What will it cost?

Fees and what they include

The course fees for the part-time (60-credits in the year) undergraduate and graduate certificates are £1,850 for the year. Students that apply before April 30, 2010 can get a £50 discount, making their fees £1800 for the year.

The course fees cover the following costs:

  • two residential intensive teaching weeks
  • delivery of the course content in the Hub from the Centre and Hub Tutors
  • course materials
  • University registration and accreditation fee
  • administration of the course
  • access to study resources at the Hub and remotely via the internet.
Other costs to take into account

The cost to the student will vary depending on their circumstances. In addition to the course fees, the student should budget for some, or all, of the following:

  • accommodation and food costs for the year
  • travel costs to and from the residential weeks
  • travel costs to and from the student’s Hub for 24 teaching weeks of the year
  • any books they wish to buy to support their studies (although all texts required will be available)
  • £15 per instalment cost if course fees are paid termly (this admin charge is not made if students pay full fees at the start of the year)

We believe that the NWTP courses represent good value for money in the existing market whilst providing a local learning community, actively embedded in the local church in a way that allows theological study to have immediate practical application and a local context in which to place theological refection. This overcomes the negatives of both highly individualised distance learning and the removal from the local church context of purely residential courses.

Help with costs

Click here for some tips from Chris Pemberton!

Starting any university level course always seems a bit daunting even without working out all the financial implications, however here are possibilities for raising money for your fees.

Your church
If you are joining the course via your church intern programme, it may be that your church is already making a contribution to your fees. If you do not fall into this category it is worth asking if the church is able to contribute to your fees, or you could try asking some individuals or couples in your church for a regular monthly ‘living gift’ to buy things like books, toiletries and clothes.

Sponsorship
Do you have links with local charities or have you been doing any voluntary work recently? Perhaps you could ask that organisation if they would be willing to sponsor some of your studies. Also consider how you could take part in or run an event that you could be sponsored for. Theological training students are eligible to register with Stewardship for a special account that means if UK tax paying supporters give to the student through this account the student receives an extra 25% on top of the gift. This doesn’t apply to gifts from close relatives though. For more information see www.stewardship.org.uk

Grants and awards for UK students

You can apply to your local education authority for possible financial assistance from student support/loans, as well as other allowances you might be eligible for, such as extra weeks’ attendance, disabled students and dependants allowance. Although the LEA won’t pay for all your fees, they may make a contribution to tuition fees from a grant. For more info about grants and awards visit: (click below)
Financial Help For Adult Learners

Career Development Loans are also available for one and two year vocational courses. You can apply for these at job centres or look at: (click below)
Career Development Loans

Grant making Trusts
It is possible that your church already subscribes to the Trust Funding database (www.trustfunding.org.uk), ask whether you can research trusts who may be able to support you. Most good libraries should also hold copies of the Directory of Grant Making Trusts, and possibly The Educational Grants Directory and The Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need as well as guides to Trusts local to you. The UK Christian Handbook may also provide useful information. Doing an internet search on ‘write funding proposal’ will provide you with a range of suggestions for how to write a good letter that summarises of your background, present studies, future hopes, financial needs and the relevance of your application.

Part-time work
Depending on your course and whether you are an intern, you might be able to fit in some part-time work or use your holiday time to earn some extra money.

Student Bursary Funds
There is a bursary fund available to students. Bursaries of up to £400 can be awarded, and applications are considered as soon as they are received, until the limit of the fund for that year is reached. Early applications therefore are more likely to be successful.

To apply for an NWTP bursary, please download this form, fill it in, and hand it to your Hub Director: Download Bursary Form

Hopefully this has given you some ideas; and remember, as you step out to join a course that you feel God is calling you on to, that He is the great provider in our lives. The finger that points the way is part of the hand that provides.