Tuition fees

You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. The loan is paid directly to your university or college. Full-time students can apply for up to £9,250 per year. Part-time students can apply for up to £6,935.

You have to pay it back, but only after you have finished your course and earning over £27,295 a year. You pay back 9% of any income over £27,295.

Further information is available on the government website. 

You can also find useful information about student loans written by Martin Lewis on his MoneySavingExpert website. Includes loan myth-busting information and advice from Martin Lewis.

Maintenance loan

This loan helps to pay for your living costs while studying at university, such as accommodation, food, travel and clothes. The loan is paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term.

The amount you get depends on where you are living (you get more in London) and whether you are living at home. Some of the loan is available to all eligible students and part of it is means-tested, so this part is dependent on household income.

Further information is available on the government website.

For details of how much loan you can get, use the Student finance calculator.

You have to pay it back, but only after you have finished your course and earning over £27,295 a year. You pay back 9% of any income over £27,295.

You can also find useful information about student loans written by Martin Lewis on his MoneySavingExpert website. Includes loan myth-busting information and advice from Martin Lewis.

Extra financial help

Extra money or support may be available. For example, if you have children, dependent adults or if you have a disability. Further details are available on the government website. 

Also, all nursing students will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year which they will not need to pay back (with up to £3,000 further funding available for eligible students).

Financial help from universities

Many universities also offer extra money directly to students. These bursaries, scholarships and awards don’t have to be paid back. Each university has its own rules about who qualifies, how much you can get and how to apply. You get your bursary directly from your university or college.

You should check university websites early and ask at open days for information on support available and how to apply.

Applying

You need to apply for student finance using the government website. You don’t need a confirmed place at a university to apply.

Fees and loan repayment

Your repayments are linked to your income and you only make repayments when your income is over £27,295 a year. If your income drops below this amount, repayments stop. Each month you pay back 9% of any income over £27,295.

You can also find useful information about student loans written by Martin Lewis on his MoneySavingExpert website. Includes loan myth-busting information and advice from Martin Lewis.

Eligibility

Eligibility for a student loan depends on factors such as your age and your nationality or residency status. Full details are on the government website.

Student finance calculator

For the standard student package you can use the Student finance calculator to check what you could get.

Useful websites

Check out the following:

• GOV.UK It gives an overview of finance available and enables you to apply for financial support.
• YouTube Student Finance England videos.
• MoneySavingExpert Student loan myth-busting information and advice from Martin Lewis.