Student fees advice is offered to 2012 entrants

Reported by Karen Morley 31/10/2011

Students hoping to study at the University of Cumbria next year are being put in the picture about the new fees regime.

Those who attended the university’s campus open day on Saturday 29 October were given copies of a ‘Fees 2012' brochure, an explanation about the new loan system being introduced next year.

The booklet is packed full of information about what the fee change means for students and their families, how the university can help and how and when the student will have to pay it back.

Staff at the university have also been provided with copies to help them advise prospective students on financial matters and talk them through the system.

UK Recruitment Manager Tamsin Rogers said: “While we are still getting a huge amount of interest at our open days, we are finding that many prospective students and their families don’t understand how the changes to fees will make a difference to them.

“This booklet is packed full of factual information. For instance there are some positives to be found in the new fee system. Depending on the students salary, because of the higher threshold, many students could end up paying back less per month than previously.

“We have also worked hard to include and promote the great range of bursaries, grants and financial awards we have in place to support widening participation of students from every background."

Students who attended the open days at the various campuses, in Carlisle, Lancaster and Penrith, also had access to extra support from the university ‘money doctors’.

The money doctors offer financial expertise to new and current students, advising on fees and funding as well as budgeting and managing money. They can also offer top tips for money saving on student essentials.

The university has already run a number of fee seminars and application enhancement evenings to support 2012 entrants through the process of understanding the fees loan and applying to study on a course. An further campus open day has also been arranged for Friday 2 December. More information is available at www.cumbria.ac.uk.

Application enhancement sessions and fee seminars are being held in November and December. For more information visit www.cumbria.ac.uk . 

• A copy of the brochure is attached to this webpage for you to read or download