Student finance for undergraduates
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1. 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鈥檙e on a low income, are disabled or have children.
You may be able to get student finance even if you鈥檙e not from the UK.
If you鈥檙e a continuing student or you鈥檝e 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鈥檒l 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 2024 to 2025
Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2025 to 2026
The rules are different if your course started before September 2016.
Read the to find out how the information you provide will be used.
You can give someone permission to act on your behalf (for example using Power of Attorney) if you want them to apply for you.
How to apply
Find out how to apply for student finance.
If you鈥檙e under 25 and have no contact with your parents, you might be able to apply as an 鈥樷��.
If you spent at least 13 weeks in the care of your local authority before you turned 16, you might be able to apply as a .
If you鈥檙e not from England
There鈥檚 a different process if you鈥檙e:
2. Eligibility
Whether you qualify for student finance depends on:
- your university or college
- your 肠辞耻谤蝉别听
- if you鈥檝e studied a higher education course before
- your age聽
- 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 your university or college if you鈥檙e not sure whether your course qualifies for funding.
If you鈥檙e 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鈥檚 degree
- a pre-registration postgraduate healthcare course
- a level 4 or 5 course with Higher Technical Qualification approval
If you鈥檙e studying part-time
Your course needs a 鈥榗ourse intensity鈥� of 25% or more for you to be eligible for student finance.
You may 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鈥檚 degree
- a level 4 or 5 course with Higher Technical Qualification approval
You may 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鈥檚 degree level or above)
- an integrated master鈥檚 degree
- a Foundation Degree in dental hygiene and dental therapy
- a DipHE in dental hygiene and dental therapy or operating department practice
- a level 4 or 5 course with Higher Technical Qualification approval
You are not eligible for student finance if you鈥檙e doing a degree apprenticeship.
If you鈥檝e studied before
You鈥檒l usually only get student finance if you鈥檙e 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鈥檒l 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鈥檙e 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.听
How to work out what funding you鈥檒l get
If you鈥檙e eligible for Maintenance Loans or Grants, you should get them for every year of your new course.
Any Tuition Fee Loans you鈥檙e eligible for will be applied to the final years of your new course.听You can calculate how many years you鈥檒l get them for by taking the total number of years you鈥檙e applying for and adding one year. Then, take away the number of years you studied for previously. If you studied for part of a year, you should count it as a whole year.
Example
If you鈥檙e applying for a 3 year course and have studied 2 years of a different course, you鈥檒l get a Maintenance Loan in year 1 and Tuition Fees and Maintenance Loans in years 2 and 3.
If you鈥檝e already completed a 3 year course but didn鈥檛 gain a qualification and want to apply for another 3 year course, you鈥檒l get Maintenance Loans in years 1 and 2. You鈥檒l get Tuition Fees and Maintenance Loans in year 3.
If you already have a degree
You may be eligible for limited funding in certain circumstances.
You may get limited funding if you鈥檙e 鈥榯opping up鈥� a higher education qualification, for example you鈥檝e 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鈥檚 degree in one of the following (or 2 if it鈥檚 a joint Honours degree):
- agriculture and related subjects
- architecture (if it鈥檚 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鈥檙e starting a healthcare course on or after 1 August 2017.
Your age
There鈥檚 no upper age limit for Tuition Fee Loans or grants.听
If you鈥檙e 60 or over
You may get limited funding for Maintenance Loans if all of the following apply:
- you鈥檙e 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of your聽
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- you鈥檙e 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:聽
- your tuition fees and living costs (full support)
- tuition fees (tuition fee-only funding)聽聽
The type of help you can get depends on your nationality and residency status.
If you鈥檙e a UK national or Irish citizen or have 鈥榮ettled status鈥� in the UK
You can apply for full support if you meet the university, course and age requirements. Both of the following must also apply:
- your home is in England
- you鈥檝e been continuously living in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for 3 years before the first day of your first academic year (apart from temporary absences such as holidays)
If you have a different nationality or you live outside the UK
Use the undergraduate student finance checker to find out the type of help you can get depending on your nationality and residency status. It will tell you:
- if you can apply
- what type of loan you can apply for
3. 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.
If you鈥檙e a full-time student, you can get up to 拢9,535.听
If you鈥檙e studying an accelerated degree course, you could get up to 拢11,440.
Tuition Fee Loan for a foundation year
You may be able to get a Tuition Fee Loan if you鈥檙e taking a foundation year course and the course is eligible.听聽
You can get up to 拢5,760 for a classroom-based subject, such as business, social science or humanities.
You can get up to 拢9,535 if the subject is partly practical, including science, engineering, subjects allied to medicine or the creative and performing arts.
The loan is available for courses that start on or after 31 August 2025.
Maintenance Loan for living costs
You have to give details of your household income and your course start date.
The loan is paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term. You have to pay the loan back.
If you鈥檙e a distance learning student, you can only apply for a Maintenance Loan if you cannot attend your course in person because of a disability.
How much you can get
The maximum amount you can get depends on where you live.
| 2024 to 2025 academic year | 2025 to 2026 academic year | |
|---|---|---|
| Living with your parents | Up to 拢8,610 | Up to 拢8,877 |
| Living away from your parents, outside London | Up to 拢10,227 | Up to 拢10,544 |
| Living away from your parents, in London | Up to 拢13,348 | Up to 拢13,762 |
| You spend a year of a UK course studying abroad | Up to 拢11,713 | Up to 拢12,076 |
| If you鈥檙e 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of your course | Up to聽 拢4,327 | Up to 拢4,461 |
If your course lasts longer than 30 weeks and 3 days, you could get extra money included as part of your maintenance loan. This is called a Long Course Loan.
You can use the聽student finance calculator聽to estimate how much Maintenance Loan you鈥檒l get - it will also tell you聽if you鈥檙e聽eligible for聽extra grants or allowances. You鈥檒l need to know if you鈥檙e聽eligible for a Loan聽before you use the calculator.
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 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.
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鈥檙e a medical or dental student you might also qualify for help with the costs of attending clinical placements in the UK.
Further information
2024 to 2025 academic year
Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2024 to 2025
How you鈥檙e assessed and paid - 2024 to 2025 guide
2025 to 2026 academic year
4. Continuing full-time students
What you鈥檙e eligible for depends on when your course starts.
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 started before 1 August 2016, find out which grants and loans you can apply for.
You might also be able to get extra financial help.
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.
If you鈥檙e a full-time student, you can get up to 拢9,535.
Maintenance Loan for living costs
You may have to give details of your household income and your course start date.
The loan is paid directly into your bank account at the start of term. You have to pay the loan back.
If you鈥檙e a distance learning student, you can only apply for a Maintenance Loan if you cannot attend your course in person because of a disability.
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鈥檒l get - it will also tell you if you鈥檙e eligible for extra grants or allowances. You鈥檒l need to know if you鈥檙e聽eligible for a Loan聽before you use the calculator.
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.
How much you can get
The maximum amount you can get depends on where you live.
| 2024 to 2025 academic year | 2025 to 2026 academic year | |
|---|---|---|
| Living with your parents | Up to 拢8,610 | Up to 拢8,877 |
| Living away from your parents, outside London | Up to 拢10,227 | Up to 拢10,544 |
| Living away from your parents, in London | Up to 拢13,348 | Up to 拢13,762 |
| You spend a year of a UK course studying abroad | Up to 拢11,713 | Up to 拢12,076 |
| If you鈥檙e 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of your course | Up to聽 拢4,327 | Up to 拢4,461 |
If you鈥檙e in your final year of study
You鈥檒l get less money in your final year because SLC stops paying you after the last day of term.
| 2024 to 2025 academic year | 2025 to 2026 academic year | |
|---|---|---|
| Living with your parents | Up to 拢8,102 | Up to 拢8,353 |
| Living away from your parents, outside London | Up to 拢9,672 | Up to 拢9,972 |
| Living away from your parents, in London | Up to 拢12,367 | Up to 拢12,750 |
| You spend a year of a UK course studying abroad | Up to 拢10,485 | Up to 拢10,810 |
| If you鈥檙e 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of your course | Up to 拢4,327 | Up 拢4,461 |
Further information
Find out more about how you鈥檙e assessed and paid.
2024 to 2025 academic year
Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2024 to 2025
How you鈥檙e assessed and paid - 2024 to 2025 guide
2025 to 2026 academic year
5. Part-time students
You may be able to get a loan if your part-time course has a 鈥榗ourse intensity鈥� of 25% or more.
鈥楥ourse intensity鈥� 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鈥檒l be asked how many credits you鈥檒l study when you apply for the loan.
Check with your university or college if you鈥檙e 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 拢7,145 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.
If you鈥檙e a distance learning student, you can only apply for a Maintenance Loan if you cannot attend your course in person because of a disability.
If you鈥檙e eligible for a Maintenance Loan, you can use the student finance calculator to estimate how much you鈥檒l get.
You鈥檙e not eligible for a Maintenance Loan if you鈥檙e 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 拢7,145 in an academic year.
Apply
Apply for student finance or find out how to apply.
Further information
2025 to 2026 academic year
Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2025 to 2026
How you鈥檙e assessed and paid - 2025 to 2026 guide
2024 to 2025 academic year
6. Extra help
Check on the student finance calculator to see what extra help you might be able to get. You鈥檒l need to know if you鈥檙e eligible for a Loan before you use the calculator.
Students on a low income
You can apply for:
- Universal Credit
- extra help if you鈥檙e experiencing financial hardship
Students with children or dependent adults
You can apply for:
- Childcare Grant - full-time students only
- Parents鈥� Learning Allowance - full-time students only
- Adult Dependants鈥� Grant - full-time students only
- Universal Credit
- extra help if you鈥檙e 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鈥� Allowance
- extra help if you鈥檙e experiencing financial hardship
You may also qualify for disability related benefits.
Medical, nursing, midwifery and allied health profession students
You can apply for:
- if you鈥檙e studying pre-registration nursing, midwifery and allied health profession courses
- NHS bursaries if you鈥檙e studying certain medical or dentistry courses
- a grant to cover some travel expenses if you鈥檙e studying a medical or dentistry course
Social work students
You can apply for social work bursaries if you鈥檙e a social work student.
Teacher training students
You can apply for extra funding if you鈥檙e 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 help directly to students.
Funding from charitable trusts
Use the to check whether you qualify for funding from a charitable trust.
7. Apply
Find out how to apply for student finance.
Parents or partners of students
Confirm your income if you鈥檙e the student鈥檚 parent or partner.