student Finance Wales website (external link) for more information about this. 18. I am an International student. Am I eligible for the Centenary Bursary? No. As an International student you are not eligible for this Bursary. Please visit our International pages for information on funding that might be applicable to you. 19. Is the Centenary Undergraduate Bursary means-tested? No. The award doesn t take into account your income or your parents income. 20. How do I apply? After you have applied for a place on a full time eligible course, you will be sent a link to an online application form. 21. Can I take this Award as cash or is it in some other form? The bursary takes the form of a credit against the cost of University Halls accommodation in the first year of study and will be a direct credit transfer to the Accommodation department for those in Treforest and Caerleon Halls. Students residing in Cardiff Halls will receive a direct payment made to their bank account in the first year only. Please note that this payment will not be made until February 2015 and will not cover the full cost of the halls fees therefore it is the students responsibility to set up a payment plan for the outstanding amount. If you wish to find out how much your accommodation fees will be, or for any other query about accommodation, please view the Accommodation pages.

4 22. I live in eligible accommodation in Cardiff but I do not want it paid into my bank account as I am overdrawn. What alternatives are there? For payments made to students living in eligible Cardiff accommodation, payments must be made into a nominated bank/building society account in the student s name unless this arrangement is changed by the University of South Wales for administrative reasons. An alternative would be to open a new account with another bank/building society. Please ensure you provide the Student Money Advice Team with your new bank details. 23. What should I do if I wish to change my nominated bank account? You must inform the Student Money Advice Team of any changes to your nominated bank account. You may do this by completing a Bursary Applicant Bank Details Form and returning it to the Student Money Advice Team following the directions on the form. This form will be made available to you following enrolment. 24. I am a continuing undergraduate student; will I be entitled to apply? No. This Award applies only to new students who will be commencing new eligible courses at the University of South Wales in September To be considered for the Bursary, applicants must fulfill the relevant UCAS application criteria. 25. I am a part time student; will I be entitled to apply? No. This bursary is only open to applications from students starting new full-time eligible courses. 26. I was going to apply to the University for 2014 entry but am now considering a gap year, will I still be eligible? If you are planning to start your course in September 2015, you will need to check the details of any bursary scheme available to new students starting in September 2015 and fulfill the eligibility criteria relating to that scheme, including making a fresh application. Details regarding any 2015/16 scheme that might be offered are expected to be announced in summer If you have applied to the 2014 scheme, please notify the Student Money Advice Team by to scholarships@southwales.ac.uk that you no longer wish to be considered for the 2014 bursary scheme. 27. I am a student entering a course in year 2 (or 3), am I eligible for this bursary? No. This bursary is for students starting a full honours degree course starting at level 0 (foundation year) or level 1 in academic year 2014/15 as new students. The only exception to this is for students who are entering on year 2 of the LLB Law Accelerated Route, providing they have met all other criteria, including being liable to personally pay the UK home rate of fee. 28. I am currently undertaking a foundation year at the University of South Wales. Can I apply? No. This Award applies only to students who will be commencing new eligible courses at the University of South Wales in the new 2014 funding system and are liable to personally pay the UK home rate of fee as applicable to their course, as an eligible UK home student i.e. not in receipt of the Welsh Government tuition fee grant. 29. I will be starting a full time honours degree at Foundation year level in Am I eligible to apply?

5 Yes. 30. I have been offered a place on a course as a direct entrant. Do I have to apply through UCAS to be eligible to be considered for this bursary? Yes. Students who apply for their courses directly will not be eligible to be considered for the bursary as they have not fulfilled the criteria relating to applying through UCAS. 31. If I suspend my studies at any point, what happens to any bursary entitlement I may have? You will not receive any payments if you have suspended your studies. You would be eligible to apply for any scholarship/bursary package that may be in place at the time you return to study, providing you meet the criteria for that package/award and make a fresh application. 32. I am undertaking a sandwich year. Does this affect receipt of payments? Payment is made in your first year only. There are no subsequent payments. 33. What happens if I transfer from one eligible course to another? Payment is made in your first year only. There are no subsequent payments. 34. If I receive an overpayment, will I have to repay it? Yes. By accepting any payments you are agreeing to repay any amounts that are subsequently found to be overpayments or incorrect payments. Any overpayments that are not repaid will result in the debt being referred to the University Finance department and appropriate action taken. 35. What is the deadline by which I must have accepted the University s offer of a place on a course on a firm basis? You must apply to UCAS by January 15th 2014 and have accepted the University s offer of a place (on an eligible course) on a firm basis by May 7th What happens if I have to repeat part of my course? Payment is made in your first year only. There are no subsequent payments. 37. Is it repayable if I leave my course? No, there is no requirement for you to repay the Award, unless payment has been made in error. 38. I want to study a University of South Wales course at an accredited/associate college. Will I be entitled to the Bursary? No, however you may be eligible for any bursaries offered by the college. Please contact the accredited/associate college direct. Their contact details can be found on our website. 39. Can I reapply for the Bursary for my subsequent years of study? No. There are no subsequent payments of the Bursary. 40. I meet the criteria for both the Flying Start Scholarship 2014/2015 and the Undergraduate Centenary Bursary 2014/15 can I receive both? No. We will discuss with you which scheme is most beneficial for you to receive.

6 41. What happens if I apply directly to Liberty Living for my accommodation? You must apply for your Halls of Residence through our accommodation department to be considered for the Bursary. You will be ed the details on how you can apply for Halls in Cardiff, Treforest and Caerleon once you have made a course at the University of South Wales your firm choice. 43. What happens if I am excluded from Halls? You must reside in University Halls for the duration of your first year. If you do not reside in Halls for the duration of your first year, you will not be eligible for the Bursary and any money paid or allocated to you will be classed as an overpayment and you will have to repay the amount or pay your Halls fees in full. 44. Can I appeal against any decisions regarding my eligibility? All students have the right to appeal decisions made by the Student Money Advice Team regarding their eligibility to the Centenary Bursary, however please be aware that appeals are most likely to be successful in cases where applicants have extenuating circumstances. This may include applicants who feel that they cannot meet the criteria due to a Protected Characteristic as defined by the Equality Act Please note that in such cases appeals will need to include evidence where appropriate. All appeals must be made in writing and addressed to Bursary Appeals, Student Money Advice Team, University of South Wales, Llantwit Road, Treforest, CF37 1DL. Alternatively, you can your appeal to scholarships@southwales.ac.uk, citing Scholarships Appeal in the subject line. Appeals are considered by the Appeals Adjudicator, who is independent of the Student Money Advice Team. Their decision is final. University of South Wales bursaries are offered on the basis that they are potentially subject to change in the event of changes to the fee and student support regime applicable in Wales. The University also reserves the right to limit the number of bursaries available.