New full-time students

You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan if your course starts on or after 1 August 2016. Tuition Fee Loan Your university or college sets your tuition fee, and the loan is paid directly to them. You have to pay it back. 2020 to 2021 academic year 2021 to 2022 academic year Full-time student Up to £9,250 Up to £9,250 If you’re studying an accelerated degree course, you could get up to £11,100. Maintenance Loan for living costs You may have to give details of your household income - this can affect how much you get. The loan is paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term. You have to pay the loan back. 2020 to 2021 academic year 2021 to 2022 academic year Living at home Up to 7,747 Up to £7,987 Living away from home, outside London Up to £9,203 Up to £9,488 Living away from home, in London Up to £12,010 Up to £12,382 You spend a year of a UK course studying abroad Up to £10,539 Up to £10,866 You may not get the full amount, so you may have to find other ways to fund the rest of your living costs. This could include, for example, part-time work, local authority assistance, bursaries, scholarships, or family contributions. You can use the student finance calculator to estimate how much Maintenance Loan you’ll get - it will also tell you if you’re eligible for extra grants or allowances. If you’re 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of your course you can apply for up to £4,014. You must report any changes to your living arrangements in your online account , so you get the correct amount of student finance. You might need evidence of any changes. Coronavirus and maintenance loans You do not need to tell SLC if your course has moved online, as long as your living arrangements stay the same. If they have changed, you must update your address in your online account. Extra help with travel costs You might get a grant to cover some travel expenses if you normally live in England but study away from home. If you’re a medical or dental student you might also qualify for help with the costs of attending clinical placements in the UK. Further information 2020 to 2021 academic year Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2020 to 2021 How you’re assessed and paid - 2020 to 2021 guide 2021 to 2022 academic year Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2021 to 2022 How you’re assessed and paid - 2021 to 2022 guide

Continuing full-time students

What you’re eligible for depends on when your course starts. You may also be able to get extra help . If your course starts on or after 1 August 2016 You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan if your course starts on or after 1 August 2016. Tuition Fee Loan Your university or college sets your tuition fee, and the loan is paid directly to them. You have to pay it back. 2020 to 2021 academic year 2021 to 2022 academic year Full-time student Up to £9,250 Up to £9,250 Maintenance Loan for living costs You may have to give details of your household income - this can affect how much you get. The loan is paid directly into your bank account at the start of term. You have to pay the loan back. 2020 to 2021 academic year 2021 to 2022 academic year Living at home Up to 7,747 Up to £7,987 Living away from home, outside London Up to £9,203 Up to £9,488 Living away from home, in London Up to £12,010 Up to £12,382 You spend a year of a UK course studying abroad Up to £10,539 Up to £10,866 You may not get the full amount, so you may have to find other ways to fund the rest of your living costs. This could include, for example, part-time work, local authority assistance, bursaries, scholarships, or family contributions. You can use the student finance calculator to estimate how much Maintenance Loan you’ll get - it will also tell you if you’re eligible for extra grants or allowances. If you’re 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of your course you can apply for up to £4,014. You must report any changes to your living arrangements in your online account , so you get the correct amount of student finance. You might need evidence of any changes. In your final year, you’ll receive less money than you did in previous years. If your course started before 1 August 2016 You can apply for grants and loans if your course started before 1 August 2016. Tuition Fee Loan Your university or college sets your tuition fee, and the loan is paid directly to them. You have to pay it back. 2020 to 2021 academic year 2021 to 2022 academic year Full-time student Up to £9,250 Up to £9,250 Maintenance Loan for living costs Students aged 60 and over cannot apply. You may have to give details of your household income - this can affect how much you get. The loan is paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term. You have to pay the loan back. You must report any changes to your living arrangements, including if you’re no longer studying abroad in your online account , so you get the correct amount of student finance. 2020 to 2021 academic year 2021 to 2022 academic year Living at home Up to £5,247 Up to £5,410 Living away from home, outside London Up to £6,597 Up to £6,802 Living away from home, in London Up to £9,205 Up to £9,490 You spend a year of a UK course studying abroad Up to £7,838 Up to £8,081 You may not get the full amount, so you may have to find other ways to fund the rest of your living costs. This could include, for example, part-time work, local authority assistance, bursaries, scholarships, or family contributions. You can use the student finance calculator to estimate how much Maintenance Loan you’ll get - it will also tell you if you’re eligible for extra grants or allowances. In your final year, you’ll receive less money than you did in previous years. Maintenance Grant for living costs You have to give details of your household income and your course start date. The grant is paid into your bank account at the start of each term. You do not have to pay it back, but any funds you get will reduce the Maintenance Loan you can get. Special Support Grant You may get a Special Support Grant instead of a Maintenance Grant if you get or qualify for: Income Support income-related Employment and Support Allowance Housing Benefit the housing element of Universal Credit The amount you get is the same as the Maintenance Grant, but it will not reduce the Maintenance Loan you can get. You may get the Special Support Grant if, for example, you’re a lone parent or have certain disabilities. You’ll be told if you can get the grant when you apply for student finance. Apply Apply for student finance or find out how to apply . Help with the costs of studying abroad You might get a grant to cover some travel expenses if you normally live in England but study away from home. If you’re a medical or dental student you might also qualify for help with the costs of attending clinical placements in the UK. Further information 2020 to 2021 academic year Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2020 to 2021 How you’re assessed and paid - 2020 to 2021 guide 2021 to 2022 academic year Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2021 to 2022 How you’re assessed and paid - 2021 to 2022 guide

You may be able to get a loan if your part-time course has a ‘course intensity’ of 25% or more. ‘Course intensity’ measures how much of your course you complete each year compared to an equivalent full-time course. You can work this out by comparing your module credits with the number of module credits a full-time student will study. You’ll be asked how many credits you’ll study when you apply for the loan. Check with your university or college if you’re not sure. What you can apply for depends on when your course starts. You must report any changes to your living arrangements in your online account , so you get the correct amount of student finance. You might need evidence of any changes. If your course starts on or after 1 August 2018 You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan. Tuition Fee Loan Your university or college sets your tuition fee, and the loan is paid directly to them. You have to pay it back. You can get up to £6,935 in an academic year. Maintenance Loan for living costs How much you can get depends on: where you live while studying your household income your course intensity The loan is paid directly into your bank account 2 weeks after the start of each term. You have to pay the loan back. You can only apply for a Maintenance Loan as a Distance Learning student if you cannot attend your course in person because of a disability. Use the student finance calculator to estimate your Maintenance Loan. You’re not eligible for a Maintenance Loan if you’re 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of your course. If your course started before 1 August 2018 You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Your university or college sets your tuition fee, and the loan is paid directly to them. You have to pay it back. You can get up to £6,935 in an academic year. Apply Apply for student finance or find out how to apply . Further information 2021 to 2022 academic year Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2020 to 2021 How you’re assessed and paid - 2020 to 2021 guide 2020 to 2021 academic year Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2021 to 2022 How you’re assessed and paid - 2021 to 2022 guide

You may be able to get a Tuition Fee Loan and help with living costs if you’re from an EU country , Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. Use the student finance calculator to see what finance you can get. Tuition Fee Loan Your university or college sets your tuition fee, and the loan is paid directly to them. You have to pay it back. 2020 to 2021 academic year 2021 to 2022 academic year Full-time student Up to £9,250 Up to £9,250 Full-time student at a private university or college Up to £6,165 Up to £6,165 Part-time student Up to £6,935 Up to £6,935 Part-time student at a private university or college Up to £4,625 Up to £4,625 Use the student finance calculator to estimate your Tuition Fee Loan. Help with living costs You may be eligible for help with your living costs if both the following apply: you’ve lived in the UK for more than 3 years before the first day of the first academic year of your course you have settled status Example If your course begins on 20 September 2021, you must have lived in the UK since 1 September 2018. Academic years start on 1 September, 1 January, 1 April or 1 July. Ask someone who runs your course if you do not know which one applies. Student Finance from August 2021 If you’re starting a course on or after 1 August 2021, you must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get student finance. If you’re coming to the UK from 1 January 2021, you may need to apply for a visa to study here. Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme. Apply Apply for student finance or find out how to apply . Further information 2020 to 2021 academic year Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2020 to 2021 How you’re assessed and paid - 2020 to 2021 guide 2021 to 2022 academic year Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2021 to 2022 How you’re assessed and paid - 2021 to 2022 guide

Check on the student finance calculator to see what extra help you might be able to get. Students on a low income You can apply for: Universal Credit extra help if you’re experiencing financial hardship Students with children or dependent adults You can apply for: Childcare Grant - full-time students only Parents’ Learning Allowance - full-time students only Adult Dependants’ Grant - full-time students only Universal Credit extra help if you’re experiencing financial hardship Disabled students If you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) you can apply for: Disabled Students’ Allowance extra help if you’re experiencing financial hardship You may also qualify for disability related benefits . Medical, social work and teacher training students You can apply for: NHS bursaries if you’re studying certain medical, dentistry or healthcare courses help with costs of travel to UK clinical placements if you’re studying a medical, dentistry or healthcare course social work bursaries if you’re a social work student extra help if you’re a teacher training student Students studying abroad You might get a grant to cover some travel expenses if you normally live in England but study away from home. Help from your university or college Many universities and colleges offer extra money directly to students. Funding from charitable trusts Use the Turn2us grant search to check whether you qualify for funding from a charitable trust.

Whether you qualify for student finance depends on: your university or college your course if you’ve studied a higher education course before your age your nationality or residency status Your university or college This should be a university, college or other institution that offers a qualifying course . Your course Check with the university or college that your course is recognised. If you’re studying full-time You may be eligible for student finance if your course is in the UK and one of the following: a first degree, for example BA, BSc or BEd a Foundation Degree a Certificate of Higher Education a Diploma of Higher Education ( DipHE ) a Higher National Certificate ( HNC ) a Higher National Diploma ( HND ) an Initial Teacher Training course an integrated master’s degree a pre-registration postgraduate healthcare course Check on the student finance calculator to find out which loans and grants you could be eligible for. If you’re studying part-time Your course needs a ‘course intensity’ of 25% or more for you to be eligible for student finance. You’ll be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan if your course is in the UK and one of the following: a first degree, for example BA, BSc or BEd a Foundation Degree a Certificate of Higher Education a Diploma of Higher Education ( DipHE ) a Higher National Certificate ( HNC ) a Higher National Diploma ( HND ) an Initial Teacher Training course an integrated master’s degree You’ll be eligible for a Maintenance Loan if your course is in the UK and one of the following: a first degree, for example BA, BSc or BEd an Initial Teacher Training course (if it’s degree level or above) an integrated master’s degree a Foundation Degree in dental hygiene and dental therapy a DipHE in dental hygiene and dental therapy or operating department practice If you’ve studied before You’ll usually only get student finance if you’re doing your first higher education qualification - even if your previous course was self-funded. You may still be eligible for limited funding in certain circumstances and for some courses. If you changed course, stopped your studies or are repeating a year If you stopped your course within the first year, you’ll get funding for the same course or a new course when you go back. You might also get funding if you: suspended your course or withdrew before it finished - and you’re going back to study any course are repeating a year of your course at the same university, college, or institution. If you stopped your studies for a personal reason (for example, you were ill or pregnant) you might get funding for all of your course - you should apply online with supporting evidence . You can calculate the amount you will get by taking the total number of years of the course you are applying for and adding one year. Then take away the number of years you studied for. If you studied for part of a year you should count it as a whole year. Example If you are applying for a 3 year course and have studied 5 months of a different course, you’ll get 3 years of funding. If you are applying for a 4 year course and have studied 2 years of a different course, you’ll get 3 years of funding. If you already have a degree You may be eligible for limited funding in certain circumstances. You may get limited funding if you’re ‘topping up’ a higher education qualification, for example you’ve finished an HNC , HND or Foundation Degree and now want to do an Honours degree. You may also get limited funding if you hold an Honours degree or a higher level of qualification and start a new course. This could be a part-time Honours degree, a joint Honours degree or an Integrated Master’s degree in one of the following (or 2 if it’s a joint Honours degree): agriculture and related subjects architecture (if it’s a MArch RIBA Part 2 course) biological sciences computer science mathematical sciences medicine and allied subjects physical sciences technologies courses leading to qualification as a veterinary surgeon You could also be eligible if you’re starting a healthcare course on or after 1 August 2017. Your age There’s no upper age limit for Tuition Fee Loans or grants. If you’re 60 or over You may get limited funding for Maintenance Loans if all of the following apply: you’re 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of your course you’re studying full-time your course started on or after 1 August 2016 The amount you can apply for depends on your household income. Your nationality or residency status You may be able to get help with: your tuition fees and living costs (full support) your tuition fees The type of help you can get depends on your nationality and residency status. When you’re eligible for full support You can apply for full support if all the following apply: you’re a UK national or Irish citizen or have ‘settled status’ (no restrictions on how long you can stay) you normally live in England you’ve been living legally in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 3 continuous years before the first day of your course, apart from temporary absences such as going on holiday You may be eligible for full support if you’re a UK national (or family member of a UK national) who: returned to the UK by 31 December 2020 after living in the EU , Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein has been living in the UK, the EU , Gibraltar, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein for the past 3 years You may also be eligible if your residency status is one of the following: refugee (including family members) humanitarian protection (including family members) migrant worker from the EU , Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein (including family members) with settled or pre-settled status child of a Swiss national and you and your parent have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme child of a Turkish worker who has permission to stay in the UK - you and your Turkish worker parent must have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020 a stateless person (including family members) an unaccompanied child granted ‘Section 67 leave’ under the Dubs Amendment a child who is under the protection of someone granted ‘Section 67 leave’, who is also allowed to stay in the UK for the same period of time as the person responsible for them (known as ‘leave in line’) granted ‘Calais leave’ to remain a child of someone granted ‘Calais leave’ to remain, who is also allowed to stay in the UK for the same period of time as their parent (known as ‘leave in line’) you’ve been given settled status (‘indefinite leave to remain’) because you’ve been the victim of domestic violence you’ve been granted indefinite leave to remain as a bereaved partner You could also be eligible if you’re not a UK national and are either: under 18 and have lived in the UK for at least 7 years 18 or over and have lived in the UK for at least 20 years (or at least half of your life) You must have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 3 continuous years before the first day of your course. When you can apply for help with your tuition fees You can apply for tuition fee funding if you’ve been living in the UK, the EU , Gibraltar, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland for the past 3 years and you have one of the following: pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and you’re an EU national or the family member of an EU national pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and you’re the family member of an Irish citizen or person of Northern Ireland Irish citizenship Gibraltarian status as an EU national been living in Gibraltar as a UK national If you’re an Irish citizen, you’re still eligible to apply if you’ve lived in the UK and Ireland in the 3 years before your course. Use the student finance calculator to see what finance you can get. Apply Apply for student finance or find out how to apply .

Find out how to apply for student finance. Parents or partners of students Confirm your income if you’re the student’s parent or partner.

Student finance

Overview

You may be able to borrow money to help pay for university or college tuition fees and to help with living costs.

You might get extra money on top of this, for example if you’re on a low income, are disabled or have children.

If you’re a continuing student or you’ve already created an account, log in to your account.

Before you apply

You start repaying once you earn over a certain amount. The size of your monthly repayments will depend on how much you earn, not what you owe.

You’ll be charged interest on the loan from the day you take it out. The terms and conditions can change.

Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2020 to 2021

Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2021 to 2022

The rules are different if your course started before September 2012.

Read the student finance privacy notice to find out how the information you provide will be used.

How to apply

Find out how to apply for student finance.

If you’re under 25 and have no contact with your parents, you might be able to apply as an ‘estranged student’.

There’s a different process if you’re a student from Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. Contact the education authority if you live in the Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey) or Isle of Man.

You can give someone permission to act on your behalf (for example using Power of Attorney) if you want them to apply for you.

Print entire guide

Step 1 Check if you're eligible
1. Check if you're eligible for student finance
There’s a different process if you’re a student from:
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
- Jersey
- Guernsey
- Isle of Man
Step 2 Find out how much loan you could get
Find out the maximum tuition fee and maintenance loan you could get if you're a:
How much maintenance loan you get depends on where you'll study and your household income.
1. Use the student finance calculator to estimate your maintenance loan
You'll have to pay back any loan you get.
1. Find out how much you'll repay
2. Find out when you'll start repaying
and Check if you can get extra help
You might be able to get extra money if you:
You might also be able to get other financial help, for example from your university or the government.
1. Find out about extra help
Step 3 Prepare your application
Step 4 Apply
1. Apply online
You'll need to create a student finance account if you're a new student or sign into an existing account if you're a returning student.

It can take up to 6 weeks to process your application. You might have to provide extra evidence.
Step 5 Update your details if your circumstances change
You must update your application if your circumstances change. For example if you:
- change your course through clearing
- change where you're going to live - for example with your parents instead of halls
1. Find out how to update your application
Step 6 Make sure you can be paid
After you register at your university or college you'll usually get your maintenance loan paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term.

Use your student finance account to:
- update your bank details - for example if you open a student account
- check how much you'll be paid
- check when you'll be paid
1. Sign in to your student finance account
Step 7 Check what to do while you're studying
You'll need to reapply for student finance for each year of your course.

You must keep your details up to date throughout your course because some changes can affect your loan payments, for example if your household income or bank details change.
1. Check how to update your details
2. Find out what to do if you suspend or leave your course
Step 8 Repay your loan
1. Find out how much you'll repay
2. Find out when you'll start repaying

Student finance

Overview

Before you apply

How to apply

Step 1 Check if you're eligible

Step 2 Find out how much loan you could get

and Check if you can get extra help

Step 3 Prepare your application

Step 4 Apply

Step 5 Update your details if your circumstances change

Step 6 Make sure you can be paid

Step 7 Check what to do while you're studying

Step 8 Repay your loan

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Student finance

Overview

Before you apply

How to apply

Part of Get undergraduate student finance: step by step

Step 1: Check if you're eligible

Step 2: Find out how much loan you could get

and Check if you can get extra help

Step 3: Prepare your application

Step 4: Apply

Step 5: Update your details if your circumstances change

Step 6: Make sure you can be paid

Step 7: Check what to do while you're studying

Step 8: Repay your loan

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Step 1 Check if you're eligible

Step 2 Find out how much loan you could get

Step 3 Prepare your application

Step 4 Apply

Step 5 Update your details if your circumstances change

Step 6 Make sure you can be paid

Step 7 Check what to do while you're studying

Step 8 Repay your loan