England

If you live in England and are applying to university in the UK, you may be able to borrow money to cover the cost of your tuition fees.

How much can I borrow?

For the 2025/26 academic year, there will be an increase to the maximum tuition fee amount, with an increase to £9,535 for full-time students and £7,145 for part-time students. There will also be an increase for full-time accelerated degrees, to a maximum of £11,440. This money will be paid directly to the university or college.

The tuition fee is dependent on the individual course - you can check with the university or college to find out how much the annual course tuition fee will be.

If you are an EU student, Irish citizen or UK national living in the EEA or Switzerland, please check the UKCISA explanation of the fees regulations and guidance for England.

Tuition fees and loans for a foundation year

Tuition fee and tuition fee loans for foundation courses in England vary.

For classroom-based subjects (such as business and social sciences) there will be a maximum tuition fee loan limit of £5,760 for courses starting in 2025. Classroom based settings typically include courses without laboratory, studio, or fieldwork.

Maximum fees and loans for foundation years in other (higher cost) subjects will remain at the fee cap of £9,535 for the 2025/26 academic year.

Students should check with their provider to understand whether this loan will cover the full cost of their tuition fees.

Tuition fees for Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs)
Tuition fees for HTQs vary depending on the course. They’re likely to cost from around £7,000 to £9,250 a year for a 1 or 2-year course. Student Loans may be available, depending upon the type of HTQ you are applying for.

Alternative Student Finance 

The government has committed to provide an alternative student finance product for people who feel unable to use existing student loans for university or college due to their faith or conscience. This new student finance product will be compatible with Islamic finance principles.

See the government’s guidance on alternative student finance for further information.

How to find out more about tuition fee loans

Find out more on the GOV.UK website for information on tuition fee loans for full-time and part-time students.

For information about how to apply for student finance, see our ‘applying for student finance’ section below.

For new applicants

Applications for full-time undergraduate student finance for 2025 to 2026 are now open. New students should apply to ensure that funding is in place for the start of your course.

You can find information on how the application process works by reading the Student Toolkit from Student Finance England (SFE).

The application process

New students should apply for funding with Student Finance England by creating an online account on the SFE website. The application should only take around 30 minutes. It usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to process an application.

If you will apply for a higher amount of student finance based on your household income, make sure to ask your parents or partner to provide their financial information as soon as possible to avoid delays to your application.

If you are waiting for an update on your student finance application, keep checking your online account in case they need more information or evidence from you to progress your application. It’s quick and easy to use your online account. Watch SFE’s ‘How to’ films for step-by-step tutorials.

Applying through Clearing

Clearing will open for the 2025 -26 academic year on 5 July 2025.

If you apply through Clearing, it is important to keep your course and university details up to date in your online SFE account.

See this guide for students who are applying during Clearing.

For current students

If you are a current student, don’t forget to reapply for student finance for each year of your course.

To see updates relating to your application, see guidance from the Student Loans Company on how to check the status of your application.

If you're expecting a payment in this academic year and need advice or support, SFE have released a video detailing how to check your payment schedule and payment schedule guidance.

If you’re applying late, see the guidance for late applications for student finance.

Postgraduate applicants

If you have applied for undergraduate student finance in the past, you can use your existing online account to apply. Otherwise, you will need to create a new account.

Continuing students do not need to re-apply for funding, it will automatically roll over for their next year. You should sign in to your online account to make sure that your information is up to date.

More information

If you have a query or problem that you need help with, SFE has created a guide with answers to the most common questions that students are currently asking them.

You will need a bank account to apply for student finance. There are a number of student bank accounts that offer a range of incentives.

For more information visit MoneySavingExpert - student bank accounts.

If you are a teacher, advisor or practitioner, you can find information and resources on Student Finance England for practitioners to support students to understand the financial help available, based in England.

For general information on student finance, see the Gov.uk student finance guide.

For further updates, you can follow Student Finance England on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Student Finance England (SFE) provide a Maintenance Loan to help you with your living costs. All eligible students qualify for a non-income assessed minimum amount of Maintenance Loan to help with these costs.

How much can I borrow?

The government guide, "Understanding living costs while studying at university or college", provides information for students about what living cost funding is available (including student finance) for those living in England.

The maximum loans for living costs for undergraduate courses for the 2025 to 2026 academic year will increase from 1 August 2025.

Undergraduate students starting or continuing their courses in the 2025 to 2026 academic year will qualify for the increase to maximum loans for living costs.

See the government guidance on Support with living costs: 2025 to 2026 academic year for further information.

How to find out more about maintenance loans

The government website, gov.uk, has detailed information about maintenance loans.

You will need to pay back your Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan. You do not need to pay back other student finance, for example grants and bursaries, unless you’ve been paid too much.

You’ll only start repaying when your income is over the threshold amount for your repayment plan. The threshold amounts change on 6 April every year.

The earliest you’ll start repaying is either:

• the April after you leave your course
• the April 4 years after the course started, if you’re studying part-time

Your repayments automatically stop if either:

• you stop working
• your income goes below the threshold

Interest starts being added to your loan from when you get your first payment. The amount of interest depends on the plan which you are on. See the Government guidance on interest rates for further information.

When you start repaying your loan and how much you repay depends on your repayment plan. See repaying your student loan for further information.

Repayment plan for students starting university or college from August 2023

The Department for Education has produced a set of resources explaining how student loans work for repayment plan 5. These are for students living in England and starting an undergraduate course from August 2023 onwards. Watch the official DFE video for guidance and see the below resources for further information:

• Understanding student loans – a simple overview guide including how to apply and how repayments are worked out
• Frequently asked questions – get the answer to your questions

You don’t need to pay back a bursary, grant or scholarship.

Scholarships are often given to those who do very well academically, or excel in areas like music or sport.

Bursaries and grants are usually awarded to students based on their personal circumstances. This could be having a low income or being from a background where fewer people go to uni.

There are special bursaries available for students studying teacher training or social work.

GOV.UK teacher training funding

NHS Business Services Authority - social work students

How to find out more about bursaries and scholarships

University and college websites will have information about bursaries and scholarships they provide. They will tell you what criteria you need to meet. If you’re not sure if you’re eligible then you can contact them.

You can find links to bursary and scholarship information on our course pages.

There is extra help available for:

• Care leavers or students who are estranged from their parents
• Students who have dependent children, or who are caring for an adult
• Disabled students
• Students who have a low household income.

Fee waivers

A fee waiver is when a university or college pays part, and sometimes all, of a student’s tuition fees. This means you will need to borrow less money.

This option might be offered to you if you have a low household income or are a care leaver.

Disabled students

If you have a disability or additional needs, you may be able to get Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) to cover any extra study costs. This can include mental health conditions, epilepsy or dyslexia.

You will need to be assessed or provide evidence, but there’s money available to pay for:

• specialist equipment or software
• a non-medical helper
• other things that help your studies such as travel, books, or printing.

Disabled Students’ Allowances do not depend on your household income and do not need to be paid back.

GOV.UK has more information about eligibility and maximum amounts for DSA.

Disability Rights UK has factsheets about DSA and other useful information.

Applying for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)

When applying for your student finance, make sure you tick the box to say you want to apply for DSA. Once you’ve submitted your student finance application, you’ll need to complete a separate application for DSA which you will find in your ‘to do’ list on your online account.

The quickest and easiest way to apply for DSA is online but you can also complete it on a paper form too.

See the GOV.UK DSA guidance for further information on how to complete your application.

Care leavers

Care leavers are entitled to a maximum maintenance loan and there is help from other sources available specifically for care leavers.

SFE have published new guidance to support care leavers applying for student finance.

Higher Education Bursary

This is a bursary of £2,000 paid by your local authority. It’s usually paid in instalments over the duration of the course. However, local authorities also have their own care leavers pledge, which differs from county to county. Speak to your social worker, leaving care worker or personal assistant who will be able to advise you.

Leaving Care Grant

This is a grant paid by your local authority when you leave care to help you with the costs of setting up home, including things you need when you go to university. Guidance from the government recommends contacting your local council to find out how much is available.

Charities

There are charities and foundations that can provide support.

Propel has been set up by Become, the charity for children in care and young care leavers and has a wealth of information around financial support across the UK.

The Unite Foundation works in partnership with 27 universities across the UK and offers bursaries and scholarships. You will need to apply for these and they are not guaranteed.

Apprenticeship bursary

Care leavers (up to the age of 24) who choose to start an apprenticeship will receive a £3,000 bursary to help with the transition to the workplace.

See the government webpage for further information.

University or college bursaries

Universities and colleges usually have grants and bursaries for care experienced students. These may include:

• fee waivers
• fee reductions
• reduced accommodation fees
• bursaries.

You can check what you may be entitled to with your chosen university or college.

Estranged students

If you are estranged from your family, your parents’ income is not taken into account for student finance. You can also sometimes get extra help from other sources. SFE has published guidance to support students who are estranged from their parents in applying for student finance.

StandAlone is a charity that offers extra support for young people (18–25 year old for student finance) who become estranged from their family.

Students caring for children or for an adult

You may be able to get help in the form of a grant. This does not have to be paid back and is on top of other student finance.

Childcare Grant (full-time students only)

Parents’ Learning Allowance (full-time students only)

Adult Dependants’ Grant (full-time students only)

Child Tax Credit

Students experiencing financial hardship

Your university or college may give you extra money if you’re experiencing financial hardship. They will decide if you’re eligible and how much you will get. Check with them to see if you can apply.

Working while studying

Working while studying can help. You can work part-time while studying, as well as working during summer holidays.

Degree apprenticeships

If you choose a degree apprenticeship, you will work alongside studying and be paid for it. Your employer will also pay your tuition fees.

Budgeting

You may be receiving larger amounts of money than you are used to managing. It’s important to budget so that you can make it last.

You can find advice on budgeting at:

MoneySavingExpert

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