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UEA - Student Finance and Budgeting Advice - March 2026

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UEA - Student Finance and Budgeting Advice - March 2026

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UEA - Student Finance and Budgeting - March 2026

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How to apply for student finance

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New students from England

Most full-time and part-time students can apply online to Student Finance England.

1. Set up a student finance online account.

2. Log in and complete the online application.

3. Include your household income if needed. Your parent or partner will be asked to confirm these details.

4. Send in proof of identity, if needed.

Continuing students from England

You're a 'continuing student' if you got finance last year. Log in to your student finance account and apply online.

There's a different process if you became a part-time student before 1 September 2012.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

There's a different process for students from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

New EU students

1. Download an application pack - use the form finder to get the forms you need.

2. Send in proof of identity, if needed.

3. You'll get a letter confirming how much you'll get, usually within 6 weeks.

Continuing EU students

If you're a continuing student you'll be sent the application forms.

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Most full-time and part-time students can apply online to Student Finance England. Set up a student finance online account. Log in and complete the online application. Include your household income if needed. Your parent or partner will be asked to confirm these details. Send in proof of identity, if needed.

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Personal Finance Basics - Personal Finance Society

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Personal Finance Basics - Personal Finance Society

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Personal Finance Basics - Personal Finance Society - February 2023

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CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: In spite of the uncertainties created by the current situation, you should apply for student finance as usual. Funding agencies are working hard to process all applications. For up-to-date info on the effects of coronavirus on university education, visit our coronavirus information hub.

CONTENTS

1. What's the difference between bursaries and scholarships?

2. How do you find a university scholarship or bursary?

3. Tips for applying for a university scholarship or bursary

4. Other scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and bursaries reward high achievement or support students with greater need. The money doesn't need to be paid back.

Bursaries are usually awarded to students based on their personal circumstances or if they come from a low-income family. Bursaries can help students who may face more barriers to attending full-time education, enabling them to access university.

Scholarships usually reward students who are outstanding in their subject, often sport or music. They generally need to be applied for and are quite competitive.

The two terms can be used interchangeably and each university has its own terminology. There can also be university scholarships to encourage or reward activities separate from studies, such as volunteering.

University scholarships and bursaries are available as extra financial help for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Most awards are for full-time students, and there are some awards specifically for international students. To be eligible, students must meet the criteria.

To find a university scholarship in the UK, you should consult UCAS and the websites and prospectuses of individual universities and colleges. If you're considering a collegiate university (a university comprising a number of separate colleges, like Oxford or Cambridge) check if there are awards from particular colleges.

There may be entrance scholarships awarded to new students entering university, or progression scholarships where financial support for the second year of study is conditional on successfully completing the first year.

If you don't think you'll fit the criteria for either a university scholarship or a bursary, you can still look at what bursaries and scholarships are available outside of universities. The criteria for these can be broader. They could be based on where you attended school, for example. Awards from external agencies or charities may be listed on university websites.

Consider your chances

If your parents are high-income earners, you may only be eligible for scholarships linked to achievement (whether academic or in music or sport) and/or a desire to study 'shortage' subjects. Check both the value of the award and how many are on offer.

Check if you need to apply and what the deadline is

Some awards need an application. Others may be awarded automatically. Automatic awards can include bursaries based on your personal circumstances, or if you achieve the specified grades in exams. Awards that need an application are likely to require the offer of a place before you can apply. Make sure you note any deadlines for applications.

Find out when you'll know if you're successful for an award

On the university's website, read the award's eligibility criteria, how to apply and when you can expect to hear if you've been successful. For bursaries dependent on income, you'll know if you're likely to meet the criteria when you get your student finance assessment. For other awards, you may not know until you get your exam results, long after you've made larger decisions.

Share your information with Student Finance

When you apply for your student loan, tick a box to allow your information to be shared with the universities you're applying to. This will allow them to assess whether you meet the criteria for a bursary. Your information won't be shared with anyone else.

Keep your eyes open for opportunities

Look out for special and unadvertised offers when you go to interviews and open days. Be particularly watchful during Clearing - some universities may increase bursaries and scholarships to fill their places.

Take care with your application

When completing your application, check it's grammatically correct with no obvious errors. Read the small print on any offers. There's also no harm in phoning a university if you come across difficulties in understanding the information.

Be realistic

Weigh up the total package, including any extras you may be charged over the year, and compare it with other universities you're interested in. Make sure to choose the right university for you, not because it offers more money.

For other ways to fund your degree, check for industry and company scholarships or bursaries from charities and trusts.

It's worth planning how you're going to look for what's available. Start early, so you can identify application deadlines for likely funds well in advance. If you're still at school you might have more time to apply during holidays, but you may want help from school careers or guidance staff before then.

While you're going through the steps below, note down all information that might be useful in completing funding applications and make it easy to refer to, so you can complete applications quickly. You're likely to be asked for financial information and if an application relates to financial hardship, you may need details of annual household income, income from any benefits, savings or investments, and even assets. Note down the deadlines for each application so you can prioritise.

Step 1: Gather your 'evidence' for potential funding

When searching for a scholarship or bursary, you'll need evidence and a plan. It's worth identifying all your potential criteria from your individual circumstances as well as the kind of scholarships you could be eligible for. This will give you a bank of evidence to use in your applications.
Scholarship for your degree subject
Degree-based scholarships aren't just for STEM courses. Check whether you could get funding from a body that promotes a particular subject (sometimes referred to as learned societies).

Most funds are for postgraduate study, but some are available to undergraduate students. Funds may also be offered for vacation research, which will be useful if you're entering the final year of your degree.
Sponsorship or a scholarship related to a potential career
You could get a company scholarship or sponsorship if you have the potential to become a good employee or want to enter a specific industry, often ones with skills shortages. In return, you'll either work a placement or commit to working for the company after graduation. Check professional trade bodies and livery companies or guilds (ancient trade bodies often named the 'Worshipful' company or society).
Sponsorship from the UK Armed Forces
All UK Armed Forces offer sponsorship schemes to students who've already passed a selection course before starting university. In return, you'll need to sign up for a period of service from which you can withdraw after three years. You may also get further training in your specific profession within the armed forces, from engineering to linguistics.

If you don't complete your degree or leave before your three years are up, you may have to repay funds. For some Armed Forces bursary schemes, you must study at specified universities in the UK.
Scholarship or funding for community work, music or sport
There are awards for people who volunteer in green activities or do community work. There are also awards for people willing to do extra, such as learning in Welsh.
Financial support if you have other personal circumstances
This can include where you live, where you were educated, your family income, and jobs your parents do (or if you're a mature student, jobs you've done). If you have a disability or health condition, are from a minority religion or ethnicity, or are the first from your family to go into higher education, it's worth checking if there's financial support for university based on any of these factors. There are also scholarships and bursaries for refugees and asylum seekers.

Step 2: Plan where and how to look for other scholarships and bursaries

Having identified criteria that could land you a bursary or scholarship from a charity, trust or company, you'll need to start looking for what might be available.

If you're searching a database or on the internet, consider similar words that could be used to describe the same thing. You don't want to miss out on a grant or bursary because you only searched using the word 'scholarship'.
University websites
This should be your first stop. Contact the university's student services department or students' union welfare office. University student money advisors may know of other funds suitable for your circumstances.
Other websites
The Scholarship Hub is a free online database of UK scholarships, grants and bursaries for UK or EU undergraduate and postgraduate students. A basic sign up lets you search and subscribe to a newsletter or alerts for new funding that match your profile.

Turn2Us is a national charity that provides practical help to people in financial need. The website has a grant search facility and helpful guidance on the information you may need if applying for a charitable grant.

The Disability Rights UK factsheet is a useful tool for disabled students to find funding from charitable trusts. If you live in Scotland, Lead Scotland has useful information on sources of relevant scholarships and bursaries.
Careers service
If you're still at school, see if you can get help there from careers staff or guidance teachers, or check with your local careers service.
Public libraries
Ask your library service if they have a recent copy of the Guide to Educational Grants. This is published by the Directory of Social Change in association with the NUS. It features grants from over 3,500 smaller charities in the UK.

Step 3: Do your research

Don't apply for bursaries or scholarships as you find them. You may lose time applying for a fund that's less suitable than another where the application deadline is looming.

Instead, do your research and generate a list of charities, trusts or companies to approach for scholarships, bursaries or grants.

Note down any application deadlines, as some application windows are very short.
Prioritise which you'll apply to first - either an award with a deadline approaching, or one that you fit the criteria for the best.

If you already have financial support or means-tested benefits, double-check whether additional scholarship funding will affect this in any way. Also be wary to avoid scams.

Step 4: Apply
Read the application guidance carefully
As well as fitting the criteria for an award, you'll need to pitch how well you fit the criteria, as you'll be competing against other applicants. Only include information that's asked for. Try and get a feel for why the money's on offer in the first place.

You want the money to fund your university degree, but the people awarding the funding want something out of it too. Is there a commercial aspect to it, as with a company scholarship where they may be looking for a possible future employee? Or is it about giving chances in communities where historically there have been few? For this reason, you can't use the same responses for each application. This is very useful if you need to write a statement or short essay about why you deserve an award, or about a particular topic. Stick to the question, and look at it from different angles - like you would in an academic essay.
Avoid completing a funding application at the last minute
Plan your time well and get someone else to read over your application. Make sure your application (or essay) is easy to read and that there are no factual or spelling mistakes.
Keep in mind
Some grant bodies won't consider you unless you've tried all standard sources of funding, so you should apply for a student loan even if you don't want to.

Examples of other scholarships and bursaries available

There are many other scholarships and bursaries available, some from seemingly unlikely sources. Take a look at our list below:
Vegetarian Charity
You must be under 26 years old and a committed vegetarian or vegan (with references to prove it!) to get this funding. You can only apply when you have firm acceptance of a place at university and you'll stand a better chance of getting a grant after you've started and are actually facing financial hardship. Grants can be given for educational courses or equipment you need. However, this can be a lengthy process. Grants for more than £500 aren't normally issued and you can't use the money to pay off debts or start a business.
George Viner Memorial Fund
Run by the National Union of Journalists, this support is offered to UK Black and Asian students in print, broadcasting, photographic or online journalism. You'll need to show your commitment to this career and study an NUJ-recognised media course. The fund can be used for course costs including tuition fees, accommodation, travel and course-related expenses. To qualify, you mustn't receive a student loan or other sponsorship covering the course costs.
Royal Caledonian Education Trust (RCET)
If your parents are Scottish, on a low income and served (or are serving) in the Armed Forces for a minimum of a year, RCET may provide financial support. The College and University Students Fund can contribute towards living expenses for undergraduate students, books, special equipment and essential course materials.
Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust
If either of your parents or spouse is a commercial traveller, pharmacist or grocer, you could get financial support for full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study. They must have been in the job for at least five years. You could get up to £3,000 for undergraduate study, depending on financial need and funds available that year.

Postgraduate students could get up to £5,000. Funds can be used for tuition fees, accommodation, living expenses or equipment.
Holbeck scholarships (Holbeck Charitable Trust, with the University of York)
If you're a high-achieving student at school in the Yorkshire and Humber region applying for any UK university, you may be eligible for this funding.

You must also fit two of the following criteria: having lower than average family income, facing significant difficulties, or being the first in your family to go to university. You could get up to £1,250. The money is to reward hard work and can be spent as you see fit.
MinSouth
The Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining in the South East of England offers final year undergraduates studying geology, mining engineering, engineering geology or mineral processing up to £1,000.
Jaguar Landrover
If you're a woman studying any engineering degree and on track for at least a 2:2, you could get a paid placement with Jaguar Landrover with a bursary of £1,500 on your return to university on the condition that you go back for a further placement the following year.
Helena Kennedy Foundation
If you've overcome significant personal and severe financial hardship to complete a course in further education college, you may be eligible for a bursary of up to £2,250 for your course. You'll also be given training and mentoring, as well as work-shadowing opportunities.
Snowdon Trust
If you have a physical or sensory disability, you could apply for help with additional disability-related costs that aren't fully provided for by statutory funding. This fund is open to all nationalities if you have a confirmed place on a further or higher education course in the UK. Your financial details are required but the grant is not means-tested. You could get up to £3,000, and can reapply in future years.

Funds can be used for personal assistance, or costs related to travel, accommodation or specialist computer equipment or software. If you later gain funding for these from other sources, you'll need to refund the grant. You won't usually get financial support with fees or living costs, and can't apply for costs already incurred.
Gridiron Grant
If you've played and have a passion for American Football, then this might be for you. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the only NFL team to commit to at least one annual game in London during the regular season and are offering one girl and one boy an opportunity to earn a full UK higher education scholarship through their Gridiron Grant.

To be eligible, you should have been playing and have a significant interest in American Football, or have played in their JagTag programme - a simplified version of touch football invented by the Jacksonville Jaguars with a goal to introduce more UK participants to the game.

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CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: In spite of the uncertainties created by the current situation, you should apply for student finance as usual. Funding agencies are working hard to process all applications. For up-to-date info on the effects of coronavirus on university education, visit our coronavirus information hub. CONTENTS What's the difference between bursaries and scholarships?

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SFE full-time and part-time undergraduate applications are open. If you’re starting uni or college in September 2024 apply today!

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The Scholarship Hub | Apply for UK Student Scholarships

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The Scholarship Hub, owned by Blackbullion, is dedicated to helping students find extra finance for university. Browse our open scholarships.

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Eligibility for Student Finance

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Eligibility for undergraduate student loans in the UK

Home fees vary by nation within the UK. Your eligibility for student finance depends on a number of different factors, such as where you live and what you're studying.

This list is an overview of the common eligibility criteria for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. For full details, please refer to the student finance body for the relevant nation or the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

Where you live - general residence criteria

Where you normally live before you start studying determines which nation you apply for funding in. To apply for student finance in one of the UK's four nations (England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland), you:

Must normally live in that nation

Must have been living in the UK for three years up to when you start your course ('on the first day of the first academic year of your course')

Must be a UK national or have 'settled status' - in other words, no restriction of how long you can stay in the UK

If you've moved to a different UK nation because you want to study there, that doesn't count as being 'ordinarily resident'. If you've been temporarily abroad, or away with the UK Armed Forces, you're usually still eligible for support.

If you don't meet the general residence criteria, there are some exceptions where you may still be able to apply for student finance for the 2020-2021 academic year. These include:

You're the child of a Swiss national or the child of a Turkish worker in the UK

You or a close relative live in the UK and are recognised as a refugee, or have been granted humanitarian protection

You or a close relative are an EEA or Swiss migrant worker

You're staying in the UK as a stateless person, having lived legally in the UK for three years before your course

If you're an EU student

Each of the UK's nations have confirmed that EU students starting a degree in the academic year 2020 (and before) will be eligible for financial support for the duration of their course on the same basis as they are currently. However, this will change for those starting in the 2021-2022 academic year, with most EU and EEA students losing home fee status and financial support entitlement after Brexit. Exceptions include students from Ireland, and EU students already living in the UK by 31 December 2020 who are registered under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Currently, if you or a family member are an EU national and have lived in the EEA or Switzerland for the three years before your course begins, you're eligible for a tuition fee loan that you'll eventually have to pay back. The rate of tuition fees is the same as for home students, which varies depending on where you study (in Scotland and Northern Ireland, students from the rest of the UK or RUK are charged more).

If you normally live in the UK nation you're applying to for student finance, and didn't move there for the purpose of studying, you may also qualify for living cost support. To be eligible, you must have lived in the UK for at least three years before the start of your course (five years if resident in England).

If you're a non-EU international student

Universities and colleges will usually charge you higher fees than home students. You're unlikely to get financial support from the UK student loans system unless you meet one of the residence exceptions outlined above. If you qualify for student finance on these grounds, you're considered a home student and tuition fees would be charged accordingly.

For any queries about visas and eligibility for international students, refer to UKCISA.

Your age

There's no age limit for tuition fee loans or grants. To get a maintenance loan, in general you must be under 60 on the first day of the first academic year of your course. If you change to a different course after turning 60 years old, you'll no longer be eligible for a maintenance loan. However, in England over-60s can access a means-tested loan for living costs.

Where you study

To get student finance, you must study your course at a publicly funded UK university. Or if you study at a private institution, your course must be approved for public funding. The tuition fees charged by private institutions may be higher than the tuition loan you get, in which case you'll have to fund the difference.

If you're from the UK, you can also apply for funding to study a degree in the Republic of Ireland. This is set to continue after Brexit, as part of the Common Travel Area agreement between Ireland and Britain. You won't need a visa and will have the right to access healthcare on the same basis as Irish citizens, or take out private health insurance.

What you study
Type of course
Your course must be a 'recognised' course. The following types of courses are all eligible for undergraduate student finance. If you're unsure whether your course is eligible, check with your university or student finance body.

Examples of eligible courses:

First degree

Foundation degree

Certificate of Higher Education

Diploma of Higher Education

Higher National Certificate (HNC)

Higher National Diploma (HND)

Postgrad Certificate of Education (PGCE/PGDE in Scotland)

Initial Teacher Training (ITT/ITE)

Integrated Master's degree

A pre-registration postgraduate healthcare course (English-resident students)

On some courses you may be eligible for money from other public funds - such as the NHS bursary, where this is still available. If you get public money from a different source, this may affect whether you're eligible for other student finance or how much you might receive.
Part-time study
If you study part-time, your eligibility for student finance depends on the 'course intensity'. To get a loan, you need a minimum course intensity of 25%. This would be a course that takes four times as long as the full-time equivalent, where you study roughly 30 credits a year.

Depending on your household income, you may get financial support towards your tuition fees and some course costs. Maintenance loans are only available in England and Wales. Welsh residents who study a second degree part-time in certain subjects may also be able to access funding.

Be aware that if you're a part-time student, you'll begin paying your student loan back four years after beginning your course, even if you've not yet completed your studies. But repayments are only taken if your income is above the threshold for loan repayments.
Previous study at the same or higher level
Usually, student finance is only available if you're studying for your first degree. You may be able to get further student finance if you're studying a postgraduate teaching course or certain healthcare courses.

If you previously started but then withdrew from a course, you may only be entitled to partial funding. This'll depend on how long you previously studied for. If you get only partial support, it's down to you to fund the rest of your course.

What you need to do

If you meet the criteria, you can find more details on eligibility for student finance for each UK nation:

If you're not sure you meet the criteria, check the UKCISA website for more guidance on home and overseas fees. In the information for each UK nation, there are detailed definitions of criteria used to determine fee status.

Everyone has different circumstances - talk to universities or funding organisations directly if you have questions about your personal circumstances.

Note that universities have the discretion to decide each case based on individual circumstances. None of this will affect the way you'll be considered for admission to the university (these decisions are based purely on academic merit).

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Home fees vary by nation within the UK. Your eligibility for student finance depends on a number of different factors, such as where you live and what you're studying. This list is an overview of the common eligibility criteria for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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University tuition fees and financial support

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If you are wondering how much it will cost you to go to university and how to apply for student finance, this section has all the relevant information.

What are university tuition fees?

UK universities will usually charge you for course tuition. Fees can vary between universities and between courses. If you are an international student, a different scale of fees is chargeable.

All universities clearly show course fees on their websites. The Fees & Finance tab on our university profiles give details of 2017-18 tuition fees. Make sure to check the universities and courses you are interested in before you make your UCAS choices.

What are student living costs?

As a student you will also have maintenance or living costs, especially if you move away from home. This can include rent, bills, travel, textbooks and other living expenses.

What financial support is there?

There are two different types of loan that are usually available if you eligible and plan to study in the UK. They are the:

Tuition fee loan - this is paid to your university directly

Maintenance loan - this is paid to you directly to support your living costs.

Be aware that loans should be entered into with caution. You will need to pay both loans back eventually. They are a commitment, can be expensive, and often take several years to repay.

There are also grants, bursaries, scholarships and other financial support available for those who meet the criteria. These do not usually need to be paid back. Read on to find out more.

How much financial support can I get?

To find the information relevant to you, click on the links below for where you live before starting university:

Contact your education authority if you come from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

If you started your university course before September 2012, you remain under the scheme prevailing when your course began for the duration of your degree.

Note: If you have studied a course of higher education before, this may affect the level of support you are entitled to.

Useful links

Next page: If you come from England

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University Tuition Fees and Financial Support

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If you are wondering how much it will cost you to go to university and how to apply for student finance, this section has all the relevant information. UK universities will usually charge you for course tuition. Fees can vary between universities and between courses.

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Repaying your student loan (Money Advice Service)

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Here, you'll find lots of information about student loan repayments, from the Money Advice Service.

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SFE Student Finance Zone | The Student Room

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Student Finance England provides you with student finance while you study. There's a range of financial help available including loans that have to be paid back, and grants that don't. Whether you're thinking about going to uni or college, you're already studying, or you're about to enter repayment, you'll find everything you need to know about student finance on our student finance zone.

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Free to join - provides discounts on technology, fashion,  music, stationery, food and more. Useful if your institution is not affiliated to the NUS

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UNiDAYS - Fast, free, exclusive deals for students

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Get FREE, instant access to student discount. Join us today, and start saving with big retailers like Levi's, ASOS, Express, Apple, Hollister and more...

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SHS Advice and Guidance

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Student Finance got your head in a spin? Let us put you straight. We'll show you where the money is, how it works, how much you can get and how to get your hands on it.
Are Student Loans really all that bad? Actually, what even is a Student Loan? How will it impact your studies and your future? Is it even worth going to university anymore?

The chat surrounding Student Finance has all got a bit out of hand. Get to the facts and you'll find it's all quite straightforward, affordable and accessible.

And facts are what this guide is all about. Yes, Save the Student has campaigned against tuition fees for years, but we're even more passionate about debunking the myths that stop young people from following their dreams of going to uni in the UK.

How to use this guide

You don't have to read everything, or try to digest it all in one go:

Read what you can now and bookmark the page to pick it up later if you're short of time!

Student Finance in 30 seconds

1. Student Finance (funded by the government) helps students from any financial background to go to university.

2. The Student Finance package includes a loan for course fees, plus a means-tested Maintenance Loan or Grant to cover living costs.

3. Universities can charge up to £9,250 a year in tuition fees, but you'll pay nothing upfront if you're eligible for Student Finance in the UK (most students are).

4. You could get extra cash if a health condition, childcare costs or clinical placements leave you out of pocket while studying, or financial support if you're struggling to get by.

5. You or your parents may be expected to chip in for maintenance support (i.e. living costs). You'll need to plan for this!

6. Student Finance has to be paid back, but don't let that put you off. Student Loan repayments work more like a graduate tax, which is far easier to manage than normal loan repayments.

7. You only make Student Loan repayments once you've left your course AND are earning enough. Repayments vary with your salary, and stop altogether if your income drops too low.

8. Controversially, the Student Loan charges up to 4.5% interest each year until you pay it all back.

9. But crucially, many loans may be written off anyway before they're fully repaid. If you're not a big earner after uni you may only pay back a fraction of what you borrow from Student Finance.

10. For the most part, Student Finance is reserved for UK students, but some exceptions apply.

11. Almost all students can get a bite at funding beyond Student Finance, from bursaries and scholarships to charity and corporate cash.

Student Finance FAQs

What is the 'Student Loan'?

Student Finance in the UK includes a mix of grants (which don't have to be repaid) and loans (which you do pay back). Your Student Loan is all the repayable funding you apply for - that is, the Tuition Fee Loan and/or Maintenance Loan.

Bear in mind that you may have to repay some grants and extra funding as well if you leave your course early: always get advice before dropping out.

How much are tuition fees in the UK?

Most universities charge £9,250 a year for course fees. However, universities in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales often charge less (or nothing) to students who already live there, are from the Republic of Ireland or are from the EU and started their course in or before the 2020/21 academic year. Unfortunately, international students almost always face higher fees.

The good news is that most students from the UK can apply for Student Finance, scholarships or fee waivers, all of which make it easy to cover tuition costs.

How much Student Finance will you get?

The Tuition Fee Loan lets you borrow enough money to pay course fees in full, up to £9,250 a year (or about £6,000 a year at private unis). How much Maintenance Loan you get for living costs depends on your household income and where you live while studying.

How much you can apply for depends on where you're studying and what your household income is, though there's a bit more on offer if you study in London or spend part of your course abroad. Many students will get less than the maximum, so it's important to check for yourself.

Your funding package may also include support for physical or mental health conditions, or cash for parents and carers: payouts for these vary.

Who can get Student Finance?

There are almost as many rules about who can get Student Finance as there are Subway sandwich combos.

At its simplest, you should be eligible for tuition AND maintenance support if you're studying an approved course at a registered uni and haven't previously started a degree or similar course.

You'll also need to be a UK citizen (or have 'settled' status) and have been living here for at least three years before your course start date.

While Irish students, and those from the EU who started their course in or before the 2020/21 academic year, can apply for the Tuition Fee Loan, they won't usually get help paying living costs.

Rules and amounts also vary if you're a part-time student, over 60, at a private uni, or claiming special circumstances such as refugee status. Contact Student Finance to flesh out the extra details for yourself.

What else do students have to pay for?

Tuition fees may hog the headlines but, for most students, the key to surviving at university is planning for living costs.

These include monthly rent, food, transport, textbooks, and anything else you need to stay alive and on top of your studies.

The average student spends £810/month at uni, though there are ways to pay less or find funding.

When should you apply for Student Finance?

You can start applying for Student Finance in the spring before your course starts. You don't need a confirmed place, so get in early to be paid promptly at the start of term. You can apply as late as nine months after starting, but don't wait if you need the money.

Either way, allow time to get your paperwork together, plus at least four to six weeks to hear a decision. It's not as long-winded, but you'll also need to reapply for funding each year of your course.

We also have all the Student Finance deadlines you need.

What funding is available if you can't get Student Finance?

Universities offer a mix of scholarships, bursaries, fee waivers and hardship (emergency) funds. Some charities, companies, councils and professional bodies also award grants and financial support: it's possible to dig up hidden funding for everything from spiritual or ethical beliefs to what your parents do for a living.

If you can't get (or don't want) Student Finance, make sure your salary, savings, family support or other finance is enough to cover the cost of uni.

Will tuition fees change?

Tuition fees have been frozen for the last few years, but in 2017 they increased from £9,000 to £9,250 a year - even affecting students who had already started their courses. However, even if tuition fees jumped up to £100,000 a year, it wouldn't increase the amount you'll repay every month.

Monthly loan repayments after uni are determined by your salary, not by how much you borrow.

Will bigger loans lead to more student debt?

While Student Finance helps pay for university, it does usually mean you'll graduate owing thousands. But, because of the way repayments work, in reality, many students will only pay back a small part of what they borrow.

Use your predicted graduate salary and monthly repayments to see if the loan is right for you, rather than fixating on what you'll owe. In the meantime, you absolutely do need a plan to deal with everyday debt such as student overdrafts, credit cards and other kinds of borrowing.

Can you afford university?

Only you can decide if university is affordable for you. There's a lot of funding out there, some of it ring-fenced to ensure poorer students aren't left out.

That said, almost everyone finds it easier with extra income or family support, as many students struggle to get by on Student Finance alone. However you play it, a money plan is a must!

It's likely your parents are going to have lots of questions about Student Finance too - which is why we created our parents' guide to university just for them.

How to contact Student Finance

To apply for Student Finance or ask how much you'll get, contact the agency where you live (or where your uni is located if you're not from the UK):

England

Phone: 0300 100 0607

Website: Student Finance England

Northern Ireland

Phone: 0300 100 0077

Website: Student Finance Northern Ireland

Scotland

Phone: 0300 555 0505

Website: Student Awards Agency Scotland

Wales

Phone: 0300 200 4050

Website: Student Finance Wales

How much does university cost?

Tuition fees in the UK can be anything from free up to £9,250 per year. We have a full guide on how much university costs with more information, but it's important to remember the price of your tuition will depend on where you're from in the UK and where in the UK you'll be studying.

Fees are also likely to be very different for international students (which, as of the 2021/22 academic year, includes students from the EU, excluding Ireland), as there's no official maximum figure. Either way, check the university's website or prospectus for details or see the UCAS course catalogue.

How to pay for university

Tuition Fee Loan

Apply to: Student Finance

Eligible full- and part-time students can borrow for the full cost of their course fees, up to £9,250 per year (or up to £6,165 a year at private universities). This money isn't means-tested, so household income won't affect how much you get.

The maximum amounts apply to students from across the UK who study in England. This means if you're from Wales and opt to study in England, you'll get enough to cover the higher fees. However, you can't borrow a bit extra on the side with this loan: it's only for course fees and is paid directly to your university.

If you don't take the Tuition Fees Loan, you'll need to make your own arrangements to pay tuition, either in full or in instalments.

If you're a Scottish student studying in Scotland, note that even though you'll likely be eligible for 'free' tuition, you'll still need to apply to Student Finance to ensure you don't get charged.

Living costs

Maintenance Loan

Apply to: Student Finance

The Maintenance Loan pays for day-to-day living expenses like rent, bills, food and books. Unlike the fees loan, it's paid directly to your student bank account once a term (monthly in Scotland) and you can spend it on anything you like - which is why you need to be clever about it.

The Maintenance Loan is partly means-tested. Everyone eligible can get some of it regardless of their financial situation, but to get the full allowance, you'll need to declare household income. For most students, that's how much their parents earn.

Maintenance Grant

Apply to: Student Finance

Maintenance Grants are the golden ticket of Student Finance because - unlike loans - you don't have to repay them. How much you get depends on your household income and where you're from:

Students from Northern Ireland can get up to £3,475 a year.

Students from Wales can get at least £1,000 a year, up to a max of £6,885 if they live at home, up to £8,100 if they live away from home, or up to £10,124 if they live away from home and study in London.

Students from Scotland can receive the Young Students' Bursary of up to £2,000 a year.

New starters from England can't apply for the Maintenance Grant anymore. You're now expected to take out a larger Maintenance Loan instead. If you started your course before 2016 and already get a Maintenance Grant, don't panic: your funding will continue as long as agreed.

Special Support Grant

Apply to: Student Finance

In Wales and Northern Ireland, some students with lower household incomes may be able to swap the Maintenance Grant for a Special Support Grant (SSG). You could be eligible if you receive certain benefits, qualify for Disabled Students' Allowance or are a single parent.

SSG pays up to £3,475 a year in Northern Ireland, and up to £5,161 a year in Wales. Just like the Maintenance Grant, it's means-tested and doesn't have to be repaid. Unlike the regular grant, it won't reduce the amount of Maintenance Loan you can apply for, and won't affect any benefits you get either.

Making the most of maintenance funds

Maintenance funding is doled out in regular instalments, but you'll need to make it last between payments. Rent or freshers' week can hoover up an entire loan, so plan ahead!

You need to register for your course before funds are handed over. That means you'll get to uni before receiving your loan, so bring cash to keep you going in the meantime.

Including untaxed income in your household income assessment (such as some savings interest/state benefits) could mean you get a smaller Maintenance Loan - our student tax tips explain how to work it.

You can ask to be reassessed for funding if your household income drops significantly during your degree - keep it in mind.

Bursaries and scholarships

Apply to: your university

Almost all universities offer a selection of student bursaries. These are cash gifts you usually don't have to repay.

Bursaries typically go to students whose household income is below £25,000 a year, though some universities cut off at around £40,000 a year. There may also be awards for students leaving care, refugees, and those who financially support or care for others. Payouts vary from book tokens and one-off awards to annual payments of £1,000 or more.

Scholarships reward talents or achievements such as exam grades, music and sport. Some universities also offer incentives to study particular courses, or could be available to students from specific countries. Scholarships can be cash awards or tuition fee waivers (if you're given a choice, cash is the better deal!).

Your own money

Any cash you bring to the table will make uni life a lot easier. Start stuffing money into a savings account before you start your course if you can - even a few quid here and there adds up.

If you can work while studying, here are some ways to make some extra cash:

Parental contribution

Some Student Finance maintenance funding is means-tested, so how much you get depends on your household income. If you're financially dependent on your parents, that means their income affects your funding.

Crucially, the more your parents earn, the less Student Finance you'll get, because the government expects them to contribute as well - this parental contribution calculator reveals how much:

In reality, many students feel guilty about asking, don't ask at all, or are left short because their parents can't help. It's definitely awkward, but it's a conversation you need to have with your folks sooner rather than later. Consider the following questions:

Can your parents afford to help you?

Do they have any conditions about how you spend the money?

Will you have to pay them back?

If they can't help financially, how else could they support you? Don't underestimate the power of leftovers!

Show them our parents' guide to university if they need more info to make a decision. And, if you'd like more advice about asking your parents for money at university, our guide can help.

Borrowed cash

Apply via: student banking

Borrowing without a plan is like jumping out of a plane with a handbag instead of a parachute: it won't end well.

A 'plan' means thinking about why you're borrowing, comparing options (credit card, loan, overdraft, saving up), checking the total cost, and planning for repayments.

An interest-free overdraft is one of the best picks for students. Used the right way, they let you borrow cash for free (unlike commercial loans). Use them poorly, however, and you lose the benefit.

Start with our student overdrafts explainer, then pick the best student bank account for your needs.

How to budget for university

For many students, uni is the first time they've lived away from home, which includes paying for things like bills and groceries. Creating a budget whilst at university will help you get a grip on your finances. By listing all your monthly income and outgoings, you'll be sure to never spend more than you should.

If you're unsure where to start, you can download our budgeting spreadsheet or use a budget tracker to make things easier.

Extra sources of funding

Support for parents and carers

Apply to: Student Finance

If you're responsible for looking after someone else while studying, you could be in line for extra cash. The funds below cough up £1,000s each year, though your payout will depend on your household income. Once you get the cash, it's non-repayable.

The Parents' Learning Allowance awards cash to students with dependent children. In Scotland, it's a Lone Parents Childcare Grant - i.e. for single, widowed or divorced parents.

As you might expect, the Childcare Grant helps pay for a childminder, nursery or other childcare fees. In Scotland, money is handed out directly by the university and is a limited pot - so you'll need to apply early.

An Adult Dependants' Grant provides cash support if you're financially responsible for another adult, for example, as a carer. Awards are means-tested, either by your household income or the person you look after.

While these funds are mostly for full-time UK students, who can claim (and how much) varies around the country. Cash is bundled in with Student Finance, so you'll need a UK bank account to get paid.

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

Apply to: Student Finance

If you have a disability that causes you extra costs while studying, you could get DSA. 'Disability' includes mental health issues, unseen conditions (like epilepsy) and learning difficulties (such as dyslexia) as well as long-term physical conditions. There's funding to pay for specialist equipment, a non-medical helper and travel expenses, plus a general allowance.

The amount you could be entitled to will vary depending on where you are based in the UK, but DSA isn't means-tested and doesn't need to be repaid. Accepting other disability-related grants or support can affect whether you get DSA, so talk it over with your uni or Student Finance office first. Check out our comprehensive guide to DSA for more in-depth advice and info.

Depending on where in the UK you're from, the amount of DSA you could be entitled to will vary - but in each country, the maximum amount is over £20,000 a year.

Other funding

Apply to: various

Here are some additional forms of student funding that are worth looking into:

There are bursaries and scholarships beyond those handed out by universities, along with specialist scholarships most students never hear about.

If you're studying for a healthcare-related degree (including medicine), you could be eligible for an NHS Bursary.

Travel grants are up for grabs if you study part of your course abroad, or you're a medical or dental student and have clinical placements in the UK. Contact Student Finance about these.

Universities usually oversee bursaries for care experienced students, but in Scotland, a bursary and accommodation grant is handled by SAAS.

Crowdfunding (asking strangers to invest in you) is an option if you have a good story to tell.

The Turn2us grants checker lists charity funds you may be eligible for.

If you're taking time out from a job (and expect to go back after uni) talk to your employer about cash support or sponsorship.

Most students can't usually get benefits but check for yourself if you have special circumstances or are really struggling. Our guide to Universal Credit and Jobseeker's Allowance should be able to help.

A sponsored degree, where a company pays for your studies, is a sizeable commitment rather than a bit of extra cash. You may be expected to work for them during and after your studies, in exchange for wages plus (often generous) study-related expenses.

You might need to sift through several company websites (try their recruitment pages) to track down opportunities. Alternatively, ask your careers adviser or search online for 'Degree Apprenticeships'.

Emergency money

Apply to: various

If you run out of cash after starting your course, ask your university or students' union about hardship funds (emergency grants or loans for students).

Each uni sets its own criteria for who can apply and how much they'll get. They may also want to see copies of your Student Finance letters and your budget before handing over any cash.

Also, learning the right way to use a student overdraft could save your bacon in a crisis.

Student Loan repayments

Here are the key things to know about Student Loan repayments:

1. Interest is being added all the time - Even though you won't make repayments until you earn over a certain threshold, interest is constantly being added.

2. Student Loans are eventually written off - You'll carry on making monthly repayments (as long as you earn above the income threshold) for around 30 years, until either you pay back the whole amount or the loan is cancelled.

Student Loan small print

Remember: it doesn't matter how much you borrow, or what happens to interest rates. The only thing that affects the size of your monthly repayments is how much you earn after uni.

'Income' includes more than salary

Your income after graduation decides how big your Student Loan repayments are each month.

You're probably used to thinking of this as wages from a job, but it also includes other sources of taxable income, including bar or restaurant tips and some state benefits. It's worth keeping an eye on these, as they could nudge you over the salary threshold when you're not expecting it, or bump up your payment amount during some months.

A Student Loan WON'T affect your credit rating

Your credit score is a really valuable number that determines whether you get the best deals on credit cards, loans, energy bills and even mobile phone contracts. Thankfully, owing money on a Student Loan won't affect your credit score.

However, because monthly repayments come out of your wages, it could have a small effect if you apply for a mortgage later on (as banks use take-home pay to see how much you can afford to borrow).

Student Loan repayments don't stop if you leave the UK

Moving abroad after uni - whether for a few months or for good - doesn't mean you can forget about your Student Loan!

Living or working overseas may change your income threshold, so you'll still need to stay in touch with the Student Finance office and keep up with repayments. Our guide to repaying your Student Loan from abroad explains what to do.

You need to stay in touch with Student Finance

Like a particularly nosy relative, your Student Finance office wants to know what's happening with you. You'll need to tell them about obvious changes like your phone number, address, household income and bank account, as well as less obvious life events like getting married, moving abroad or working for yourself.

Not updating your details may mean missing out on funding at uni or, if you're overpaid, having to pay back the extra. Not replying to emails or passing on info after uni could mean being charged higher interest rates or even penalty fees.

Repaying early could be more expensive

You can choose to clear your student debt or make higher repayments at any time. This might be tempting if you want to be free of your loan ASAP, but it's usually only worth it for higher earners (i.e. those with a starting salary above £30,000).

For everyone else, it could mean paying back more than if you'd let the loan run its natural course. Plus, once you funnel extra money towards your loan, you can't get it back later on (i.e. if you're skint or want to spend it on something else). Think it over carefully and only pay up when you can afford to.

Warning: The terms aren't set in stone

We touched on this earlier, but it bears repeating: the Student Loan's terms can be amended even after you've signed the contract. Interest rates are the obvious example, but the earnings threshold and even the point at which the loan is wiped can be tweaked or dropped at will.

Notably, the government has previously backtracked on a promise to increase the salary threshold to take the pressure off repayments, and only reverted to the original agreement after a lot of noise from Save the Student and other campaigners. However, they have since performed another u-turn and have frozen the threshold again.

It's impossible to know exactly how political gestures like this will play out. In the meantime, we'll always report what's going on and keep this guide updated.

You may have to repay grants if you drop out

Each year, some students will find uni just isn't the right call, or that money or personal issues make it impossible to carry on. If that's you, don't throw in the towel until you've talked it over with a uni advisor or the Student Finance team.

In particular, be clear about if and how you have to give back any non-repayable funds, such as grants and bursaries. Dropping out may also impact your chances of getting Student Finance again in the future.

Another reason you might have to repay free funding is if you bodge the numbers on your application (or don't update your details) and end up getting overpaid - keep an eye on it!

5 ways to reduce student debt

Here are some final top tips to cut down your student debt:

1. Find hidden funding - Hundreds miss out on free money each year because they don't know it's there or assume they're not eligible - yet almost all students have a shot at extra funding.

2. Avoid unnecessary borrowing - When you can afford to pay it back, borrowing is perfectly safe. But it's very easy to slip up, so don't touch credit cards, private loans or even a 0% overdraft without a plan. If you're using credit to cope with hardship or cover up other debts, read our guide to managing debt at university first.

3. Make cash alongside your degree - A job at uni can be a game-changer, as it's good for your CV and your bank balance. Search for a part-time job or try these making money ideas.

Now you've got your head wrapped around Student Finance, see what other student funding you may be able to bag to support your studies.

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