Undergraduate Funding

In England, students who meet the eligibility criteria can receive funding for their undergraduate programme. Funding is provided for the cost of a stage of study each year. However, as students enrol on a unit-by-unit basis, OCA claims for the cost of units as you enrol in them, which may result in not using all awarded funding each year.

SFE maintenance loans may be available for students who can only study via distance learning due to a disability, and you will be asked to evidence this in your application. The amount you awarded depends on course intensity, which is confirmed on a unit by unit basis. To increase your course intensity, you would need to enrol to more than one unit of study per year. Please note you must complete one unit of study before progressing to the next – we do not accept enrolments to multiple units at the same time. 

Check out further Student Finance England information here

In Wales, students who meet the eligibility criteria can receive funding for their undergraduate programme. 

Eligible students receive funding for at least one unit of study per year. This means that to fully fund the course through Student Finance, you can expect to complete an undergraduate programme in 9 years. You can finish sooner, but keep in mind that enrolling in more than one unit within your academic year funding period will require partial funding for the additional unit.

Maintenance loans from SFW may be available for eligible students. You must be studying at a course intensity of at least 25% to get a part-time grant and loan for living costs and to apply for a part-time tuition fee loan. OCA confirms course intensity on a unit by unit basis only. To increase your course intensity, you would need to enrol to more than one unit of study per year. Please note you must complete one unit of study before progressing to the next – we do not accept enrolments to multiple units at the same time. 

Check out further Student Finance Wales information here

In Northern Ireland, students who meet the eligibility criteria can receive funding for their undergraduate programme.

Eligible students receive funding for at least one unit of study per year. This means that to fully fund the course through Student Finance, you can expect to complete an undergraduate programme in 9 years. You can finish sooner, but keep in mind that enrolling in more than one unit within your academic year funding period will require partial funding for the additional unit.

You may be able to apply for a Course Grant as part of your student finance application each year. This usually requires a course intensity of at least 50% during the academic year. OCA confirms course intensity on a unit by unit basis only. To increase your course intensity, you would need to enrol to more than one unit of study per year. Please note you must complete one unit of study before progressing to the next – we do not accept enrolments to multiple units at the same time. 

Check out further Student Finance Northern Ireland information here

It’s important you submit an accurate funding application to prevent delays where possible. Use the guidance below to help you submit your application. Some application forms may vary in questions and order, but the information you need is all included within the guidance.

Please note, an academic years runs from 1 August to 31 July.

New Student 24/25 Application Guidance

New Student 23/24 Application Guidance

Continuing Student 23/24 Application Guidance

The Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) is Scotland’s student funding agency. For those enrolled in eligible part-time courses, such as OCA undergraduate programmes, SAAS offers the Part-time Fee Grant (PTFG) to assist with tuition costs. If you are a resident of Scotland, eligible students can apply for partial funding towards their OCA undergraduate programme through SAAS.

The Part-time Fee Grant (PTFG) awards roughly a third of the cost of an OCA undergraduate programme. Students are granted this funding award each time they enrol to a unit of study.  

The Part-time Fee Grant does not cover the total cost of an OCA undergraduate programme, therefore students are expected to pay the difference between the PTFG award of the cost of the course, therefore students are required to pay the deposit amount when registering to a unit of study. 

SAAS will only accept one Part-Time Fee Grant application from you per academic year, so it is important that you plan your study for the full academic year in advance. For instance, if you begin your first unit in September, and plan to begin a second unit in May, you’ll need to have informed OCA and completed registration to the second unit within the SAAS deadlines. 

Review further SAAS’ Part-time Fee Grant information here

Please be aware that if you selecting to begin study in June or July 2024, you must have already applied for 23/24 funding before 31 March 2024. If not, you can only apply to begin in the academic year 24/25.

SAAS Part-time Fee Grant Application Guidance 23/24