Grants and bursaries explained

What is a grant?

A grant is an amount of money given to students from low income families to help them pay for their living costs while at university.

For student applying for courses starting 2011 visit www.direct.gov.uk

For students starting in 2012 visit yourfuture.direct.gov.uk for detailed information on grants.

What is a bursary?

The London Met bursary is an amount of money given to students to help pay for their living costs.

For 2011/12, the basic bursary will be £469. This is the difference between the full grant available to a student (£2906) and the standard tuition fee (£3375). Detailed information about the bursary.

Who is entitled to the bursary?

All students may be eligible, dependent on their financial circumstances.

Do I need to apply for the bursary?

No: the Student Loan Company tells us about your financial circumstances and this information is used to calculate if you are eligible.

When you complete your application for student funding, you have to sign a declaration that you are willing for your financial details to be shared for bursary purposes. It must also be signed by anyone else whose finances are taken into account in assessing your application, e.g. parents or partners.

I don’t know if I gave consent to share the information – is it too late to do so?

No: if you ring the Student Loan Company on 0845 607 7577 they can accept this by phone. If someone such as a parent or a partner needs to provide financial details they will also have to phone this number.

When is the bursary paid?

If your course starts in the autumn, the bursary will be paid in February. If your course starts in the spring, the bursary will be paid in June.

When will I hear if I will be receiving the bursary?

Letters confirming eligibility should go out during December.

How do I know if I have had my final assessment?

Check your assessment letter carefully - it will say either ‘final’ or ‘provisional’. If your assessment is ‘provisional’, this means Student finance England is still waiting to receive information from you.

I have withdrawn from my course at London Met

You are no longer entitled to the bursary.

I have suspended my studies – do I still get the bursary?

This will depend on when you suspended your studies, when you are returning and what adjustments, if any, have been made to your tuition fees. Please email bursary.query@londonmet.ac.uk for confirmation.

What should I do if I have changed my address or bank details?

You must notify the Student Loans Company.

Contact information

Student Grants and Scholarships webpage

If you have any queries about the administration of the bursary, please email: bursary.query@londonmet.ac.uk or phone the Student Fees Office on: 0845 603 4016

We urge students to plan their finances well in advance. Comprehensive advice on financial management is available at Student Services' Advice, Information and Funding Service.

For more on grants and bursaries, please see yourfuture.direct.gov.uk for detailed information.

If you have any queries regarding clearing visit our clearing enquiries page