Student finance information for mature students
You can apply for student finance as a mature student. Find out what funding is available and how to apply.
Applies to England
What鈥檚 available?
You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees and a Maintenance Loan for living costs. We also offer extra support if you have children or an adult who depends on you financially, or you have a disability, a long-term health condition, mental health condition, or specific learning difficulty.
What happens if you apply near the start of your course?
Apply for student finance as soon as you can
It鈥檚 important to apply for student finance as soon as possible. The quicker you apply, the sooner we can assess your application and pay you.
To make sure you have some funding in place near the start of your course we鈥檒l award you a minimum amount of funding first. You don鈥檛 need to call us, this is normal.
You鈥檒l get more money if you鈥檙e entitled to it once we鈥檝e processed your household income details. This can take around 6 to 8 weeks.
Applying for funding based on household income
If you鈥檙e over 25, you鈥檒l be considered an independent student.
You can also be considered independent if you鈥檙e under 25 and:
- care for a child
- have supported yourself financially for three years before your course starts
- you鈥檙e a or you鈥檙e from your parents
- you have been married or in a civil partnership at any time before the start of your course
How much funding you鈥檒l get as an independent student depends on your own circumstances and household income.
If you鈥檙e married, in a civil partnership or living with a partner, we鈥檒l ask for details of your partner鈥檚 income as part of the application process.
The rules are different if you鈥檙e under 25. Find out more about how household income affects your funding.
Cost of living
The current cost of living pressures might be a cause of stress, anxiety, or financial strain. Use our cost of living guide to make sure you鈥檙e getting the maximum student finance support you鈥檙e entitled to and to find any extra support you may need during your studies.
Your living costs will differ depending on where and what you鈥檙e studying. It鈥檚 also important to consider lifestyle and financial commitments. Find out what living cost funding is available
Applying for extra help
There鈥檚 extra help available if you鈥檙e a student with children or dependent adults, or if you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or learning difficulty.
Students with children or dependent adults can apply for:
If you鈥檙e eligible for extra financial help, this will be awarded once we鈥檝e assessed the household income part of your application. So, it might not be in place until after the start of your course.
These applications can take a bit longer to process, which means by applying late you might need to self-fund things like childcare at the start of your course. Once your application has been approved, any extra funding will be backdated.