NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

What is the National Scholarship Programme?

The National Scholarship Programme (NSP) is a government funded scheme aimed at helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds and lower income households to enter higher education (HE). Funding is provided by the government and the College. It will apply to students entering HE from autumn 2013.

It will provide a direct benefit to individual, eligible (see below) students.

Full scholarship: Each student eligible for a full scholarship will receive a benefit of not less than £3,000 (£1,000 in cash and £2,000 as fee remission). Full-time students only are eligible for a full scholarship. Students must be studying at least 120 credits.

Part scholarship: Each student eligible for the part scholarship will receive a pro-rata benefit of £3,000 as fee remission. Part-time students are eligible for part scholarships. Students must be studying at least 25% of the full time course.

Where a student is awarded a fee waiver, the college will inform Student Loans Company (SLC) of the revised fee level. SLC will adjust the student’s tuition fees accordingly.

Where a student is eligible for a cash award the award will be paid at the end of each term and is dependent on a minimum attendance of 90% at each payment point.

There are131 scholarships available at Newcastle College in 2013/14.

Who is eligible to apply?

The NSP provides a limited number of scholarships and the College will prioritise allocation using a transparent, criterion based system. All applicants must meet the following mandatory criteria;

come from a household solely dependent on benefits OR has a household income of £15,000 or less.

normally live in England

have not studied higher education before

However, we must make it very clear that meeting this essential eligibility criterion does not mean that you have an automatic entitlement to a scholarship. Due to the limited nature of the fund, meeting the criteria for the National Scholarship Programme will not guarantee funding. Funding will be allocated strictly in order of receipt of the application form with supporting evidence.

Who is not eligible?

The NSP is not available to students who

started their course before September 2013

have studied a higher education course before, even if they did not complete it

normally live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

are receiving a scholarship towards their tuition fees (including having fees paid in full by your employer, NHS funded students, TDA funded students)

have transferred from a different institution

are part-time students studying at less than 25 per cent intensity of the full-time equivalent

will have their fees paid or part-paid through a sponsorship arrangement.

NB for the purpose of this scheme higher education courses include HNC, HND, foundation degrees and bachelor degrees, but do not include Masters or Doctorate programmes, A-levels, BTEC Diplomas, Access to Higher Education Diplomas or equivalent.

How does the college assess application and allocate the National Scholarship Programme?

  1. Applicants will be required to submit their application in person together with supporting evidence to Student Services. Only fully completed applications with appropriate supporting evidence will be considered. You can not submit the form on-line.
  2. The Application form is available from Student Services in Rye Hill House or can be downloaded from
  3. Early application is advised due to the limited nature of the fund.

How can I apply?

Once you have received an offer for a place on a course, you can complete and submit the NSP application form. Evidence to support your application must be dated within the last 12 weeks.

Applications (with supporting evidence) must be brought to

Student Services

Newcastle College

Rye Hill House

Scotswood Road

Newcastle upon Tyne

Questions

Please contact Student Services if you have any questions about applying for the NSP.

Telephone 0191 200 4000 or email

How to complete this form

Use blue or black ink and write in CAPITALS. Copies of the form can be obtained from Student Services or downloaded at

Provide PHOTOCOPIES of documents.

Original documents may not be returned. The College cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage of documents submitted.

EARLY APPLICATION IS ADVISED DUE TO THE LIMITED NATURE OF THE FUND.

SCHOLARSHIPS ARE LIMITED, THEREFORE ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE SUCCESS. FUNDING WILL BE ALLOCATED STRICTLY IN ORDER OF RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION FORM WITH SUPPORTING EVIDENCE.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY REFUSED.
Section 1: Personal details

Full name

TitleMiss Mr Mrs Ms 

Other  Please state:

GenderMale Female Prefer not to say 

/ /

Date of birth

Age (in years) on

1st September
2013

Martial status

Full Current home

address and

postcode

Your current term

time address and

postcode (if different from

home address)

/ /

Date moving to
term time address

Home
Telephone No.

Term time tel no.

Mobile tel no.

Email address

Section 2: Residency details

What is your nationality?

years / months

How long have you lived
at your current address?

If this is less than 3 years please give details of addresses from September 2010

Address / Date from / Date to
Section 3: Course details

Course name

Course code

Length of course

Full Time CoursePart Time Course

Section 4: About you

Please tick the boxes that apply to you.

I come from a household that is solely dependent on benefits

I come from a household that has an income of £15,000 or less

I normally live in England

I have not studied higher education before 

Section 5: Household benefits

Do you/your parent(s)/carer(s) receive any of the following? 

Income SupportDisability Living Allowance

Jobseekers AllowanceIncapacity Benefit

Employment and Support AllowanceCarers Allowance

Housing BenefitUniversal Credit

Personal Independence Payment

Evidence of benefits must be submitted with this application

Section 6: Declaration

You are required to sign the following declaration:

  • The information I have given on this form is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge
  • I understand that, by giving false information, my application will be disqualified.
  • I understand that, if I gave false information or do not give complete information, my financial assistance may be refused or withdrawn.
  • I understand that, if I withdraw or am withdrawn from the course, I will be required to repay all funds received after this date to the College.
  • I agree for my details to be held by the College under the Data Protection Act 1998 and that the College has a responsibility to protect public funds. For this purpose, information will be provided to government organisations, if requested.
  • I understand that Scholarships are limited, therefore eligibility and application does not guarantee success.
  • I understand my attendance will need to be 90% or over to receive this scholarship.

Data Protection Act 1998
The information that you give us on this form will be used for the purpose of processing your scholarship application. Newcastle College is under a duty, for the purpose of processing your application, to protect the public funds they handle and may use the information you have provided on this form to prevent and detect fraud. It may also share information, for the same purposes, with other organisations that handle public funds.

Please sign to agree you have read and understood the above:

Signed:

Date:

Print name:

Check your application
Check that you have:
  • Answered every question
  • Given correct bank details
  • Signed the declaration and dated the form
  • Enclosed all the proof we require – if you are unsure of what we require, please call us on 0191 200 4000 or email
/ Where to bring your application:
Student Services
Newcastle College
Rye Hill House
Scotswood Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 7SA

EARLY APPLICATION IS ADVISED DUE TO THE LIMITED NATURE OF THE FUND.

______

Office use only:

Date and time application received:______

Application complete? Yes  No 

Evidence of benefits submitted? Yes  No 

Household income: £______

Residency verified? Yes  No 

Bank details verified? Yes  No 

Scholarship Awarded: Full time  Part time  Not eligible 

Adviser Signature:______Adviser Name:______

Date :______

BANK/BUILDING SOCIETY DETAILS

Please remember you must bring confirmation of your bank/building society details with you (e.g. bank statement, bank card etc.) before we can amend your bank/building society details

Student Name ______

Student ID Number ______

Name on Account ______

Name of Bank/Building Society ______

Branch title (e.g. name of town)______

Sort Code ______Account Number ______

This information will be kept in secure storage until July 2014 and then destroyed.