The Albert Baker Fund
1510 J Street, Suite150
Sacramento, CA 95814 USA
Telephone: +1-916-594-9513 Fax: +1-916-594-9602
| www.albertbakerfund.org
Grant Application for
Post-Secondary Education in the UK
New, continuing, graduate and vocational students
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
Through its various Programmes, The Albert Baker Fund is engaged in the financial support of education for active Christian Scientists worldwide.
APPLICANTS FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS UK PROGRAMME MUST BE:
· Citizens of, or those principally domiciled in, the United Kingdom or the European Union.
· Undertaking a post-secondary education course at a university, college or accredited vocational training institution in the United Kingdom, leading to a degree or other recognized educational qualification.
· Requesting assistance with the payment of the associated tuition fees and other academic expenses.
· Active, sincere, dedicated students of Christian Science who are either already, or are expecting to apply during their first year of Fund support to become, members of The Mother Church or of a Christian Science branch church or society.
Those awarded grants are expected to maintain a high academic standard and to demonstrate their firm commitment to Christian Science throughout their involvement in this Programme, and to appreciate their responsibility to give back to mankind as an expression of their gratitude for this assistance.
SCOPE OF ASSISTANCE
Applications for financial support must be made on an annual basis in respect of the costs incurred in a single academic year. Such support is provided to approved applicants in the form of non-repayable grants which are assessed according to each applicant’s individual circumstances.
These grants are awarded solely towards the cost of the applicant’s tuition fees, accommodation expenses and essential course books and other academic materials provided that these costs are incurred and invoiced directly by the educational institution involved.
Grants are not awarded to cover student maintenance, transportation or other general expenses and are only ever paid directly to an institution, never to an individual applicant.
In the specific case of this UK Programme, such grants may be paid in either, or both, of two ways:
- Directly to the educational institution, to pay or part-pay their invoice for the above fees and costs
- To the Student Loan Company (SLC) for credit to the applicant’s student loan account in cases where the applicant has applied for and been granted a Tuition Fee loan for the academic year, thereby reducing the loan balance which the applicant is ultimately liable to repay.
Applications should ideally be submitted as soon as course enrolment and the financial costs for the academic year have been officially confirmed (including the results of any SLC loan application, if appropriate) and in any case as soon as possible after course commencement. However applications will in principle be considered at any time during the academic year up to the end of the course at the Fund’s discretion.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
APPLICATION MATERIALS TO BE SUBMITTED
1. Application Form
A completed Grant Application Form (attached) for post-secondary education in the UK. Applicants should answer all questions for the academic year for which the grant is being requested.
2. Letter of Enrolment
A copy of the university, college or vocational institution’s letter confirming the applicant’s enrolment.
3. Evidence of your Tuition Fees and other academic expenses for the academic year being applied for
This evidence can be provided in either of the following ways:
(a) An invoice or other official document from your university, college or vocational institution showing how much you are required to pay them (in UK Pounds) for expenses incurred during the academic year. The document must be on official stationery and the total should be broken down into tuition fees, exam fees, student housing, course books, etc. if appropriate. (If the full year’s costs are not yet available, please submit figures for at least the first academic term.)
(b) (For those who have been granted a Student Loan for the year) The formal letter from the SLC confirming the amount of the Tuition Fee Loan awarded to the applicant for the academic year.
4. Evidence of level of academic achievement (if appropriate)
For students applying for a grant for their second or a subsequent year of studies: an official transcript or similar document showing their level of academic achievement (degree examination class, course module grades/marks or similar) for the previous academic year.
5. Letters of Reference:
All applicant reference letters must be from someone who is not a family member and must be submitted on a copy of the Applicant Reference Letter Form provided with this application. A separate copy of the Reference Letter Form for referees to download and use independently is also available on our website at www.albertbakerfund.org/what-we-fund/international-programs/.
If this is the first time you have applied for assistance for post-secondary education from The Albert Baker Fund, a total of three (3) letters of reference are required.
1. One reference letter must be from someone who can confirm that the applicant is an active, sincere, dedicated student of Christian Science, such as a Sunday School teacher or superintendent, a Christian Science practitioner or a branch church member.
2. One reference letter must be an academic reference.
3. One reference letter must come from someone who can vouch for the character of the applicant.
Returning applicants (i.e. those who have previously received financial aid from The Albert Baker Fund for post-secondary education) only need to provide one (1) letter of reference. This reference must be from an individual who can confirm that the applicant is an active, sincere, dedicated student of Christian Science, such as a Sunday School teacher or superintendent, a Christian Science practitioner, or a branch church member. This reference must also be from someone who has not been a referee for the applicant before.
As indicated above, returning applicants are also expected to have become, or to have already applied to become, members of The Mother Church or of a Christian Science branch church or society.
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION MATERIALS
Application Materials 1. to 4. above should be submitted together by the applicant at the same time. Materials may be sent by email (preferably) or fax to:
Email: with a copy sent to
Fax: +1-916-594-9602
Materials 2 to 4 above should be clearly labelled with the applicant’s full name and the title of the document, i.e. “Diana Jones – Course fees” before being either scanned for emailing, or faxed, together with the Application Form.
Reference letters (Material 5. above) should ideally be submitted separately by each referee directly to the Fund (i.e. not via the applicant) and may be sent either by email (preferably) or fax as indicated above. However if this is not practicable for any reason, such letters may exceptionally be completed manually and returned to the applicant for scanning and submission to the Fund.
INTERVIEW
Part of the assessment process consists of an interview conducted locally by the Albert Baker Fund UK Representative (UK Rep) or another local representative (Rep). After all the application materials have been received, processed and deemed acceptable by the Fund, the UK or local Rep will contact the applicant to schedule either a telephone or an in-person interview.
AWARD DECISION
Applicants should allow up to 4 weeks from initial submission of their applications before they are contacted to arrange an interview. They will be advised of the Fund’s decision concerning the award of a grant by email as soon as possible after completion of the interview. Any grant awarded will be wired direct to the educational institution’s bank account, and/or to the applicant’s account at the SLC as appropriate.
Grants awarded by The Albert Baker Fund are not classed as part of the “earned income” of the applicant – therefore they do not need to be reported to the applicant’s Local Authority or the SLC.
APPLICANT PARTICIPATION IN SUBMISSION PROCESS
The Albert Baker Fund expects post-secondary education grant applicants to take an active role in the application process – by completing forms, gathering necessary information and following up with us regarding the status of their application. We expect applicants to take responsibility for communicating directly with us. We will certainly answer parents’ questions about our programmes, processes and policies but we prefer to discuss specific items about the application with the student.
For technical support, please contact:
For programme questions, please contact:
Tel: +1-916-594-9513
1510 J Street, Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95814 USA
Telephone: +1-916-594-9513 Fax: +1-916-594-9602
| www.albertbakerfund.org
Grant Application for
Post-Secondary Education in the U.K.
New, continuing, graduate and vocational students
GRANT APPLICATION FORM
Applicants must be active, sincere, dedicated students of Christian Science
This MS Word document is set up as a “form” and is “locked.” As a “locked” form, you can tab to each grey field and it expands with text as you type. When completed, the form can be saved as any other Word document and emailed as an attachment. You may also print out the form, write-in the answers, and forward it to us by fax.
Today’s Date: (Day/Month/Year)
Single Married Male Female
Legal Name: (First / Middle / Last)
Birth Date: (Day/ Month/Year)
Citizenship:
If married, full name of spouse:
Mother’s Name: Father’s Name:
Permanent/home address: Street:
City:
County:
Postal Code:
Country:
Permanent/home telephone:
Your cell or mobile phone:
Your email address:
Address while you attend your educational institution during the academic year for which you are applying:
- If you will be living at home check the “home” box below only.
- If applying before your address is known, please check “current” box below and enter your current address.
Home (same as address above) Current address University housing/hostel Other (explain)
Street:
City:
County:
Postal Code:
Country:
Telephone at this address:
Dates at this address: Start date: End date:
If you are employed, give the name and address of your employer:
Name of university, college or vocational institution to be attended during academic year:
City and Country:
Type of Course: University-Undergraduate University-Graduate Vocational-Technical
Degree or certificate to be earned:
Degree subject or programme of study:
Year of Study: 1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year Other (explain)
For the academic year: Date classes begin (month/year): Date classes end (month/year):
Student number at university: Expected final graduation date (month, year):
Customer Ref. number (ART ID) at Student Loans Co (if appropriate):
Date or dates that your educational establishment requires funds from you or an external provider (e.g. Student Loans Company): Day/Month/Year:
Each referee listed here must complete a letter of recommendation using the ABF Applicant Reference Letter form (ARL). Applications will not be considered complete until all the required forms have been received.
Applicants should email each referee a copy of the ARL attached to the end of this Application Form, or ask their referees to download one from our website (www.albertbakerfund.org/what-we-fund/international-programs/). ARLs should ideally be submitted separately by the referee (i.e. not via the student), preferably by email or by fax, to the addresses given in the heading of the ARL. However if this is not practicable for any reason, ARLs may exceptionally be completed by hand and returned to the applicant for scanning and submission. NOTE: References must not be submitted via any electronic referral link on the ABF website.
Applicant Christian Science ReferenceName
Street Address
City
State/Province
Zip Code/Postal Code
Country
Telephone
Email / Applicant Academic Reference
Name
Street Address
City
State/Province
Zip Code/Postal Code
Country
Telephone
Email / Applicant Character Reference
Name
Street Address
City
State/Province
Zip Code/Postal Code
Country
Telephone
All amounts in UK Pounds sterling
Who provides financial support to you for the academic year? Please indicate all that apply.
Self Spouse Father Mother Student Loans Company (SLC)
Other (explain)
Is there any one financially dependent on you? Yes No
If Yes, please explain.
Are you the recipient of a prior ABF award? Yes No
If Yes, please write in the date(s) you received a grant (grants) from ABF:
Have you applied for/been granted an SLC Tuition Fee loan for the academic year? Yes No
Have you applied for/been awarded any scholarship/grant for the academic year? Yes No
If Yes, please provide details.
Please complete the following funding table to show your anticipated total expenses for the academic year and the resources which you expect to draw upon to meet those expenses (and their sources). If any shortfall in available resources is shown, please explain the situation in the Applicant Statement section below.
RESOURCES1. Assistance from friends, parents or other family: £
2. Scholarship, fellowship, grant or loan
SLC Tuition fee loan: £
SLC Maintenance loan: £
Other provider: (name) £
Other provider: (name) £
Other provider: (name) £
3. Your employment earnings in the academic year : £
4. Your savings applied towards course expenses: £
5. Any other source of funds: £
(explain)
Total Resources: £ / EXPENSES
1. Tuition and fees: £
2. Housing/Accommodation: £
3. Transportation: £
4. Personal Allowance (food, utilities etc.): £
5. Any other category of expense: £
(explain)
Total Expenses £
Amount You are Requesting from The Albert Baker Fund: £
Note: When answering this question, please bear in mind that ABF does not send funds to individuals and that any costs not included in the invoice from your educational institution or in excess of your Student Tuition Fee loan (if applicable) cannot normally be covered by ABF.
Existing Student Loan Balance
If you have an existing Student Loan, please indicate in £s the balance outstanding before the start of the academic year:
£