Student grants
Who is eligible for funding?
To be eligible for funding from the States of Jersey you must meet certain residency and academic criteria and must not be in possession of a loan or financial award from another education authority.
Dependent students
To be treated as a dependent student you and your parents must:
- have been ordinarily resident in Jersey for 5 years immediately before 31 August of the first year of the course; or
- would have been so resident but for the fact that they are, or were, temporarily employed outside the Island
Independent students
To be treated as an independent student you must:
- be ordinarily resident in the Island and have been so for the period of 5 years immediately before 31 August of the first year of the course
- have reached the age of 25 years before 31 August of the first academic year of the course; or
- have been married for at least 3 years before 31 August of the first academic year of the course whether or not still married; or
- have been in full-time employment for at least 5 years before 31 August of the first academic year of the course; or
- have been living financially independent of your parents for at least 5 years before 31 August of the first academic year of the course
Gap year
Students are permitted to take a ‘gap year’ and remain eligible for an award provided the absence from the Island is no longer than 12 months.
Academic qualification requirements
| Age |
Course |
Qualifications criteria |
| Under 21 years |
Degree (eg BA, BSc) |
2 passes at A (2) level or an equivalent level 3 qualification |
| 21 years + |
Degree (eg BA, BSc) |
Level 3 qualification |
| All ages |
Higher National Diploma, Foundation Degree or comparable course |
1 A(2) level pass or an equivalent level 3 qualification |
If you have received funding for an art foundation course and subsequently wish to undertake a university degree course or comparable course in an unrelated subject, which does not require art foundation as a prerequisite, you will not receive funding for the first year of the degree course.
The States of Jersey will not fund a student who is in possession of a loan or an award from another local education authority.
How to apply for funding
Please download, complete and return the application form below, with all relevant documentation, to the student finance team no later than 31 March before the start of the course. If you are an independent student you should also include a comprehensive CV detailing where and what you have been doing for the 5 years before starting the course.
Download student grant application form FE1 (size 54kb)
Funding for dependent students is generally based on annual gross parental income of the year previous to the academic year, as certified by the Income Tax office.
If you are an independent student, the provisional award is calculated on the estimated annual gross income of you and your spouse (if applicable) based on the current financial year in which the course commences.
Scottish universities
Degree courses at Scottish universities are typically a year longer than at English and Welsh universities. Funding for courses undertaken at Scottish universities will be restricted to the equivalent level of funding for a similar course at an English university.
Degree courses outside the United Kingdom
Applications for awards for first degree courses outside the United Kingdom will be considered if the course is fully accredited and is of an educational standard at least as high as that of recognised courses in the United Kingdom.
You must provide evidence that the course is equivalent to a UK degree (details of the course and offer letter).
You must be able to meet the balance of tuition fees in excess of UK rates and the extra travel costs. You will be required to pay the tuition fees directly to the institute in advance. The States of Jersey will reimburse you up to the equivalent Channel Island tuition fee rate of a similar course in the UK subject to your assessment. Reimbursements will be paid in 2 instalments at the beginning of each semester.
Application forms should be submitted to the Student Finance Office as soon as possible and no later than 31 March prior to the commencement of a course starting in the autumn and 31 December prior to the commencement of a course starting in the spring.
What is undergraduate study funding made up of?
The States of Jersey has capped the maintenance award at £5,300 for a standard course for the 2012/13 academic year. The award is to help towards your living expenses, including accommodation, food and books. Additional sums are allowed for periods in excess of the standard academic year.
Tuition fees for new students starting 2012/13
Students starting higher education courses in 2012/13 will be charged at the same rate as fees for English students. Most institutes are charging £9000 for most courses. However, there are some exceptions therefore please contact the institute directly for information on their tuition fee charges.
Tuition fees for ongoing students
2012/13 tuition fees for students going into their second or later year of study have not yet been agreed, the following are the 2011/12 rates:
| UK tuition fees for ongoing students (pre 2012) |
2011/12 |
| Band A |
clinical years for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science |
£21,938 |
| Band B |
science and engineering courses and non-clinical years of medicine |
£9,867 |
| Band C |
studio and workshop-based courses eg IT, art and design, health |
£7,768 |
| Band D |
classroom-based courses eg humanities, social studies |
£6,194 |
Please note that all students studying off-Island will have to contribute £1,500 towards their tuition fees for the 2012 /13 academic year. This is in addition to the parental contribution.
| Tuition fees for Highlands College |
Subject |
2011/12 |
| Band 1 |
IT for Business full-time degree |
£6,268 |
| Band 2 |
Social Science, Childhood Studies and Financial Services full-time degrees |
£4,694 |
| Band 3 |
Art and Design part-time degree |
£3,134 |
Additional payments may be made to enable you to attend extra compulsory term time and vacation courses required by your institute. Please contact student finance for further details.
How the award is calculated
The following examples have been calculated using the tuition fee of £9,000. When the student’s contribution of £1,500 has been deducted, the tuition fee is £7,500.
The award is calculated using the following: (Gross income from previous year minus £26,750) x 20.25%.
Example 1: Gross income of £26,750
Calculation: (Gross income of £26,750 minus £26,750) x 20.25% = £0
Towards living expenses: £5,300 minus £0 = £5,300
Towards tuition fees: £7,500 minus £0 = £7,500
| |
Towards living expenses |
Towards tuition fees |
| States of Jersey will fund |
£5,300 |
£7,500 |
Example 2: Gross income of £46,750
Calculation: (Gross income of £46,750 minus £26,750) x 20.25% = £4,050
Towards living expenses: £5,300 minus £4,050 = £1,250
Towards tuition fees: £7,500 minus £0 = £7,500
| |
Towards living expenses |
Towards tuition fees |
| States of Jersey will fund |
£1,250 |
£7,500 |
Example 3: Gross income of £66,750
Calculation: (Gross income of £66,750 minus £26,750) x 20.25% = £8,100
Towards living expenses: £5,300 minus £8,100 = -£2,800
Towards tuition fees: £7,500 minus £2,800 = £4,700
| |
Towards living expenses |
Towards tuition fees |
| States of Jersey will fund |
£0 |
£4,700 |
Example 4: Gross income of £88,960
Calculation: (Gross income of £88,960 minus £26,750) x 20.25% = £12,800
Towards living expenses: £5,300 minus £12,800 = -£7,500
Towards tuition fees: £7,500 minus £7,500 = £0
| |
Towards living expenses |
Towards tuition fees |
| States of Jersey will fund |
£0 |
£0 |
There would be no contribution from the States of Jersey as the calculation is equal to the £5,300 award towards living expenses and tuition fees of £7,500.
Parents with more than one student at college / university at the same time
Where the assessed parental contribution is less than £1,000 for the first student, the contribution will increase by the same amount for each subsequent student.
Example 1: Gross income of £26,750
Calculation: (Gross income of £26,750 minus £26,750) x 20.25% = £0 = £0 per student
Towards living expenses: £5,300 minus £0 = £5,300
Towards tuition fees: £7,500 minus £0 = £7,500
| |
Towards living expenses |
Towards tuition fees |
| States of Jersey will fund (per student) |
£5,300 |
£7,500 |
Example 2: Gross income of £31,000
Calculation: (Gross income of £31,000 minus £26,750) x 20.25% = £860 = £860 per student
Towards living expenses: £5,300 minus £860 = £4,440
Towards tuition fees: £7,500 minus £0 = £7,500
| |
Towards living expenses |
Towards tuition fees |
| States of Jersey will fund (per student) |
£4,440 |
£7,500 |
Where the assessed parental contribution is £1,000 or more
Parents will pay a minimum of £1,000 for each additional student studying at an institute at the same time. This is in addition to the assessed parental contribution for the first student, not the maximum parental contribution.
Example 1: Gross income of £46,750
Calculation: (Gross income of £46,750 minus £26,750) x 20.25% = £4050 + £1,000 for 2nd student = £5,050 = £2,525 per student
Towards living expenses: £5,300 minus £2,525 = £2,775
Towards tuition fees: £7,500 minus £0 = £7,500
| |
Towards living expenses |
Towards tuition fees |
| States of Jersey will fund (per student) |
£2,775 |
£7,500 |
Example 2: Gross income of £89,960
Calculation: (Gross income of £89,960 minus £26,750) x 20.25%= £12,800 + £1,000 for 2nd student = £13,800 = £6,900 per student
Towards living expenses: £5,300 minus £6,900 = -£1,600
Towards tuition fees: £7,500 minus £1,600 = £5,900
| |
Towards living expenses |
Towards tuition fees |
| States of Jersey will fund (per student) |
£0 |
£5,900 |
Unless you are awarded independent status your parents are, in principle, liable to make a contribution. The States of Jersey requests parents to give details of all their gross income for the previous year and will then calculate the level of support the States of Jersey will provide.
The parental contribution is a very important part of your student award and failure by parents to contribute towards the cost of higher education will inevitably result in hardship as there is no supplementary assistance available from any other source.
The maximum parental contribution
Parents who are maximum contributors are responsible for the student's living expenses and will pay a contribution towards the tuition fees direct to the institute. The States of Jersey will pay fees in excess of the parental and student contributions direct to the institute.
The maximum parental contribution towards tuition fees, per student, for the 2012/13 academic year is £9000. This is in addition to the student contribution of £1500, therefore fees in excess of £10,500 will be paid by the States of Jersey.
Parents who prefer not to complete an Income Statement Form will be treated as maximum parental contributors.
Parents whose joint capital assets, excluding their main residence (e.g. other properties, stocks, shares, bonds, good will of a business, tangible/moveable assets) exceed £750,000 subject to an annual review, will be treated as maximum parental contributors.
Which parent's income will be considered?
Parental contributions are required from your actual or legally adoptive parents. Step-parents are invited to provide details of income for the purpose of assessing the States of Jersey contribution to costs based on total income.
Where your parents are not living together, the States of Jersey will ask for relevant documentation to assess your award on the income it considers appropriate.
What income and assets are used to determine funding?
For the purpose of the award, gross income is considered to be income from all sources as used for income tax purposes, except that gross amounts are used in the case of income on which tax has already been paid. Income under a trust arrangement is also counted as parental income.
If your parent(s) owns 10% or more of the shares in either a public or private company, or have a beneficial ownership or holding in a business or they are a beneficiary of a trust, the States of Jersey will request a copy of the certified accounts or such other details that may be necessary to assess the award. Business profits are included in the assessment.
As a general principle, the States of Jersey will not make awards on purely an income basis if your parents’ capital assets and general financial position are considered adequate to meet the expenses involved.
Exceptional circumstances
In exceptional circumstances such as where a parent dies, becomes seriously ill and is unable to work, or has been made redundant through compulsory redundancy, the States of Jersey has discretion to take income for the current year into account if the income has been reduced by 20% or more. Exceptional circumstances do not include retirement or the decision to give up paid employment.
How the award will be paid
You, your parents and your university / college will be sent a notification letter as soon as your assessment has been completed. This notification will advise you of the amount awarded to you for living expenses, the States of Jersey contribution towards tuition fees and you and your parents contribution towards tuition fees.
You should take your notification letter with you to university as you may be required to present it on enrolment.
Maintenance award grant cheques are sent to the university / college for collection at the beginning of each term.
If your tuition fees are due to be paid by the States of Jersey, these will be paid directly to the institute on receipt of an invoice from them. If you / your parents are responsible for part or full payment of fees you should contact the institute regarding payment.
Absence from the course
A maintenance award is related to your actual attendance, therefore, the States of Jersey may withhold or reclaim the appropriate proportion of an award for any period you are not in attendance. If you are absent because of illness, medical evidence will be required.
Failure and withdrawal
If you fail or withdraw from a programme of study whilst in receipt of a maintenance award, you will have to repay the unexpended portion of the award for the term in which you left and also repay the tuition fees for the previous term that had been paid by the States of Jersey.
If you withdraw from a course due to ill health, no financial penalty will be incurred as long as satisfactory evidence is provided from both the institute and a doctor.
You and your parents/guardians are jointly liable to repay an award in the event of a repayment being requested.
Transferring course
If you decide to transfer to another course either at the same, or a different institute, and this requires a repeat period of study, either a term or academic year, then you will have to fund this repeat period. The award can be re-instated once the repeat period has been successfully completed.
It is sometimes possible to transfer an award to another institute. There are certain conditions that must be met including obtaining agreement from your current institute or, if necessary both institutes if moving to a different one. Written confirmation from both the institute you are leaving and the one you intend to transfer to supporting the transfer on academic grounds will be required.
If you are considering a transfer, it is important you speak to the Student Finance Office in Jersey as soon as possible, keeping them informed of developments throughout the process of transfer. The course you are transferring to must be a designated or comparable course under the student finance award regulations.
Trailing a module
Institutes may allow you to progress onto the next year, trailing one or more modules from the previous academic year. However, to receive funding from the States of Jersey, you must have completed and passed all of the previous academic year.
If you trail modules into the next academic year you will be advised that you have until the end of the first semester to complete all outstanding work to enable your award to be re-instated from the beginning of the autumn term. Failure to complete the outstanding work will result in the funding from the States of Jersey being withheld for that academic year.
Repeating an academic year
The States of Jersey does not fund repeat periods of study. If you do not complete and pass an academic year and are required to retake the year either full-time or part-time you will have to self finance that year. You will therefore be responsible for meeting your own maintenance and tuition costs.
On successful completion of the repeat period of study, the award will be re-instated for the following academic year.
The appeals process
The States of Jersey reserves the right to suspend or withdraw an award, to decline to make an award if it is not satisfied that the financial details provided by your parents are accurate, complete and made in good faith.
If you or your parents are aggrieved by the decision you may request a review of the decision by writing to the Head of Careers and Learning Support.