Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What will Queen Mary be charging new UK undergraduates from 2012?

We have set our fee at £9,000 per year for all full-time programmes.

Why has Queen Mary decided to charge the maximum fee allowed by the Government?

We reached this decision by examining in some detail what it actually costs to run our degree courses, balanced against the money we receive from the Government (via the Higher Education Funding Council for England, or Hefce). Above all, we wish to ensure that we continue to offer a first-class education to students, to make further investment in College facilities and to continue our strong tradition of widening access to university.

How do I know I will be getting value for money?

We are confident in the quality of our teaching and research – we are ranked 11th in the UK for research quality, meaning that you will be taught by experts in their subjects. These are people who are pushing the boundaries of knowledge, writing high-profile books, and being called on as experts by the media. The latest developments in research really do underpin our teaching. For example, science undergraduates gain hands-on research laboratory experience in their final year, and students in the arts and humanities engage with a wide variety of research projects which enhance the curriculum.

Queen Mary has invested more than £250m in new buildings and facilities in the past decade, including a £20m Arts building due to open in September 2011. We have a self-contained campus with a popular Student Village. The Students’ Union has also been refurbished and offers, for example, a state-of-the-art gym (QMotion) and the popular Drapers’ Bar.

We have an excellent record for graduate employment, being ranked 8th in the UK for starting salaries (Sunday Times University Guide 2010). We take our students’ employability very seriously and our Careers Service will be there for you from day one.

How do I pay the fees?

You can borrow money to pay the fees from Student Finance England. The money is then paid direct to the College. You do not need to think about repaying the loan until the April after you graduate.

At that point you start making payments through the tax system – but only if you are earning over £21,000 a year (gross). The payments are kept manageable: you will repay at a rate of 9 per cent (9%) of your income above £21,000. For example, if you are earning £25,000 you will repay £30 a month.

Any debt outstanding after 30 years is written off.

The interest rate is linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) plus extra depending on your income. The maximum interest rate, which applies if you are earning over £41,000 a year, is RPI plus 3 per cent.

I’m from a low-income family – will you give me any extra financial support to study?

Yes. Queen Mary will have a generous package of bursaries and other support. We want the brightest and best students to be able to study at Queen Mary, regardless of their financial situation. Additionally, we wish to support those from middle-income backgrounds (ie. up to £42,600).

Can I get extra support from elsewhere?

Yes. the Student Loan for Maintenance is available to contribute towards your day-today living costs such as accommodation, food, books, social life and so on. You might also be eligible for a Maintenance Grant (which you do not have to repay) depending on your household-income.

Where can I find more information?

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has made a 'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQs) document [PDF] available on its website.

Another useful website to look at is: http://yourfuture.direct.gov.uk

The MoneySavingExpert.com website also has very useful 'key facts' on student loans in 2012: www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/student-loans-tuition-fees-changes