How will my Access Scholarship be paid?

Your Access Scholarship will be paid to you in two instalments in the first year of your course.  

Remaining payments will be paid during year two and three.

Instalment 1

Your first instalment is the welcome package, which is £300 Aspire credit and £50 print credit.

Once you have registered and received your student ID card, you will be able to register with John Smith's bookshop and will be able to spend your £300 Aspire credit in store or online.

Your £50 print credit will be preloaded onto your student ID card.

Instalment 2

The second instalment is a £150 flexible payment due to be paid at the end of February.

What is Aspire Credit?

Aspire credit is loaded automatically onto your Aspire card. You will receive an email from John Smith's bookshop confirming the available credit on your card.

You can purchase a wide range of items with the Aspire credit; books from your reading list, IT equipment, bags, sports equipment and tickets/tokens/vouchers. You can purchase items in the John Smith's bookshop in the Mall in Luton or online.

If you don't spend all the credit on your card it will remain on your card for next year. 

More details about the Aspire Card

How will I receive my cash payment?

If you receive a student loan, we will pay any cash payments into the same bank account, through the Student Loans Funding Portal. To change bank accounts you will need to contact Student Loans Company well in advance of the due payment date. 

Where a student does not receive a tuition fee loan, the cash element will be paid by cheque. The cash payment will be made on the last day of the month in which it is due.