Student finance if your course starts on or after 1 January 2027
How you'll be paid
You may get:
- Tuition Fee Loans to help pay your course tuition fees
- Maintenance Loans to help with your living costs
How you’ll be paid depends on the type of loan.
Tuition Fee Loans
Your university or college sets your tuition fee, and the loan is paid directly to them.
Maintenance Loans
The loan is paid directly into your bank account.
You’ll receive your first payment once your education provider has confirmed to Student Finance England that you’ve registered for the course. Your education provider will usually confirm this on or close to the course start date.
Payments can be delayed by a few days, for example, if your bank takes time to process them.
You may receive up to 2 more payments a year in January, April, July or September, depending on when the course started and how long it is.
Example 1
You start a course which runs from 13 January 2027 to 1 November 2027. Your provider confirms your registration on 13 January 2027. You can expect payments on or shortly after:
- 13 January
- 13 April
- 13 July
Example 2
You start a course on 18 September 2027. Your provider confirms your registration 2 days later, on 20 September 2027. The course runs until 15 August 2028.
You can expect payments on or shortly after:
- 20 September 2027
- 20 January 2028
- 20 April 2028
Example 3
You start a course which runs from 8 February 2027 to 2 July 2027. Your provider confirms your registration on 8 February 2027. You can expect payments on or shortly after:
- 8 February
- 8 April
You can ask to be paid on a different schedule in some circumstances, for example if you’re studying abroad or experiencing financial hardship.
If there’s less than one month of your course left on the final payment date
If there’s less than one month of your course left on the final payment date, that date will be brought forward.
Example
Your course runs from 12 May 2027 to 23 September 2027. Your provider confirms your registration on 12 May 2027. You can expect payments on or shortly after:
- 12 May
- 12 July
- 12 August - as there’s less than one month of your course left on 12 September
If the second payment date is one month after the course start date
If the second payment date is one month after the course start date, this payment will be pushed back.
Example
Your course runs from 9 March 2027 to 3 November 2027. Your provider confirms your registration on 9 March 2027. You can expect payments on or shortly after:
- 9 March
- 9 September - as 9 April is one month after the course start date
If your course will end within 3 months of the start date
If your course will end within 3 months of the start date, you’ll be paid all of your Maintenance Loan at the start.
Example:
Your course runs from 15 February 2027 to 9 April 2027. Your provider confirms your registration on 15 February 2027. You can expect one payment on or shortly after 15 February.