From 2012, major changes will be introduced to higher education funding arrangements and all Higher Education Institutions in England will be introducing higher level fees to cover the loss of government funding.

To ensure that we continue to attract talented students from diverse backgrounds, we have created a student support scheme that will entitle almost three-quarters of our new full-time, first degree Bachelor’s level students to partial course fee waivers for each year of their course from 2012/13.

Our fees for 2012

Our new standard fee level for full-time, first degree Bachelors courses is £9,000 per annum. However, our student support package will ensure that some 74% of our full-time, first degree Bachelor’s level students receive help with their study costs through the partial course fee waivers we have allocated to our classroom- and laboratory-based courses.

Students starting on one of our Foundation Year Programmes in 2012/13 will be charged £6,000, but will be entitled to a 50% reimbursement of the fee, allocated as a fee waiver, on successful completion of their Bachelors Degree at Westminster.

Students beginning their studies with us in 2012/13 will have a guaranteed fee level for the duration of their studies.  

Visit our 2012 Undergraduate Course Fees page for a complete list of our course fees.

Who will be affected by these changes?

The new funding system will apply to all new UK and EU students starting their studies from September 2012/13, as well as students who defer their entry from 2011/12 to 2012/13.

Current undergraduate students at the University will continue under the current fee system and will not be affected by the 2012 changes.

International and postgraduate students

Undergraduate course fees for full-time international students have been set at £10, 975 for 2012/13.  Postgraduate course fees for entry in 2012 will be published shortly.

How we will support you

Partial course fee waivers

Students on our classroom- or laboratory-based courses will be entitled to a partial course fee waiver for each year of their study. What each student pays will depend on which course they study.

Students on our Architecture or Media, Arts and Design courses will pay the full fee of £9,000 each year. This is due to the greater cost of delivery of these courses, many of which involve, for example, the use of specialist materials, equipment or facilities.

All of our course fees are available to view on our 2012 Undergraduate Course Fees page or on the UCAS website.

Note: If you’re a student from the Channel Islands or if you already hold a qualification that is equivalent to or higher than that you will be studying, you will not be eligible for the course fee waiver and will be liable for the full fee (£9,000).

National Scholarship Programme

In 2012, as part of the Government’s National Scholarship Programme (NSP), we will be offering scholarships worth £6,000 each to 222 students who meet the eligibility criteria. Students awarded the scholarship will be able to choose from a range of options in how and when they receive the scholarship. The scholarships are jointly funded by the Government and the University. For full details, visit our National Scholarships page.

University of Westminster Scholarship Scheme

In addition to those scholarships offered under the National Scholarship Programme, we will be offering a range of other scholarships. Visit our Scholarships page for more information.

How the Government will support you

Tuition Fee Loans

If you'll be a new, full-time undergraduate student in 2012/13 and will be studying in higher education for the first time, you'll be able to get a government loan to cover your tuition fees, as long as you meet one of the following criteria:

• your permanent home address is in England and you are a UK national
• you are an EU national
  

When you have successfully applied for the loan, the money will be paid directly to the University by the Government - you will not have to transfer money from your bank account to the University.

You will not need to start paying back the loan until you have graduated from the University and are earning over £21,000 per year. The amount you pay back each year will depend on how much you are earning.

Visit the Student Finance England website for full details. 

Living Cost Loans (also called Maintenance Cost Loans)

If you'll be studying full-time, you can also apply for a Living Cost Loan to help you cover the cost of accommodation, travel etc. The amount you can receive will depend on where you are studying and where you live during your studies.

The loan is paid directly into your bank account at the start of term.

You will not need to start paying back the loan until you have graduated from the University and are earning over £21,000 per year. The amount you pay back each year will depend on how much you are earning.

If you are an EU national, you can apply for the Living Cost Loan only if you meet one of the following criteria:

• you have been living in the UK for at least three years before the course is due to start
• you are living in the UK as a child or the spouse of an EU, Swiss or Turkish national who is working here
  

For more information, visit the Student Finance England website

Additional funding sources

In addition to the Tuition Fee Loan and Living Cost Loan, you may be able to apply for other sources of funding, such as:

• a Living Cost Grant (also known as a Maintenance Grant)
• a Disabled Student's Allowance
• an Adult Dependants' Grant
• a Childcare Grant
• a Parents' Learning Allowance
  

Full details on these additional sources of support can be found on the Student Finance England website