Additional Sources of Funding

Charitable Bequests

You may be able to get grants from charities or other bodies that have allocated money to particular courses or kinds of students. Take a look at The Directory of Grant Making Trusts published by the Charities Aid Foundation, and The Grants Register published by Macmillan, which should be at your local library. Scottish students can contact the Scottish Education Department for information about the Register of Local Endowments.

Jobs and part-time work

Some students do find holiday jobs or part-time work during their studies. The University offers a wide range of part-time employment opportunities to its students. These range from catering assistants to demonstrators in scientific laboratories. It is important to ensure that any job does not interfere with your academic work. Remember, too, that your earnings could affect your grant, or the tax refund from a covenant. The University organises a Job Link scheme to help students find suitable part-time work.

Job Link

Ideally situated in the Students Union, the University Job Link office is a collaborative venture between the Guild of Students and the Careers Advisory Service, and is supported by GO Wales. Established to help both undergraduates and postgraduates find part-time term-time, temporary and vacation employment, it constitutes the first point of contact for those looking to supplement meagre incomes and develop their transferable skills and employability.

Job Link benefits from a close relationship with the Jobcentre Plus situated in the town centre. Employment Service Direct (ESD) provides a free telephone search service for all kinds of jobs in the Aberystwyth area, the rest of the UK and abroad. A free direct telephone line is provided for ESD close to the Job Link office. Additionally, links are constantly being set up both within the University, which provides numerous part-time opportunities, and with external employers in the area, including hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, bars and retail businesses. Students seeking jobs for after they graduate are welcome to call in at the Job Link office or at the Careers Advisory Service.

For further information, please contact Job Link on 01970 621791, or call into the Job Link office in the Students Union, Penglais campus.

Year in Employment

You can opt to take a year in employment. Details can be obtained from the Careers Advisory Service.

Financial Contingency and Hardship Funds

Financial Contingency Funds are available to enable the University to provide help should you run into financial difficulties while attending your course. Assistance may be provided on a selective basis in the form of grants or loans where there is a demonstrated need. This support is available to all full-time, sandwich and part-time home students. Application forms are available in the Student Financial Support Office, Student Welcome Centre (01970 621760), email: student-support@aber.ac.uk.

Sponsorship

Some major companies and the services offer sponsorship to students. These are normally aimed at engineering, computer science, business studies, science and language students. A sponsorship could provide you with work and money during your vacations.

Career Development Loans

Career Development Loans of up to £8,000 to cover 80% of course fees plus other costs may be available for students who cannot get any support through their LEA or other funding to help pay for the course. Anyone aged 18 or over who lives or intends to train in the UK is eligible to apply and a CDL can support any type of full-time, part-time, or distance learning course that does not attract a student loan.

A comprehensive explanation of the student financial support arrangements can be found on the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills website.

Disability Allowances

Depending on your disability there are several claims you can make for financial help. The Disabled Student's Allowance offers a range of financial support, and an additional grant may be available for travel costs. Some students with disabilities may also be able to claim DSS benefit. For information contact DSS Benefits Advisor or SKILL (the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities) on Telephone: (0171) 274 0565. Your Aberystwyth contact is the Disabiality Officer (01970) 628537.

Travel Costs

Travel costs in excess of allowance in the loan cannot be reclaimed from the local authority. Thus students who live in accommodation on or near the campus can make considerable savings through not having to travel daily. Students at Aberystwyth are particularly fortunate in that the University has accommodation in Aberystwyth for all students and that there is an ample supply of rented accommodation available in the town. In addition special cheap fare buses and trains are arranged at the beginning and end of terms.