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Press release


  • 17 March 2005
  • Sussex fees and funding help for 2006 students agreed


    Students applying to the University of Sussex for 2006 will benefit from a range of bursaries and scholarships to help with the cost of their studies.

     

    The Office for Fair Access (Offa) - the public body that promotes access to Higher Education for all - has today formally confirmed that the University of Sussex will be allowed to charge £3,000 per year for "home" (UK and EU) entrants to full-time undergraduate programmes from 2006. Students will not have to pay these fees up front, but can choose instead to defer payment until they are graduates, working and earning more than £15,000 per year.

     

    Offa's approval depended on the University putting in place new financial support schemes for students from less well-off backgrounds and undertaking more outreach work to help improve progression to higher education across all social groups. The University's package of targeted bursaries and scholarships, which will supplement non-repayable annual maintenance grants of up to £2,700 on offer to many students, has now been agreed by Offa.

     

    The main elements of this package are:

    • SUSSEX BURSARY - £1,000 per year for ALL students whose family income is £15,000 a year or less;
    • CHANCELLOR'S SCHOLARSHIP - £1,000 per year for 200 students whose family income is less than £24,000 a year. Selection will favour those with no family background of higher education, or those who can demonstrate a special need or merit.

     

    The University will be re-investing more than 20 per cent of the new fee income it will receive from 2006 in these new student support schemes, which will add to our existing range of:

     

    • SUBJECT SCHOLARSHIPS/AWARDS - competitive scholarships based on academic promise and/or high entry grades, worth around £1,000 a year;
    • CHARITABLE SCHOLARSHIPS for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. There are several such schemes, totalling more than £100,000, which are unique to Sussex. These include the Accent Foundation scholarships, from community investment organisation the Accent Group. We are also part of the Dangoor Scholarship scheme, worth £1 million and offered to UK-resident students applying to attend 1994 Group institutions, including Sussex. The University is also able to offer sports bursaries.

     

    Eligible students will be able to apply for all of these awards, which could result in a very attractive package for students in most need. University of Sussex Vice-Chancellor Professor Alasdair Smith says: "Sussex is a popular University, offering a high-quality and distinctive academic and social experience. We want to be sure that excellent students, whatever their background, can join us. We are working with schools and young people from across the region to show them the opportunities that Sussex can provide. The financial support and advice we are now delivering helps to strengthen this further."

     

    Notes for editors 

    For details see http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/publications/ugrad2006/work_and_money

    Full details of the arrangements as approved by Offa are at www.sussex.ac.uk/ugstudy

    Press office contacts: Maggie Clune or Jacqui Bealing, tel: 01273 678209 or email M.T.Clune@sussex.ac.uk or J.A.Bealing@sussex.ac.uk

     

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