National Scholarship Programme (NSP) at Colchester Institute

 
Download the National Scholarship Application form

The National Scholarship Programme (NSP)  has been created by the Government to help eligible students from low income households with the costs of higher education study.  The initiative commences in September 2012.  The NSP is in addition to any other loans and grants that students might receive.

Introduction

Under the National Scholarship Programme Colchester Institute will be offering scholarships to 30 new students commencing full-time undergraduate degrees or higher national diplomas in September 2012. The scholarship comprises a fee discount of £1,500, a £1,000 cash bursary and a £500 travel payment. Applicants will be required to meet national and local criteria and submit an application direct to Colchester Institute. However meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee receipt of a scholarship.

Eligibility for National Scholarship Programme at Colchester Institute

To apply for an NSP you must meet the following criteria:

  • Be ordinarily resident in England and eligible for UK home fees;
  • Be currently studying your level 3 (for example, BTEC Nationals, CACHE Diploma, A level or equivalent) qualification at Colchester Institute or a Sixth Form in a school or college in Braintree, Colchester or Tendring;
  • Have an annual declared household income of £25,000 or less;
  • Register for a full-time Bachelors or Foundation degree or a full-time HNC/HND at Colchester Institute with first enrolment in 2012-2013;
  • Be enrolling for the first year of your higher education study at Colchester Institute;
  • Apply to Colchester Institute for degree level study, through UCAS, by 30th June 2012;
  • Apply to Student Finance England for student finance by 30th June 2012.

In addition, under the national eligibility criteria of the NSP, you are not eligible for the NSP regardless of meeting the above criteria if you are:

  • An NHS-funded student;
  • A student funded by the Training and Development Agency for Schools;
  • A student directly continuing from one course to another (for example from a foundation degree or HND on to the final year of your honours degree);
  • A student transferring to Colchester Institute from another institution;
  • A student undertaking a postgraduate qualification;
  • Any other students whose fees are paid or part-paid through a sponsorship arrangement.

Additional Information

  • The scholarship will be given for one year and is not a recurrent annual entitlement.
  • No more than £1,000 will be provided as a cash bursary.
  • The £500 travel payment cannot be paid as cash.  Colchester Institute will purchase travel equivalent to the subsidy.
  • Applicants must be able to provide evidence of conditions of the scholarship (household income).
  • In the event of not all NSPs being awarded in the first application cycle  further information will be made available via our website.
  • Applicants will be advised if they will receive a scholarship in August 2012.
  • The fee discount will be removed from the total fee at enrolment and this information will be passed to Student Finance England to reduce the fee liability.
  • The £1,000 cash amount will be paid to successful applicants who are still in attendance in May 2013.
  • All applications received by 30th June 2012 will be reviewed by a panel of staff from Colchester Institute.  The panel will want to see that the applicant is keen to progress into higher education and aspires to working hard to achieve their full potential.

How to apply

Applicants who meet the criteria above are invited to apply direct to Colchester Institute by completing the application form and submitting a reference and personal statement.

The reference should be no more than 200 words and be written by someone that knows you and your potential e.g. a teacher, employer or professional.  References from family will not be accepted.

The personal statement should be up to 500 words and explain your reasons for wanting to study at Colchester Institute and why a scholarship would assist you.

Please remember before you apply for the NSP you must:

  • Have applied through UCAS by 30th June 2012 to study a full-time undergraduate course at Colchester Institute in 2012-2013;
  • Have applied to Student Finance England for student finance.

Please send your completed application form, reference and personal statement to:

HE Admissions, Colchester Institute, Sheepen Road, Colchester, Essex CO3 3LL or email to info@colchester.ac.uk

If you have any queries about the NSP at Colchester Institute please ring 01206 712152 or email info@colchester.ac.uk

For information on applying through UCAS please go to www.ucas.ac.uk

For information on applying for student finance please go to www.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk

 
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