IF you want to know if part-time study is worthwhile ask college lecturer Laura Chapman who combined work with part-time study for her own professional development.

The 27-year-old completed a Teesside University-accredited course at one of the University's five partner colleges.

This partnership of Middlesbrough, Darlington, Stockton Riverside, Hartlepool and Redcar & Cleveland Colleges with the University offers a broad provision of part-time higher education programmes across the Tees Valley.

Laura, who teaches foundation degree students animal management at Askham Bryan College achieved a first class Teesside University accredited BA (Hons) Education Studies at Darlington College.

"'I wanted to do the degree as part of my own professional development. I completed the course at evening classes, three hours each week. I already had the PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) so was able to study for a year to top up this qualification," says Laura.

Laura's experience is backed up by Teesside University Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Henderson, who is working with college principals and staff across the Tees Valley Higher Education partnership to get the message out to students and employers that studying part-time is accessible, achievable and above all affordable.

Prof Henderson explains: "Funding has changed for part-time students who want to begin their undergraduate studies in 2012. For all undergraduate students it will, for the first time, be free at the point of entry as they can now apply for loans to cover the cost of their fees. Students would then only begin making repayments on those loans four years after the start of the course if they are earning over 21,000 a year, and, most importantly, their repayments will be based on their earnings and not the amount they owe, unlike most loans.

"Employers can choose one of two options to support their employees to study for a part-time degree. They can help those employees undertaking a student loan, perhaps with a commitment to reward completion and attainment in their higher education study with a pay award to help with loan repayments further down the line, or they can opt to pay all, or part of their employee's tuition fee up-front. This means there really needs to be no barrier to part-time study and the benefits are widely recognised in terms of both the positive impact on an employee's career, and the performance of their employer's business."

Student loan repayments are based on what an individual earns calculated at nine per cent of income above 21,000. If someone is earning 25,000 they will pay the loan back at 30 a month - 7.50 per week. Prof Henderson is concerned that the message that part-time study remains good value for money is not getting out to employers and employees.