Metro Bank Launches Professional Studies Loan

Metro Bank, the revolutionary high street bank, today announces the launch of its new Professional Studies Loan Scheme to provide financial support for post-graduate study. The new scheme will initially be available to students at The University of Law (ULaw) exclusively, and has been designed to fund course fees and help with living costs.

Students can borrow between £1,000 and £25,000 to cover all or part of their course fees while an additional 20 per cent can be used towards living expenses, subject to a maximum total loan amount of £25,000, with no early repayment charges. Students can defer repayments until up to six months after they have finished their studies (providing they do not take a study gap between courses*) and have up to five years to repay from the repayment start date.

Craig Donaldson, Chief Executive, Metro Bank commented: "This is an exciting development for Metro Bank and demonstrates our commitment to broadening our offering to suit customers' needs. We're proud to be working with The University of Law as our launch partner for the new loan, and hope to support many budding lawyers through the scheme. Metro Bank is a community bank focused on offering the best in service and convenience, and we hope to be able to work in partnership with other educational institutions to offer the Professional Studies Loan in the future."

John Latham, Provost and CEO at The University of Law said: "Metro Bank is a modern pioneer in retail banking and we're pleased to be partnering with a business that shares our values for innovation and forward thinking. Being able to offer Metro Bank's Professional Studies Loan Scheme allows the University to continue to attract the best talent from a diverse range of backgrounds.

"As the UK's leading law school, we recognise that it's not always easy to find the financial support needed to study. This Metro Bank scheme underlines our commitment to provide students with the best opportunities to enter the legal services sector."

The loan is available to students at any of ULaw's eight centres for those studying full-time, part-time and online. Courses included are the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), LL.M Legal Practice Course (LL.M LPC) and the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC).

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Notes to Editors:

All Metro Bank products are subject to status and approval. Terms and conditions apply. Full eligibility criteria is available by contacting Metro Bank directly. Applicants must be UK passport holders to apply.

*'Taking a study gap' refers to any period of time that delays the finishing of studies at The University of Law, for example taking any time-out between or during courses, deferring or intermitting any part of the course, switching from a full-term to part-time course mid-term, or discontinuing, cancelling or withdrawing from a course.

Metro Bank offers customers:

Retail banking:
7 day a week branch banking (8am-8pm Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm Saturday, 11am-5pm Sunday and bank holidays), 362 days of the year
The ultimate in new account opening convenience, with a rapid opening procedure and on the spot bank cards and cheque books (Account Opening conditions apply. All Metro Bank products are subject to status and approval.)
Free coin counting at every store, for customers and non-customers alike, with the Metro Bank Magic Money Machine™
A friendly welcome to dogs and their owners, with water bowls and dog biscuits on hand for man's best friend - dogs rule at Metro Bank!
Business banking:
The bank for entrepreneurs: Metro Bank offers tailored business banking services including a full range of lending and cash management solutions
Private banking:
Private by name, personal by nature: Metro Bank Private Banking provides bespoke banking solutions for customers' personal and commercial interests
Notes to Editors:

For more information, please contact:

Metro Bank
Rachel Cohen
Metro Bank
T: 020 3402 8473 / 07415251148
E: Rachel.Cohen@metrobank.plc.uk

Beth Murray
Lansons
T: 07921515935
E: Bethm@lansons.com

To contact the press office please email: metrobank@lansons.com

The University of Law
Lucy Wray
T: 01483 216072
E: lucy.wray@law.ac.uk

Broadgate Mainland
Mark Knight / Sarah Evans Toyne / Lianne Robinson / Cara Penkethman
T: 020 7726 6111
E: theuniversityoflaw@broadgatemainland.com

About Metro Bank:

Metro Bank operates retail hours, not banking hours. It is open seven days a week (8am- 8pm Monday to Friday, 8am - 6pm Saturday, 11am - 5pm Sunday and bank holidays), every day of the year apart from Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Metro Bank PLC. Registered in England and Wales. Company number: 6419578. Registered office: One Southampton Row, London, WC1B 5HA. 'Metrobank' is the registered trade mark of Metro Bank PLC.

We are authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. Most relevant deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. For further information about the Scheme refer to the FSCS website www.fscs.org.uk.

All Metro Bank products are subject to status and approval.

Metro Bank PLC is an independent UK bank - it is not affiliated with any other bank or organisation (including the METRO newspaper or its publishers) anywhere in the world. Please refer to Metro Bank using the full name.

About The University of Law:

The University of Law is the largest provider of professional legal education and training in the world with centres in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Guildford, Manchester and York. Previously The College of Law, we were granted university title in November 2012.

We are widely regarded as experts in legal training - all of our tutors and course designers are qualified solicitors or barristers and have practice experience. We work closely with law firms and chambers of all sizes and exclusively deliver the Legal Practice Course (LPC) to trainees at many of the leading global law firms. In September 2013 we launched an LL.M LPC, which awards students not only with an LPC but also with an internationally-recognised Master of Laws.

The University is proud of our record of empowering students from all backgrounds to achieve their legal career goals. We support qualified lawyers throughout the profession with a comprehensive programme of professional development courses and in 2008 we launched our Master's LL.M programme in professional legal practice.

We also provide the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) to give non-law graduates an entry route into the profession and the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) for prospective barristers.

In 2006 we were the first independent institution to be granted degree awarding powers. In September 2012 we launched an undergraduate LL.B law degree focusing on employability and professional legal skills.

For further information about the University please visit www.law.ac.uk