Student Support 2008/2009
What We Do
The Wrexham Student Support Office is based in Ty Henblas, Queens Square, Wrexham, LL13 8AZ.
We are responsible for assessing the eligibility and entitlement of all students normally resident in the area of the Authority attending Colleges and Universities throughout the United Kingdom.
Our primary purpose is to ensure that you receive all the assistance and advice you need to ensure your take up of higher education is as trouble free as possible.
The Student Support Staff attend Schools within the County Borough to talk to prospective students about what financial help is available to them. They also attend Career Conventions (UCAS) as well as other organised events within Wrexham to offer advice and guidance.
How to contact Student Support
Email: studentsupport@wrexham.gov.uk
Phone: 01978 297406
Fax: 01978 297501
Postal Address:
Student Support Office
Ty Henblas
Queens Square
Wrexham
LL13 8AZ
Important please note : all communications by whatever means will be dealt with in chronological order based on the date and time received.
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How to apply and when
First time applicants
First time applicants should apply to the Local Education Authority in whose area they are normally resident at the time they are making their application, unless they have moved to the area solely for the purposes of study.
You should apply to Wrexham County Borough Council if you or your parents’/ guardians or spouse pay Council Tax to this Authority.
If you are attending a Wrexham School, PN1 Forms will be available from your school in early April.
If you are not at present resident in Wrexham but feel that we are the relevant Authority, please phone the number given previously to discuss your case and obtain a PN1 Form.
Continuing students
You will be sent a PR1/PR1a application form automatically providing you have correctly indicated the full duration of your course on previous forms. If however, you are starting a new course this year, you will need to complete a PN1 and a Change of Circumstances form. This ensures we hold the correct course details.
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Which courses are eligible for Student Support ?
Student Support is available to most students on designated courses which include the following:
- A first degree at a University or Higher Education Establishment in the United Kingdom.
- A Diploma of Higher Education.
- Certain Higher National Certificates.
- Initial teacher training qualifications including the Post Graduate Certificate Of Education (PGCE) or other postgraduate part or full time courses of initial teacher training.
- Other courses may qualify if they have been specifically designated as being comparable to a first degree course by the WAG.
If you have any queries about which courses are eligible for Student Support please contact us by any of the means previously listed. Please ensure you have full details of the course including the UCAS course code. This can be found at www.ucas.com (external link)
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Timetable for Student Support Applicants 2008 / 2009
You must meet the following deadlines if you want to receive the first instalment of your student support at the start of your course. If you do not fill in any of the forms completely or clearly, or fail to provide all the necessary evidence, this will delay any payment.
25th April 2008
New and continuing applicants, who opt at this stage for the non means tested element of student finance, will not need to complete the financial application details on their form PN1/PR1.
23rd May 2008
Continuing students must return the Financial Application Form PR1 with all the relevant sections completed and if seeking a full assessment where possible the necessary documents to confirm income.
27th June 2008
First year applicants must return a fully and accurately completed PN1 to this office together with all supporting documents required.
Your application will not normally be accepted if you apply later than 4 months after the start of the academic year. Please ensure you have the form weighed in a Post Office and affix sufficient postage for its return.
Student Support and Fraud Prevention Initiatives
The Welsh Assembly has introduced a number of measures to reduce the risk of fraud associated with stolen or false identity documents. Birth certificates must now be accompanied by a Birth/ Adoption Certificate Form completed by a 3rd party confirming their identity. This 3rd party must be a ‘person of standing’ such as professional, civil servant, form teacher or person of good standing with in the community.
Please send the completed form to us along with your birth certificate. Alternatively, you can use your passport as evidence; you can bring it into this office to photocopy should you wish to.
At the start of your course
If you have met all the above deadlines and the details you have supplied regarding location and type of course have not subsequently changed, the money you are entitled to should be transferred to your account shortly after you register at your college / university. You must have a live bank or building society account into which instalments can be electronically transferred.
The Authority will deal with the Disabled Student Allowance and or travelling cost support payments separately and will advise you of your entitlement and method of payment in due course.
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What to do following the release of the "A" Level results in August
When you sent in your application you would have provided details of your first choice of college and course. When you receive your “A” Level results there may be some questions that you want to ask or some changes you wish to let us know about.
Below are some of the more common questions and answers that may give the advice that you need.
I have got the results I need and am going to the College / University on the course indicated on my application form what do I need to do?
Nothing, the details on your Financial Notification and Loan Request Form will not require amending.
I have got to go through “ clearing ” what do I do?
When you have accepted a definite offer of a place , you must provide us with the amended details. The “CO1“ available from the Student Loan Company or the Student Finance Wales website must be completed and returned to us as a matter of urgency.
I am not going to the College / University indicated on my application form what should I do?
You must complete and return the “CO1” form available from the Student Loans Company or the Student Finance Wales website.
I am changing course but still attending the same College / University indicated on my application form what do I do?
You must complete and return the “CO1” form available from the Student Loans Company or the Student Finance Wales website.
I have decided not to go to College / University this year, What do I do?
You must complete and return the “CO1” form available from the Student Loans Company or the Student Finance Wales website.
When will I receive the first instalment of my loan?
If you have met all the deadlines i.e. Your fully completed PN1 Form was received by the 27th June or your PR1 Form by the 23rd May the first instalment of your loan should be transferred into your account shortly after you start your course.
If you require a "CO1" Change of Circumstances form, or if you have any other questions do not hesitate to contact the Student Finance Customer Support Office on 0845 602 8845.
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What support is available for new applicants?
Please refer to the Student Finance Wales website for further details.
How do I qualify as an independent student?
You are an independent student if you meet any one of the following conditions:
- You have supported yourself for at least three years before the start of the academic year.
- You are aged 25 or over before the start of the academic year for which you are applying;
- You are married before the start of the academic year for which you are applying for support, you will need to produce your marriage certificate;
- You have no living parents.
- You are a full-time student who has care of a child or children on the first day of the academic year for which they are applying.
- Estranged – If you want to claim independent status because you have no contact with your parents, you must provide confirmation from a professional person outside your family who knows about your circumstances. For further information please phone the number given previously to discuss your case.
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Student Loan Rates
The amount that you are entitled to depends on a number of factors:
- The course that you study
- Where you live during term time
- Where the College / University you will be attending is situated
- Which year of the course you are on
For current rates and further details please refer to the Student Finance Wales website.
Additional Support Information (external websites):
Health Care Bursaries
College/ University Bursaries
Bursaries are extra financial help for students which are provided by the college or university that you attend.
There will be a National Bursary Scheme operating for students in Higher Education in Wales. Further details are available at the Welsh Bursaries Scheme home page.
If you are studying in England or Northern Ireland, are being charged the maximum tuition fee of £3,145, and are eligible for the full £2,835 Assembly Learning Grant, you can also get a minimum of £310 bursary from your college or university. Your college or university will be able to provide further details.
Further Information
www.support4learning.org.uk has a database of scholarships, bursaries awards, grants and educational and charitable trusts, plus lists of student funding information.
Useful books:
University Scholarships and Awards, Brian Heap, £22.99 from www.ucasbooks.co.uk:
The Educational Grants Directory, published by the Directory of Social Change, www.everythingyouwantedtoknow.com has a survey of companies offering sponsorships and placements and publishes Everything You Wanted to Know About Sponsorship, Placements And Graduate Opportunities (£15.95 inc p&p).
Wrexham County Borough Council is not responsible for the content of external websites
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