Fees and Funding
Going to university is an investment in your future — and there’s plenty of financial support available to help you get there.
Whether you’re just leaving college, returning to education later in life, or progressing from another course, this guide will help you understand your options and how to access the funding you’re entitled to.
If you have any questions about higher education fees and funding, you can speak to our Student Finance Advisor or attend a talk at an open day.
A tuition fee loan covers the cost of your course fees and is paid directly to your university or college. You don’t need to pay anything upfront, and you only start repaying once you’ve finished your course and your income is over the repayment threshold.
If you’re a full-time student, you can borrow up to £9,250 a year.
Eligibility depends on a few factors, including your course and residency status. Visit the Student Finance England website for full details and to apply.
A maintenance loan helps with your day-to-day living costs, like rent, food, travel, books, and bills. It’s paid into your bank account at the start of each term, and like the tuition loan, you repay this only after your course ends and you’re earning above the threshold.
The amount you can borrow depends on your household income – generally, the higher the household income, the lower the loan. You can use the Student Finance Calculator to estimate how much you could get.
If you’re studying an Access to Higher Education course, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover your tuition fees. It’s paid directly to the college and is available to students:
- Aged 19 or over
- Living in the UK for at least 3 years
There’s no credit check and household income is not considered. You repay it only when you’re earning above the threshold.
Even better – if you go on to complete a full degree funded by Student Finance England, your Access loan will be written off in full. You don’t have to take out another loan to qualify – the course just needs to be eligible and fully completed.
To apply, you’ll need a Learning and Funding Information Letter, which you’ll receive once you’ve been offered a place. You can apply online.
You may also be able to get extra support through the Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund, which helps with accommodation, childcare, travel, and course materials.
For more answers, see the Advanced Learner Loan FAQs.
If you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition, or a specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia), you could be eligible for Disabled Students’ Allowance.
What it covers:
- Specialist equipment (e.g. a laptop or assistive software)
- Non-medical helpers (e.g. note-takers, mentors)
- Extra travel costs due to your condition
- Other course-related costs
Key facts:
- You don’t have to repay DSA
- Household income isn’t considered
- It’s based on your individual needs, not a set amount
- Available to full-time and part-time students
Find out more and apply via Disabled Students’ Allowance.
If you’re a full-time undergraduate student and have a child (or children) in registered childcare, you may be able to get a Childcare Grant to help cover those costs.
The Childcare Grant is for students with children under 15, or under 17 if the child has special educational needs, and the childcare must be with a registered provider
This grant is paid on top of your maintenance loan and doesn’t need to be repaid, unless you’re overpaid. More information can be found via Childcare Grant.
The Parents’ Learning Allowance helps students with children to manage day-to-day costs while studying. You don’t need to be using paid childcare to be eligible.
What it covers:
- Extra study costs related to being a parent and student
- Books, materials, and travel
Key facts:
- You could receive up to £1,915 per year
- Paid in three instalments, alongside your maintenance loan
- Not affected by whether you use childcare
- Does not need to be paid back, unless overpaid
More details can be found at Parents Learning Allowance.
If an adult relies on you financially, such as a partner or parent, and they are not another student, you may be able to receive the Adult Dependants’ Grant. It’s available to students with a financially dependent adult (not children), who is not a student or earning over the threshold.
This is paid on top of other student finance and does not need to be repaid (unless you’re overpaid or your situation changes).
Further information can be found at Adult Dependants’ Grant.