Financial Support
We are committed to providing our future students with the same world-class education and state-of-the-art facilities available to our students today. From 2012 the UK Government will introduce new funding arrangements for higher education, and our fees structure will change. We will be introducing a raft of measures to ensure that we continue to attract the most talented, ambitious students regardless of their financial circumstances.
Find out more about undergraduate fees and funding from 2012. http://www.southampton.ac.uk/study/feesandfunding/feesandfunding_2012.html
Introduction
Managing Your Money
Going to university means that you will need to plan your finances carefully. The good news is that studying at Southampton is no more expensive than anywhere else. Indeed, in a recent survey by the Royal Bank of Scotland, Southampton was named as the third least expensive city for students in the UK so your money will go further (Student Living Index 2004). Studying at Southampton therefore makes good financial sense.
Financial support is available to many students who study Physics at the University. This page provides a wide range of information on tuition fees, bursaries and scholarship schemes and should answer any questions you may have.
If you would like further information on any of these issues, please get in touch via email: entry@phys.soton.ac.uk
What are the costs of going to university?
There are three main costs for students: tuition fees, living costs (including rent) and course costs (books, travel and equipment).
Tuition fees for UK students are paid, in part, by a student's Local Education Authority (LEA). The component you must pay is called the "top up fee" and is £3,375 for all our courses commencing October 2011. Your LEA may provide additional assistance with this expense and the University also offers a number of bursary and scholarship opportunities which we will describe below. In any case you need not pay this fee up front but may take out a loan which is only repaid when you have started earning in your future career.
Full details about tuition fees are available on the University's website.
Part-time work
To provide a little extra financial support, some students work part time during their university studies. This can help to provide some much needed extra cash. However, try not to take on too many work commitments, as study time is important.
The Careers Advisory Service (CAS) can help UK and international students to find part-time employment. Temp Bank can help students to find work across the University (e.g. in the Students Union or the libraries) and is designed to give some flexibility around study timetables.
For further details about CAS, go to: www.soton.ac.uk/study/careerprospects/careersadvisory.html
For further details about Temp Bank, go to: www.soton.ac.uk/study/careerprospects/parttimework.html
For further details, go to: www.dfes.gov.uk/international-students
Working in the UK
International science and technology students can work in the UK for 12 months following graduation from a UK institution.
For more information on financial support available to physics and astronomy students, visit: www.phys.soton.ac.uk
The university has produced an informative guide to money matters. To download a copy, go to: www.soton.ac.uk/moneymatters
Physics and Astronomy
Physics and Astronomy Scholarships
Physics and Astronomy awards a maximum of five scholarships annually to outstanding UK/EU students, based on a written examination taken in November of the year proceeding entry. These scholarships are worth £5,000 to the successful applicant for each year of their study (up to 4 years). Successful students will also receive automatic admission.
Invitations to sit the examination are sent to students who apply to us through UCAS before the 31st October.
The Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme
The University of Southampton, in collaboration with the Royal Navy, Army, RAF and MOD, offers a sponsorship scheme for students planning to enter the military after their degree studies. All students in the School of Physics and Astronomy are eligible to apply. Awards are currently worth £5500 per year.
For more information, go to: www.thunderersquadron.mod.uk
UK Government Funding
Student loans (for UK students)
These are controlled by Local Education Authorities (LEAs). You should apply for a student loan direct via your LEA, which will determine the maximum amount you can borrow.
About 75% of the maximum loan will be available to students on our courses who are under the age of 50 (or 54 for students who plan to return to work following their studies). The remaining quarter is means tested. Your LEA will confirm details of the amount you can borrow.
Student loans have to be repaid and the amount of interest payable is index linked to inflation. In real terms, this means that you pay back the amount you borrow. Importantly, you do not start to pay back the loan until you have graduated and are earning at least £15,000.
Students with disabilities or those with dependants may also be entitled to a grant to help meet some living costs. Please note: The Disabled Students Allowance is the only award that is not means tested.
For details of your local LEA, go to: www.dfes.gov.uk/leagateway
Hardship Funds
Hardship funds enable universities to provide support to those who are facing real financial difficulties during their time at university. Part-time UK students may also be eligible for a fee waiver from their LEA.
For further information, contact the Student Funds Office on +44 (0)23 8059 3287 or visit: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/study/feesandfunding/grants_hardship.html
Maintenance Grants
The government provides maintenance grants to low income students. The maximum possible grant is £2,700 but the precise amount provided depends on your household income. Typically 40% of our students receive one of these grants, which are awarded by your LEA.
University of Southampton Bursaries
The University of Southampton runs its own bursary scheme to support students from households with low incomes who do not hold a hardship bursary. The Bursary Scheme has two parts:
UK Student Bursary
For UK students whose family income is below £21,500 (as calculated by the LEA), the University provides automatic maintenance bursaries of £1000 for every year of full-time registration to which tuition fees apply.
For UK students where the family income falls between £21,500 and £26,000, the University provides maintenance bursaries of £500 for every year of full-time registration to which tuition fees apply.
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Bursaries
The University awards 150 bursaries to applicants from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from groups who are under represented in higher education.
These bursaries, which are worth £1000 each, are available to students attending colleges and school sixth-forms in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Priority will be given to students from the University's partner colleges.
Award holders will benefit in their first year of full-time, full-fee registration. The bursaries will be allocated on a competitive basis and the following factors are taken into account:
- the applicant's household income
- whether the applicant is the first in his/her family to enter higher education (excluding siblings)
- whether the applicant is aged 21 or under on entry
- whether the applicant is in receipt of a full maintenance grant of £2700
- whether the applicant is already in receipt of a hardship bursary.
Sports Bursaries
For students who are competing in a sport at national or international level, the University offers sports bursaries of up to £3,000 a year. These provide financial assistance for up to three years.
International Students
Physics and Astronomy International Scholarships
Scholarships are available to students from outside the EU. These scholarships provide overseas students with £1000 per year for every grade A achieved in A Level examinations (up to a maximum of £3000 per year). Students holding equivalent qualifications to A Levels may be eligible to apply.
Students applying for a place on Physics and Astronomy courses through UCAS will be automatically considered for a scholarship.
Please contact the Admissions Tutor for further information: entry@phys.soton.ac.uk
Other International Scholarships
A number of scholarships and bursaries are available for EU and international students in the School of Physics and Astronomy from various sponsoring bodies/organisations.
For further deatils please see the University web site:
http://www.soton.ac.uk/international/scholarships/index.shtml
And the British Council website:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-funding-your-studies.htm