OFFA guidance on inflationary increases and updating access agreements for 2009-10 (SCITTs)
To: Principal contact for OFFA / Managers responsible for access agreements
22 May 2008
In brief…
Following the announcement of inflationary increases to fees for 2009-10, all SCITTs must confirm their fee limits, bursaries and eligibility thresholds for 2009-10 with OFFA by 18 July 2008.
Where SCITTs committed to return to OFFA with milestones in 2008, access agreements should now be amended to incorporate these.
Inflationary increases – the new levels
DIUS has announced the inflationary increases that will apply to fees, grants and loans, and details of the income thresholds for eligibility for state grants. The main changes are:-
• overall, state financial support for eligible trainees in 2009-10 will be 2.6 per cent higher than in 2008-09, in line with forecast price increases
• the maximum fee payable by trainees who entered higher education on or after 1st September 2006 and who are being charged variable fees, will increase from £3,145 to £3,225 in 2009-10. This increase will be matched by a corresponding increase in the loan for fees that trainees can take out
• the maximum level of Higher Education Maintenance Grant/Special Support Grant will rise to £2,906
• income thresholds for eligibility for state grants for new entrants in 2008-09 and 2009-10 will remain at £25,000 for the full grant and increase to £60,032 for a partial grant
income thresholds for eligibility for state grants for trainees who were new entrants in 2006-07 or 2007-08 will remain at £18,360 for the full grant and increase to £39,333 for a partial grant
Full details are available on the DIUS website in a Student Support Information Note (SSIN).
What you need to do – guidance from OFFA
All SCITTs must increase their minimum bursary to ensure that it meets the difference between the level of full Higher Education Maintenance Grant and the fee charged. For example, if you want to charge the full fee of £3,225 in 2009-10, you will need to offer a minimum bursary of £319.
You don’t have to increase your bursary levels (other than the minimum bursary you offer) or eligibility thresholds unless your access agreement commits you to do so. However, you may wish to do this to make sure that the value of your financial support package is not eroded over time.
All SCITTs should confirm their fee limits, bursaries and eligibility thresholds for 2009-10 with OFFA by 18 July 2008. This deadline allows us to confirm approved fee limits of SCITTs with the Student Loans Company (SLC) prior to the start of the application process.
Confirmation can be provided by amending your access agreement or by completing the linked template below.
Fee and bursary update template 2009-10 – SCITT version
The majority of SCITTs committed to return to OFFA with milestones in 2008 once data was available. Access agreements should now be amended to include milestones. Due to the small numbers of trainees at each SCITT it is acceptable to provide, as a minimum, baseline figures on the numbers of trainees entitled to a bursary and to commit to monitor these going forward.
When we need to hear from you
You must confirm your fee limit, bursaries and eligibility thresholds for 2009-10 and let us know of any other material changes to access agreements, including the addition of milestones by 18 July 2008.
Please send amended agreements and completed update templates to accessagreements@offa.org.uk.
Got a query?
If you have any queries about the process for submitting a new or revised access agreement, please contact Jean Arnold or Richard Smith by emailing enquiries@offa.org.uk or phoning 0117 931 7171.