Supporting inclusive continuing and higher education

General information about higher education

Information for specific groups

Learners from minority ethnic groups

Refugees & asylum seekers

Disabled learners

Learners with specific learning difficulties

Learners with mental health problems

Learners from rural & coastal areas

Vocational learners

Young offenders & ex-offenders

Young people in care

Learners who are refugees and asylum seekers

Translations of this page

This page has been translated into a number of languages used in the Humber region. You will need Adobe Acrobat to read these. If you do not have the programme, there is a free download on the Adobe website.

Entry to higher education

If you wish to study a higher education course in the UK, you will need to meet the academic entry requirements. If you hold overseas qualifications, you will need to check if they are recognised in the UK. You can contact the universities or colleges you want to apply to, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, or the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom.

If you need to gain qualifications, you may wish to contact your local further education college to find out what courses are available, and any costs involved.

Funding higher education

UK universities and colleges charge fees for their courses, and you will need money for your living costs.

Under certain conditions you may be entitled to financial support in higher education. Otherwise you will be treated as a foreign student, and have to meet all your own costs. You could be eligible for support for your fees and maintenance if you (or your parent, guardian or spouse):

• have been recognised as a refugee by the UK Government;

• have "Indefinite Leave to Enter” or "Indefinite Leave to Remain" or a "Certificate of the Right of Abode in the UK", and you have been living in the UK for the three years before you start your course, and you were not here mainly for education;

• have been granted Exceptional, Discretionary or Indefinite Leave to remain in the UK.

• are a migrant worker from a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or from Switzerland, and you have usually been resident in the EEA and/or Switzerland for the three years before your course starts.

The rules on this are very complicated, and you will need to seek specialist advice. Education Action and the Council for International Education are good places to start.

Universities and colleges can charge new 'home' students around £3,000 a year for their courses. ‘Overseas’ students can pay £7,000 or more per year. The fees may vary between different universities and colleges.

Full-time 'home’ students can get financial help from the government in the form of loans and grants. The amount of student support received depends mainly on family income.

Support for full-time ‘home’ students includes:

• Help with full-time tuition fees.

• Student Loan for living costs (such as accommodation, food, books and, hopefully, relaxing).

• A non-repayable Maintenance Grant worth up to £2,700 a year for students from low income families. The loan for living costs is reduced by the amount of Maintenance Grant received up to a maximum of £1200.

• Universities or colleges that are charging fees over £2,700 must offer a bursary of £300 to students who are receiving the full Maintenance Grant, and many offer additional bursaries or scholarships for particular groups of students.

• All students who have extra course costs as a result of a disability can apply for the Disabled Students’ Allowance.

• Supplementary grants for students with children or adult dependants.

• Universities and colleges have Access to Learning Funds which can provide emergency payments for unexpected financial crises and help students who may be considering giving up their course because of financial problems. Payments are usually given as grants, but can also be given as short-term loans.

• Students studying approved Social Work courses can apply for a bursary from the General Social Care Council.

• Some courses are funded by the NHS (National Health Service) and can attract a bursary. You can find out about these courses from the NHS Student Grants Unit website.

There is also some financial support for part-time students. Part-time students have to pay their fees in advance but if they are studying for at least 50% of the full-time course they can apply for financial support, including a fee grant and a course grant.

Repayment of the loans for fees and maintenance only starts when graduates earn over £15,000 a year. Interest is added at the rate of inflation.

Click here to find out if you may be eligible for funding support.

Ethnicity and Religion

Universities vary in their ethnic and religious diversity, largely depending on their location; universities in large cities (especially those in London) tend to be more diverse than those in more rural areas.

Universities are generally secular institutions (some, like York St John or Bishop Grosseteste, were Church foundations and still have a more Christian ethic, although none are exclusively Christian). All have a duty to encourage equity, diversity and tolerance, and to eliminate prejudice and discrimination against people of different faiths or of none.

Before applying you would be advised to check that the universities you are interested in will be able to adapt timetabling to fit with your religious observances and festivals, and that there are facilities available for these when required. It is also worth checking that they can (and will) be able to meet your dietary requirements, and that you will be comfortable following any dress codes in that environment.

You may want to contact the Students' Union to see if there are specific groups and activities available for you, and if there are others promoting integration and understanding. Traditionally most Student Union social life is centred on the bar, so you may want to check what alternatives are available.

Case Studies

Click here for Stanilav's story

Click here for Lisa's story

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