Cost of studying in the regions

Student domicile: England

Place of study: England

Variable fees, up to £3,000 a year. Payment may be deferred until after graduation by taking out a loan for fees. Repayments start once graduates are earning over £15,000, on a sliding scale in line with income. Maintenance loans available, with the amount varying according to place of study. All students eligible for 75% of maximum figure, with the remainder dependent on household income and amount of maintenance grant received. Three rates: at home, away from home, or away from home in London. Non-repayable government maintenance grants of up to £2,700 a year, means-tested. Each institution that charges the full £3,000 fee must provide a bursary of at least £300 to students receiving the full maintenance grant. Many institutions offering additional bursary schemes to students from low-income families and high-achievers.

Place of study: Wales

No variable fees in Wales in 2006/7. Students will pay a fixed-rate fee of £1,200 a year, regardless of parental income. Loans for fees, with repayments starting once graduates are earning more than £15,000, on a sliding scale in line with income. From 2007/8 variable fees will be introduced, up to £3,000 a year. The system of fee deferral will remain in place. Students will be entitled to the same level of student support as in their home country. The National Bursary Scheme in Wales will provide targeted bursaries to both Welsh and non-Welsh students.

Place of study: Scotland

No variable fees in Scotland. Fixed-rate fee of £1,700 a year, regardless of parental income. Medical students will have to pay a higher fee of £2,700 a year. New students from England will lose their free fourth year. Payment of fees may be deferred until after graduation by taking out a loan for fees. Repayments start once graduates are earning over £15,000, on a sliding scale. Students will be entitled to the same level of student support as in their home country.

Place of study: Northern Ireland

Variable fee, up to £3,000 a year. Loans for fees, with repayments starting once graduates are earning over £15,000, on a sliding scale in line with income. As in England, each institution that charges the full £3,000 fee must provide a bursary of at least £300 to students receiving the full maintenance grant, and NI institutions are expected to offer bursaries of more than £300 to students from low-income families. It is likely that English students will be eligible for such bursaries. Students will be entitled to the same level of student support as in their home country.

Student domicile: Wales

Place of study: England

Variable fee, up to £3,000 a year. Loans for fees, with repayments starting once graduates earn over £15,000, on a sliding scale in line with income. The Assembly Learning Grant of up to £2,700 and maintenance loans will be available for eligible students, as for Welsh students studying in Wales, but no tuition fee grant. Students likely to be eligible for bursaries provided by English HE institutions charging variable fees.

Place of study: Wales

In 2006/7 students will pay a fixed rate of about £1,200 a year, regardless of parental income. Payment may be deferred until after graduation by taking out a loan. Repayments start once graduates earn more than £15,000. From 2007/8 variable fees of up to £3,000 will be introduced (with students who started in 2006/7 also liable). Welsh students who choose to study in Wales will be eligible for a £1,800 tuition fee grant, so their situation will remain unchanged. The Assembly Learning Grant will provide maintenance support of up to £2,700 for eligible Welsh students. Maintenance loans available, with the amount varying according to place of study. From 2007/8 a national bursary scheme will be introduced for students attending HE institutions in Wales.

Place of study: Scotland

Same fee arrangements as for English students studying in Scotland. The Assembly Learning Grant of up to £2,700 and maintenance loans will be available for eligible students, as for Welsh students studying in Wales, but no tuition fee grant.

Place of study: Northern Ireland

Same fee arrangements as for English students studying in Northern Ireland. The Assembly Learning Grant of up to £2,700 and maintenance loans will be available for eligible students, as for Welsh students studying in Wales, but no tuition fee grant. Students likely to be eligible for bursaries provided by NI institutions charging variable fees.

Student domicile: Scotland

Place of study: England

Variable fee, up to £3,000 a year. Payment may be deferred until after graduation by taking out a loan for fees. Repayments start once graduates are earning over £15,000, on a sliding scale. A meanstested maintenance loan will be available. Up to £2,000 of the student loan for living costs will be replaced by a means-tested maintenance grant. Details being finalised. Students likely to be eligible for bursaries provided by English HE institutions charging variable fees.

Place of study: Wales

Same fee arrangements as for English students studying in Wales. Scottish students will be eligible for a means-tested maintenance loan. Up to £2,000 of the student loan for living costs will be replaced by a means-tested maintenance grant. Details being finalised. The National Bursary Scheme in Wales will provide targeted bursaries to both Welsh and non- Welsh students.

Place of study: Scotland

No tuition fees, but Scottish graduates pay a graduate endowment (GE) - a one-off payment on April 1 following graduation. Those who started degree courses in 2004/5 will pay £2,154. HNC, HND, mature students, lone parents and disabled students are exempt from GE liability.Students get means-tested loans towards living costs. Young students from lowincome families receive part of their living cost in the form of a non-repayable young students' bursary (YSB). The maximum YSB in 2005/6 is £2,395. Figures for GE and YSB for 2006/7 not yet announced. Other grants available for mature students, student parents and disabled students.

Place of study: Northern Ireland

Same fee arrangements as for English and Welsh students studying in Northern Ireland. Scottish students will be eligible for a meanstested maintenance loan, with up to £2,000 of the student loan for living costs replaced by a means-tested maintenance grant. Details being finalised. Students likely to be eligible for bursaries provided by NI institutions charging variable fees.

Student domicile: Northern Ireland

Place of study: England

Variable fee, up to £3,000. Payment may be deferred until after graduation by taking out a loan for fees. Repayments start once graduates are earning over £15,000, on a sliding scale. Students will be entitled to the same package of support as if they studied in Northern Ireland. Students likely to be eligible for bursaries provided by English institutions charging variable fees.

Place of study: Wales

Same fee arrangements as for English and Scottish students studying in Wales (see above). Students will be entitled to the same package of student support as if they studied in Northern Ireland. The National Bursary Scheme in Wales will provide targeted bursaries to both Welsh and non-Welsh students.

Place of study: Scotland

Fixed rate of £1,700 a year, regardless of parental income. Medical students will pay a higher fee of £2,700. Students will be entitled to the same package of support as if they studied in Northern Ireland.Place of study: Northern Ireland

Variable fee, up to £3,000 a year. The system of fee deferral (loans for fees, with repayments after graduation on a sliding scale in line with income), maintenance loans and maintenance grants will be as for English students studying in England (see above). The key difference is the amount of non-repayable means-tested maintenance grant available. For Northern Irish students, this will be up to £3,200 a year. As in England, each institution that charges the full £3,000 fee must provide a bursary of at least £300 to students receiving the full grant. NI institutions are expected to offer bursaries of more than £300 to students from low-income families.

Teacher training

From 2006/7, new students on postgraduate teacher training courses such as the PGCE and SCITT in England and Northern Ireland may be charged a variable fee of up to £3,000. In recognition of the present fee exemption for PGCEs, trainees from England, Wales and NI will receive the first £1,200 of the maintenance grant non-means tested (the exact position for those from Scotland has not yet been announced). Trainees should be eligible for bursaries where appropriate, and financial incentives such as golden hellos will still be available in England for trainees who go on to work in maintained schools here. NHS training Nursing and midwifery and allied health professions courses funded by the Department of Health do not fall within the variable fees regime; this should remain so, subject to any change in policy. Students on these courses are eligible for financial support across the board. Depending on where you plan to study, you can obtain more information from the appropriate funding bodies.