If you take a year in industry as part of your course, either in the UK or overseas, you may still be entitled to some statutory support while you are away from the University, providing that it is a recognised element of your course.
Funding for living costs for students on paid placements
UK students will be able to apply for reduced rate Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loans only. The maximum reduced rate Maintenance Loan in 2022/23 is £2,940 (if living away from home) or £2,205 (if living in the parental home). For final year students these rates will be £2,292 (if living away from home) and £1,675 (if living in parental home). EU students will only be able to apply for a reduced rate Tuition Fee Loan.
Funding for living costs for students on unpaid placements
There are some exceptions where students will continue to be eligible for the same funding package as in previous years.
Students will still be eligible for their full funding package if they are undertaking "unpaid service" in one of the following:
- Unpaid service in a hospital or in a public health service laboratory or with a primary care trust
- Unpaid service with a local authority relating to the care and or welfare of children/young persons or similar activities with a voluntary organisation
- Unpaid service in the prison or probation and aftercare service
- Unpaid research in a UK institution or, in the case of a student attending an overseas institution as a part of his course in an overseas institution
- Unpaid service with a Health Authority in England or Wales or equivalent in Scotland or Northern Ireland
Other types of unpaid work placements will receive the reduced rates of tuition fee and maintenance loans as if it were a paid placement. It is your responsibility to ensure that you can live on what is available before accepting an unpaid placement.
Kent Financial Support Package (KFSP)
Students in receipt of the KFSP will be eligible to receive the award during their placement year provided that they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
Tuition fees
Students on a year in industry, who started their course in September 2017 or after, will pay tuition fees at a reduced rate of £1,385 in the academic year 2022/23.