Student Finance
Student Finance Guide
Eligibility for student loans
You may be eligible for a loan, if you are a UK national or have been granted ‘settled status’ and have been living in the UK for three years prior to commencing the course.
If this situation does not apply, you may still be able to obtain a loan, if you have been living consistently in the UK for some time, over 18 for 20 years or at least half your life.
There is no upper age limit for tuition fee loans, but you should not have received previous funding at university level for more than one year. All decisions on tuition fee and maintenance loans are made by Student Finance England. For further information, please consult www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies
Financial Support
Tuition Fee Loan
This covers the full cost of your tuition fees, so there is nothing to pay upfront.
Maintenance Loan
For full-time students who are under the age of 60 on 1 August 2024, the amount of maintenance loan awarded depends on your personal circumstances and your household income.
The figures in the table below are those applicable to September 2024 entry and relevant to students living at home during their study (other amounts are applicable to students living independently away from the family home).
The maintenance loan reduces in line with household income from £25,000 upwards as indicated.
Household income | Maintenance loan |
£25,000 | £8,400 |
£30,000 | £7,694 |
£35,000 | £6,988 |
£40,000 | £6,282 |
£45,000 | £5,876 |
£50,000 | £5,576 |
£55,000 | £4,869 |
£60,000 | £4,163 |
£65,000 | £3,698 |
£70,000 | £3,698 |
Other sources of support
If you believe that you may be eligible for the Childcare Grant, Adult Dependants’ Grant, Parents’ Learning Allowance or Disabled Students’ Allowance and need more information, please contact Student Finance England on 0300 1000607.
You can apply online from circa March 2024 onwards at www.gov.uk/student-finance. This information is intended as a guide only. Contact SFE for more details.
Disabled Students’ Allowance
Disabled Student Allowance leaflet
Repaying your loan
Repayment only begins in the April after you finish or leave your course and currently only if you are earning over £25,000pa. If your earnings drop below this level, repayments will stop.
Repayments are deducted at source like tax. Interest above inflation is currently only charged once your earnings exceed £25,000.
How to apply to Student Finance England (SFE)
Apply online from March 2024 onwards at www.gov.uk/student-finance.
This information is intended as a guide only. Contact SFE for more details.