Higher Education Funding
It can be difficult to navigate through the maze of Higher Education fees, especially if you’re a mature student or have a family to look after. We are on hand to give information, advice, and guidance and can help you find the best help available. We also have a means-tested College bursaries available to help students with study and living costs.
The fees for 2025-26 new entrants studying full-time Degree level courses are £7,750. Any changes during your period of study will be in line with Consumer Price Index, our Fee Policy, and Government guidelines and requirements. Please note. Foundation Degrees are qualifications in their own right and students progressing from a Foundation Degree to a top-up year are subject to a new fee.
Funding your course
You may be able to borrow money from Student Finance England to help pay for your tuition fees and to help with living costs whilst studying for your degree.
You can view our refund policy by clicking the button below:
Student Finance England
Student Finance England offer a wide range of loans and grants including:
- Tuition Fee Loans – available for both full and part-time students to cover the cost of course fees
- Maintenance Loans are available for full-time students and are dependent on household income. They are designed to help towards living and travel expenses. Maintenance Loans are available for undergraduate part time degree courses
- Dependant Grants including:
- Childcare Grant – means-tested grant with up to 85% of childcare costs covered
- Parents’ Learning Allowance – means tested grant for students with dependent children
- Adult Dependants’ Grant – a non-repayable grant to help students who have an adult who depends on them
Contact Student Finance England for more information.
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
Full and part-time students with a disability, mental-health condition or specific learning difficulty may be eligible for support through DSA. Applications must be made before the degree programme start date to ensure the appropriate support is available. Apply for DSA through Student Finance England.
At Craven College, all students have access to study support workshops, small group teaching, and resources in an accessible format. If you are awarded DSA this will be a contract between yourself and external providers and is not administered by the College. On occasion, the DSA Needs Assessment makes recommendations that exceed the amount of DSA funding received. If this is the case, the College will support you in deciding how best to utilise your funding but cannot guarantee any shortfall will be covered.
Craven College offers a range of Higher Education bursaries to try to ensure that no eligible student has to withdraw from their course due to a lack of financial support.
The bursaries are open to all full and part-time HE students on the following programmes:
- Undergraduate Honours Degrees (Top-ups)
- Foundation Degrees
- Higher Nationals – Certificates and Diplomas
- Initial Teacher Training qualifications
FREE BREAKFASTS
On the Aireville Campus, all students arriving before 9:00am each day can enjoy a FREE healthy breakfast in our Café.
HE HARDSHIP FUND
This fund is a one-off discretionary payment of up to £300, which is decided on presented evidence and is open to all HE students.
You may also be eligible for other bursaries…
Download our HE student bursary flowchart to see what financial support you could be eligible for while studying at College.
For more information about the range of bursaries and eligibility criteria, please email our Bursaries team on bursaries@craven-college.ac.uk
HE STUDENTS WITH HOUSEHOLD INCOME UNDER £25,000
Financial support is available to all Higher Education students with a household income of £25,000 or less. Part-time students would be eligible for the same funding pro-rata over their course.
Thresholds are reviewed annually and will align with SFE Parental contribution Threshold (£25,000).
All bursaries excluding the Care leaver’s bursary need to be applied for annually.
FREE MEALS
You may also be entitled to free College meals if your household income is below £25,000.
SPECIALIST KIT AND EQUIPMENT BURSARY
This bursary is available to refund 100% of a purchase up to £400, if your household income is below £25,000. The special kit and equipment must be approved by the course tutor or Head of Department and an application submitted before purchase.
CRAVEN HE BURSARY
This £800 bursary is made in two 2 instalments of £400 in October and February, if your household income is below £25,000. The February payment is dependent on attendance of 90% (unless evidence of extenuating circumstances supplied).
GRADUATION BURSARY
This bursary covers the graduation ticket, gown and photography package, if your household income is below £25,000.
CARE LEAVERS
CARE LEAVERS BURSARY
This bursary is paid to students that left local authority care in the 2 years prior to enrolment. This is a non means tested bursary of £800 and will be paid for each year of study, payable in two instalments in October and February. The February payment is dependent on attendance of 90% (unless evidence of extenuating circumstances supplied).
STUDENTS STUDYING EARLY YEARS COURSES
ALIX COUGHLIN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP
This fund is to support students with the costs of a visit, conference or educational event or for help towards the cost of a training course that would enhance professional development. Payments could cover travel, event fees and/or course costs. Scholarship payments are not automatic and may partially or fully cover the cost. Payments will be awarded on an individual basis following assessment of an application form. The application requires an outline of the benefits of the course or visit to your own professional development.
ALIX COUGHLIN HARDSHIP FUND
This fund will support students to cover one off costs that are resulting in hardship. The payment is decided on presented evidence and can be for amounts up to £600.