Money & Jobs
STUDENT MONEY MANUAL 2013
Fresh, funny and feisty – The Student Moneymanual 2013 takes a new view of money management at uni and beyond to give you the inside scoop on questions such as:
•How much does higher education cost?
•Where does the money come from?
•What financial help is out there?
•How do you make – and stick to – a budget?
Completely revised and updated for 2013, this is a brilliant guide to developing money sense at any age – and essential reading for anyone in higher education in the UK.
Publisher Credit Action is the UK’s national financial capability charity and is dedicated to better thinking about money.
Click here to download
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RETURNING 2013/14 STUDENTS
Students who will be returning to study in 13/14 and are currently in receipt of NON-mean tested funding from the SLC, are currently having their 13/14 funding rolled over automatically. SLC will send correspondence in the form of the standard financial notification sent to a student's registered address. (This will also be viewable via a student's online account under “View Correspondence”). Students must return the signed declaration as normal.
However, if students wish to change their assessment to MEANS tested, they will need to return the signed declaration already received and then once the online applications go live, apply for means tested funding.
EU students must still apply on a paper form which should be downloadable from the Gov.UK website from April 2013.
UK Part-time student applications should be available online from the summer 2013. EU part-time students can apply via a paper form from August 2013.
The launch date for 13/14 has yet to be set – we are awaiting confirmation of when the service will launch.
Brunel Student Centre Funding Team will be running SFE application clinics on the last Thursday in February and the first three Thursdays in March as normal. They will be publicising this more once applications go live.
SOCIAL WORK BURSARY REFORM IN ENGLAND
• Social work bursaries in England will change from 2013/14
• First year undergraduates will no longer receive a bursary
• Both undergraduate and postgraduate bursary numbers will be capped and as such a bursary is not guaranteed
• It is likely the vast majority of postgraduates will still receive bursary support but fewer undergraduates will
• For undergraduate study the bursary supplements the standard package provided by Student Finance England and students will still be able to access that package under the new rules
• The capping methodology has yet to be announced by the Department of Health
• Placement expenses may still be paid to those not in receipt of a bursary
Minimum wage rates
From October 2012:
- £6.19 for workers aged 21 and over,
- £4.98 for workers aged 18-20,
- £2.65 For apprentices under the age of 19, or for apprentices of any age in their first year of apprenticeship.
Money Doctors
Money Doctors is aimed at supporting you in navigating the financial challenges you may face. We’ll be running some fun and informative events across the year and hope you will come along and join us. In addition we’re able to provide guidance at our student funding clinics and can support you with one to one assistance if you need it.
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Interim financial help
Check out www.turn2us.org.uk which has interactive tools to access a Grants Search database or you can check to find out if you are eligible to apply for any Benefits.
JOBS
The Advice & Representation Centre (ARC) offers guidance and advice regarding your rights and responsibilities at work. Please Visit the Placement & Careers Centre website for more information on searching for jobs; applying for National Insurance Number; tax information.
STUDENTS AND TAX
The Low Incomes Tax Reforms guide takes a step-by-step approach to explaining the world of tax for students. The information on the website only offers general guidance on tax topics. You should always obtain specific advice before taking any action - http://www.litrg.org.uk/students.
CHANGE OF PLANS
Download our guide: Change of plan, suspending, withdrawing or transferring your studies
DIVORCE AND SEPARATION
Consumer Financial Education Body, which was established by Financial Services Authority, has prepared a new online tool to assist those who are going through divorce or separation.
This is the first interactive calculator of its kind as it helps people to draw up a budget to stay on top of their finances, as well as enabling them to get a useful estimate of how they could split their finances from one household to two. It has been created with help from several experts in this field, including Relate, Resolution, National Family Mediation, Families Need Fathers and the Family and Parenting Institute. Click hereto visit the moneymadeclear website for more information.
STUDENT PARENTS
BrightsideUNIAID Trust have launched a new website to help students with children prepare for university life. This project has developed as a result of our research into the experiences of student parents 'Meet the Parents' - the first UK-wide research into the experience of this student group. Thestudentparents.org website is a practical response to this, developed by a consortium of organisations, led by education charity BrightsideUNIAID and funded by the Nuffield Foundation.
Studentparents.org provides a range of online information and tools including; a jargon buster to provide clear information about student support, a budget calculator with information about financial support and tools, tips on preparing for higher education, including time management, childcare options and study skills, and case studies from students already balancing higher education with parenthood.
Additional guidance
Paying your utility bills
Childcare provider information
Access to Learning Fund (ARC info)
Access to Learning Fund (Student Centre info)
International students UKCISA guidance notes
International Student Calculator