Information for students at Oxford in 2009/10
- When will I hear about an Oxford Opportunity Bursary for 2009/10?
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The first letters regarding the bursary will be sent out week ending 4th September 2009. Letters are sent out on a rolling basis when information is received from the Student Loans Company regarding the household income assessment
If you have have received your financial notification indicating you have been financially assessed and will be in receipt of a maintenance grant, but have not heard about your bursary by 16th September it is likely the Student Loans Company do not have permission registered to share your data with us.
If you have not received notification of your bursary by 16th September please contact the SLC on 0845 603 4016 and indicate that you wish your household income date be shared with the University. You should also check that any sponsor has given permission. Each sponsor must individually give permission, e.g. if both parents are listed on the form they must both individually give permission for the data to be shared before the University can see it.
- When and how will I receive my Oxford Opportunity Bursary (OOB)?
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Provided all the necessary information is available, payments will be made by your College in the following weeks
Michael Term week 4
Payment is made to students by cheque or by BACS by their college. For payment enquiries you should contact your college directly
Hilary Term week 2
Trinity Term week 2 - I received an OOB in my first year will I continue to receive one?
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You are awarded a OOB on the basis of your annual financial assessment. You must, therefore, be financially assessed each year and give permission for your data to be shared each year. Receiving an OOB in one year is not a guarantee of receiving a further one, and the amount received in one year is not a guarantee of the level of OOB which may be awarded in a subsequent year.
- Why has my OOB changed since last year?
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Some first year students receive an extra start-up payment in their first year and therefore their bursaries in subsequent years will be lower, even if their household income assessment is the same.
Bursaries are calculated on each year's financial assessment and therefore will change with any change in the household income assessment.
- I have received a second letter regarding my OOB and the amount has changed; why is this?
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The University aims to pay students their OOB as soon as is possible. In order to do this we may award bursaries whilst your household income assessment is provisional. If your household income is reassessed or changed on finalisation, your OOB will be changed to reflect this. However you will not be asked to repay an overpayment unless it has been received fraudulently.
- Why have I not received an OOB when I believe my household income assessment makes me eligible?
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The most likely reason is that the University does not have permission to access your household assessment data held by the Student Loans Company (SLC). Permission must be given by you and your sponsors for this data to be made available to the University.
If you believe you have not done this you should contact the SLC on 0845 603 4016 and indicate that you wish this information to be shared with the University and you should also check that any sponsor has given permission. Each sponsor must individually give permission, e.g. if both parents are listed on the form they must both individually give permission for the data to be shared before the University can see it.
- When is the deadline for bursaries to be awarded?
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The closing date for the awarding of bursaries is 31 May 2010. No matter at what point during the year up to this deadline the award is made, it will be made for the whole year, i.e. if a student is awarded £3,225 they will receive this amount whether their award is made in Michaelmas, Hilary or Trinity Term; only the number of instalments will differ.
- How can I receive my OOB during my year abroad?
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The process is the same as that for other students, and you must therefore be eligible for means tested government support. Certain placements do not qualify for support and you should therefore contact your department to check whether your placement will entitle you to receive means tested support.
If your college usually pays by cheque different arrangements can be made and students should speak to their college.
- How do I ensure I continue to receive my OOB for the rest of the year?
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Although the University will make payment during Michaelmas Term you must have a final status in your household income assessment in order to receive payment in Hilary and Trinity Term. Those who do not have final status should contact their funding body and attempt to have the status finalised. If status is not finalised by Friday 8 January 2010, or students have not provided evidence that their status cannot be finalised by this date, payment will not be issued.
Provisional status cannot always be finalised. For example if you are receiving a childcare grant the awarding body needs confirmation of the cost of childcare, or if your have self-employed sponsors the awarding body might be awaiting the end of the tax year to finalise income. If this affects you, then you should email and explain the reason why your household income status cannot be finalised and payment will be issued. However, payment cannot be issued if you have not informed us of the reason why your household income assessment has not been finalised.
- What is the difference between a provisional and a final status in the household income assessments?
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Students can check whether their status is final or provisional on their Financial Notification (not the payment schedule) from the Student Loans Company. Above the student's name the assessment status will be listed.
- How do I ensure I continue to receive my OOB whilst at Oxford?
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In order to be assessed for an OOB you must be financially assessed each year of your course through Student Finance England (England), Local Authority (England and Wales), Education and Library Board (Northern Ireland) or Student Awards Agency for Scotland (Scotland). You can complete your application for funding either online or in paper format from March/April 2009. A reminder should be issued by your awarding body that the form needs be completed. However, it is your responsibility to ensure their funding application is completed, whether or not this reminder is received. You should aim to complete your application in good time for the new academic year to ensure the process is as smooth as possible. We recommend that you complete your application before the beginning of the summer vacation or in line with the deadlines given by the awarding body, whichever is earlier.
You must also ensure you enrol on time. No payment can be issued to students until they have confirmed their attendance at the University.