This field indicates the major source of tuition fees for the student where this is known. The predominant source should be selected where there is more than one source of award or financial backing. The field relates to the current year of study.

All instances where (Instance.REDUCEDI = 00 or 01) and Instance.MODE is not 63 or 64 and Instance.EXCHANGE is not 4 or G.

This field is not required to be returned for incoming exchange students.

The information in this field should reflect funding arrangements where payments have been made. Where payments have not been issued but arrangements have been confirmed, this field should be returned as if that payment has been made. For example, if attendance has been confirmed to the Student Loans Company, but payment has not yet been made, providers should return Instance.MSTUFEE as if the payment has been made rather than 98 or 99.

When there is a split in the source of tuition fees between the Student Loans Company (SLC) and the student's own funds, valid entries 52-54 should be used. If the source of funds is split between the SLC and another source, this other source should be returned and Instance.SSN should also be returned.

Valid entry 01 should be used for cases where the student pays the full fees with no SLC/SAAS funding. Students who are financially assessed by an LA/SAAS/DfE(NI)/NI Education and Library Boards/SLC to pay the full fee themselves (i.e. no public support for fees) should be included here. This valid entry should only be used where there is no award, fee loan or financial backing at all. Where there is some award, fee loan or financial backing, even if this is the minor source compared with the contribution of the student, then the coding should reflect the source of the award, fee loan or financial backing. Other valid entries should be used in preference to 01 where it is known that the student has received their funds from one of the sources listed here, for example when an employer is paying for the course and has given the money to the student, this would need to be returned as valid entry 81.

Valid entries 02, 03 or 04 cover cases where the SLC/SAAS fund full fees through a grant, or SLC/SAAS fund full fees through a fee loan, or SLC/SAAS fund full fees through a mixture of SLC/SAAS grant and SLC/SAAS fee loan. Students in exempt years from liability to pay fees should be returned as valid entries 02, 03 or 04 as appropriate. Valid entry 02 includes students aged under 19 who pay registration fees only. Valid entry 02 excludes LA acting as employer.

Valid entry 02 should only be used for students in receipt of postgraduate loans where the provider is definitive that the loan is being used by the students for their fees.

Valid entry 09 covers cases where fee remission is granted to employees of small and medium sized businesses who are studying part-time towards an HE qualification as part of a recognised Graduate Apprenticeship.

Valid entry 25 should be used when the charity paying the fees is listed as a member of Association of Medical Research Charities.

Valid entry 34 should be used for any student whose fees are directly paid by NAW. This valid entry should also be used for fees paid by The Royal Society.

Valid entry 41 applies specifically to the EU Commission. In valid entries 42-48 'overseas' means 'non-UK'.

Valid entry 42 'Overseas student award from HM government/British Council' includes the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Valid entry 49 identifies Overseas Research Student Award Scheme, and these awards are not included in valid entry 42.

Valid entry 52, 53 or 54 cover cases with a mixture of SLC/SAAS funding and student contribution (including cases where (i) the SLC/SAAS pays part fees and the student pays part fees, (ii) where the SLC/SAAS pays nil fees and the student pays part fees upfront and receives a fee loan for the remainder or (iii) the SLC/SAAS pays part fees, the student pays part fees and receives a part fee loan for the remainder.)

Valid entry 81 should be used in preference to other valid entries if it is known that the major source of tuition fees is the student's employer. Valid entries such as 61 and 34 therefore apply where these are the sponsor of the student rather than their employer.

Valid entry 91 includes scholarships, bursaries and fee waivers funded from the HE provider's own funds.

School Direct programmes (Non Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) programmes)

The Department for Education (DfE) has provided some guidance for instances associated with the School Direct programme.

For School Direct salaried students (Instance.ENTRYRTE=03), Instance.MSTUFEE must be returned as 81 'Employer funded'.

For School Direct tuition fee students (Instance.ENTRYRTE=02), Instance.MSTUFEE must be returned as the appropriate source of the tuition fees.

Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) programmes

Further guidance on the coding requirements for those on EYITT programmes may be found in the 'Further guidance about Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) programmes' document.