Pre-Degree
Fees, Finance and Funding
Investing in your education is a wise decision and it's important to understand the student funding and support that may be available to you. From bursaries to scholarships — we're here to help you plan.
For further information about our course fees and the financial support we can offer, please look through the relevant sections below.
<p>If you're under 19 years old and a permanent UK resident, our pre-degree courses are completely <strong>free of charge</strong>.<br /><br />Pre-Degree students aged 19 years or over are no longer eligible for free study on our Pre-Degree study programmes and fees may apply for non-permanent UK residents. Financial support may be available.</p>
<p>For further information about our course fees and the financial support we can offer, please look through the relevant sections below.</p>
<p>Fees outlined are correct at time of publishing and provide an indication of current costs. For more information please email <a href="mailto:admissions@aup.ac.uk">admissions@aup.ac.uk</a> </p>
<h3><strong>Extended Diploma and Foundation Diploma in Art & Design</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>If you're under 19 years</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Pre-degree courses at Arts University Plymouth are completely free of charge for permanent UK residents who are under 19 years of age, and who have met the entry conditions i.e. hold a complete Level 3 qualification for the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, and have met the GCSE entry requirements for the UAL Extended Diplomas.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>If you're over 19 years</strong><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Pre-degree study at Arts University Plymouth requires a tuition fee for students over the age of 19 years old. <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/study/pre-degree" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Extended Diplomas</a> for the entry year 24/25 are charged at £4,291 per year for UK(home) residents and £11,500 per year for EU and International students. whilst <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/foundation-diploma-in-art-and-design-post-a-level" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foundation Diploma</a> fees are charged at £5,421 for UK (home) residents and £11,500 for EU and International students.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan">Advanced Learner Loans</a> are available to help with the cost of tuition fees for our <a href="https://www.plymouthart.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/foundation-diploma-in-art-and-design-post-a-level">Foundation Diploma</a>. Our Admissions team will provide students with the relevant learning and funding information letter in support of Advanced Learner Loans applications.</p>
Extended Diploma - UK (home)
Under 19 - Free
Over 19 - £4,291
Extended Diploma - EU and International
£11,500
Foundation Diploma - UK (home)
Under 19 - Free
Over 19 - £5,421
Foundation Diploma - EU and International
£11,500
<p>International fees (all categories) exclude costs for any pre-sessional English course and ongoing in-year English language support.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<p dir="ltr">The university is committed to ensuring Further Education is accessible and affordable for all, therefore we offer a variety of bursaries to help Pre-Degree students with their study costs. If your net annual household income is £30,000 or less, or you have any exceptional circumstances, then you may be eligible for one of our Pre-Degree bursaries. Students are assessed on an individual basis and evidence of household income must be provided in support of your application.</p>
<p dir="ltr">For more information about the financial support available for academic year 2024/25 and the evidence required to support your bursary application, please click <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QuTcGxyRKEbEDqWmsXhwThU_hJHJ8ond/view?usp=sharing">here</a>. We recommend reading this before completing your application for a better understanding of the support available and the eligibility criteria.<br /></p><ul><li><p dir="ltr">Funding is limited and applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. However, our aim is to prioritise those students with the greatest financial need, so we recommend all students apply as early as possible.</p></li><li><p dir="ltr">If you will be a second-year student, or returning to Palace Court to continue your Pre-Degree studies in the academic year 2024/25 you must reapply to the bursary scheme to be assessed. Your bursary will not roll over from the 2023/24 academic year.</p></li><li><p dir="ltr">Any financial support awarded is subject to students complying with the Code of Conduct as set out in the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MPe8diUfk2msG4K_4EY90ChimVDEXI_v/view?usp=drive_link">Pre-Degree Terms and Conditions 2024/2025</a>, and maintaining attendance levels above 80% , with absences reported correctly.</p></li></ul>
<p><strong><br />The Pre-Degree Bursary scheme</strong> <strong>for 2024/2025</strong> is now <strong>OPEN</strong>! To apply, please go to <a href="https://aup.paymystudent.com/portal/">AUPPayMyStudent</a> and register using your student number (or login if you already have an account). Please ensure the Academic Year in the top right of the screen is set to 2024/2025.</p>
<p><strong>Please note: this bursary scheme is not for Higher Education students studying at Undergraduate or Postgraduate level.<br /></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">If you have any questions relating to bursaries or student finance please contact the Registry team at any time (prior to or after enrolling) by emailing <a href="mailto:studentfinance@aup.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studentfinance@aup.ac.uk</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">16-18 Bursary Funding is provided by the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for students studying at Further Education level, who are aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August 2024*.</p>
<p dir="ltr">*Students aged 19 or over can receive bursaries if they are continuing on a study programme they began aged 16-18 (19+ continuers) or have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in place.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In line with ESFA rules and regulations, we are able to support students in the following ways:<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Students may be eligible for a financial contribution towards the cost of travel to and from Arts University Plymouth. We prioritise those students who live more than 2 miles from the Palace Court Campus. However, applications are assessed individually and based on actual need.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<p dir="ltr">An award of £4 per day for the days a student is expected to attend (£12 per week) to students who are (or whose parents/guardians are) in receipt of specific benefits, as listed in the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QuTcGxyRKEbEDqWmsXhwThU_hJHJ8ond/view?usp=drive_link">bursary guidance notes.</a><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">A payment of up to £100 for students with an annual household income of less than £30,000 to contribute towards course costs. <br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Up to £1200 for the academic year, paid to students aged 18 and under who:</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">are currently in care or are care leavers</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">are in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit in their own right</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">are personally in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit as well as Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP)</p></li></ul>
<p>A contribution towards the cost of accommodation for 18 year old students who have to relocate to Plymouth in order to study on one of our pre-degree courses. We prioritise those students who live at least one hour away from the Palace Court campus who do not have the option to study their chosen course at an institution closer to their home address. Payments are made directly to the accommodation provider. Arts University Plymouth cannot pay deposits or act as a guarantor. Students are required to make accommodation arrangements independently through external agencies. Further information regarding student accommodation in Plymouth can be found on the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation.">accommodation page</a> of our website.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Students aged 20 and under who need help with the costs of childcare can apply for the Government's <a href="http://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn/overview">Care to Learn scheme.</a><br /></p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn/overview"></a>
<p dir="ltr">A bursary for those students who are using an <a href="https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan">Advanced Learner Loan</a> to cover their tuition fees. Bursary payments to contribute towards essential costs, such as travel, accommodation and/or childcare.</p>
<p dir="ltr">A bursary for those students who are starting a new course, aged 19 and over before 31 August 2024, and do not have an EHCP or an Advanced Learner Loan. Bursary payments can contribute to essential costs, such as travel, accommodation and/or childcare.<br /></p>
<p>Students aged 20 and under who need help with the costs of childcare can apply for the Government's <a href="http://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn/overview">Care to Learn scheme.</a><a href="http://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn/overview"></a></p>
<p dir="ltr">We offer awards and discounts to applicants who have previously studied at Arts University Plymouth:</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Pre-Degree Progression Bursary £300 Cash Scholarship — Available to eligible* students who progress directly from one of our UAL Extended Diplomas or a UAL Foundation Diploma in Art & Design onto a three or four-year undergraduate degree at Arts University Plymouth</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Alumni Progression Award — 15% discount on MA or MFA fees for Undergraduate, Pre-Degree and Foundation Diploma in Art & Design graduates, who go on to postgraduate study with us</p></li></ul>
<p dir="ltr">*To be eligible students must achieve a minimum attendance of 70% in the first and second semester of the first year of their degree to be awarded the £300 scholarship.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">The purpose of this statement is to set out how Arts University Plymouth will use its 16 to 19 tuition fund allocation. This fund is designed to facilitate support for students who have been disadvantaged due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).</p>
<p dir="ltr">The 16 to 19 tuition fund will be used to provide small group tuition for students aged 16 to 19 who have not yet achieved a grade 4 or above in English and/or Maths. We will invest in an Academic Skills Coach who will be tasked with focusing on English and Maths catch up in which we hope to inspire students to engage in academic skills with bespoke support strategies.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The provision will not be limited to tuition for English and Maths, we will also be allocating some additional funding within the Pre-Degree department to our learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) by supporting them more broadly within their individual study programmes by employing a Pre-Degree Inclusion Champion.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Tuition groups will consist of no more than five students (but can be extended to seven students where appropriate). The tuition sessions will be embedded within the planned learning and also scheduled in addition to the planned programme of study hours already timetabled for the academic year 2024/25.</p>
Get in touch
<p>Please contact our Admissions team (<a href="mailto:admissions@aup.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">admissions@aup.ac.uk</a>) or our Registry team (<a href="mailto:studentfinance@aup.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studentfinance@aup.ac.uk</a>) for further advice.</p>
<p>Child Trust Funds or CTFs are tax-free savings accounts for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. </p>
<p>Child Trust Funds were introduced by the UK government with the aim of giving all children a financial nest egg by the time they reached 18. The government paid more than £2 billion into CTFs for 6.3 million children born during the period. Children can access this money when they turn 18, but many have lost track of them.<br /></p>
<p>The scheme was ended in 2011, and parents/guardians were able to switch CTF accounts into a Junior ISA. However, a report by the National Audit Office found that despite this, there are still about 6.3 million CTFs in existence, with the average account holding £1,911.<br /></p>
<p>If you were born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, and your parents received Child Benefit, you most likely have a Child Trust Fund account. You can find out more online about how to access this account and claim the funds at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds</a></p><ul><li>Read more about Child Trust Funds on <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/money-mentor/isas/child-trust-funds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thetimes.co.uk</a></li><li><a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/money-mentor/isas/child-trust-funds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>Read <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f3ff0818fa8f55dedc64a16/10_things_you_need_to_know_about_Child_Trust_Funds.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HMRC's guide, 10 Things to Know About Child Trust Funds</a></li></ul>