You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, which is paid directly to your university or college. For the 2021 – 2022 academic year full-time students can apply for up to £9,250 (or up to £11,100 for an accelerated degree course)per year, or £6,165 if studying full-time at a private university or college. Part-time students can apply for up to £6,935, or £4,625 if studying part-time at a private university or college.

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.

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. For example, 2021 starters living at home could get between £3,516 and £7,987 (depending 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 (provide a link to https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator). The loan is repayable, 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 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.

Many universities offer financial support to their students through bursaries, awards and scholarships. Bursaries are linked to personal circumstances and often, household income. Awards can include fee waivers or cash. Scholarships can be linked to academic results or outstanding ability in an area, such as sport, music or art. You should check university websites early and ask at open days for information on support available and how to apply.

You need to apply for student finance using the government website. You do not need a confirmed place at a university to apply.

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.

Repayment of student loans is subject to change in August 2023. Further details can be found through the government website.

Eligibility for a student loan depends on factors such as what course you have applied for; whether you have lived in the UK for three years before starting your course;  and nationality and residency requirements, such as being a UK/EU national or having ‘settled status’ (i.e. no restrictions on how long you can stay). However, you may also be eligible if you meet other residency requirements.
Full details are on the government website.

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

Check out the following:

• GOV.UK: offers an overview of finance available and enables you to apply for financial support.
• YouTube: see the Student Finance England videos.
• The Student Room: includes useful information.
• MoneySavingExpert: student loan myth-busting information and advice from Martin Lewis.