Architecture (Part 2 ARB/RIBA) Graduate Diploma: Living costs

Find out about financial support

The details quoted on this page are subject to confirmation and may change. We strongly advise that you check all information before making a final decision.

Students from England

You may be eligible for a package of support including:

a low-interest maintenance loan (which you pay back once you are earning);
a non-repayable maintenance grant (which you do not have to pay back); and/or
a non-repayable bursary from Kingston University (which you do not have to pay back).

Please note that if you already hold an honours degree, you will not be eligible for a tuition loan, maintenance loan or maintenance grant. However, you can still apply for a Kingston University bursary.

Maintenance loans: This is the main source of support for students in higher education. It helps you to pay for things like accommodation, travel, books, course equipment and living expenses.

There are two maximum rates of maintenance loan:

£6,928 if you live in your own or rented accommodation whilst studying; or
£3,838 if you live in your parents' home whilst studying.

The maximum maintenance loan rate increases in line with inflation each year but (for courses of more than one year) will be lower in the final year of your course (because it doesn't cover the summer vacation for that year).

Part of the maintenance loan is income-assessed so the amount you get may be reduced if your household income is more than around £52,000.

Interest will be charged (at the same rate as the tuition fee loan) from the time the first instalment is paid until you have repaid it.

Maintenance grants: Maintenance grants provide additional non-repayable support for your living costs. It is paid instead of part of your maintenance loan (up to £1,493) and is fully income-assessed as follows:

Household income	Amount of grant
Below £25,000	£2,906
Between £25,001 and £50,020	£2,905–£50
£50,021 or higher	Nil

Kingston University bursary: Some students will also qualify for a bursary from Kingston University. You do not have to repay the bursary and you can use it for course costs or living expenses. It is fully income-assessed as follows:

Household income	Amount of bursary
Below £1,000	£1,000
Between £1,001 and £25,000	£600
Between £25,001 and £39,786	£559
Above £39,786	Nil

Summary of funding: Here is a summary of what you might receive:

Household income	Kingston University bursary	Maintenance grant	Maintenance loan (London rate)	Total student finance for living costs
£0–£1,000	£1,000	£2,906	£6,071	£9,977
£1,000–£25,000	£600	£2,906	£6,071	£9,577
£30,000	£559	£1,906	£6,071	£8,536
£40,000	£0	£711	£6,831	£7,542
£50,000	£0	£51	£6,877	£6,928
£60,000	£0	£0	£5,084	£5,084
£70,000	£0	£0	£4,988	£4,988
£80,000	£0	£0	£4,988	£4,988

(Figures are subject to confirmation and may change.)

Students from Wales and Northern Ireland

Funding for students from Wales and Northern Ireland is similar to that for students from England although there are some small differences. Please visit the Student Finance Wales website or the Student Finance Northern Ireland website for more information.