How To Access Student Loans In The UK
UK Student Loans is open to students studying in the United Kingdom. This page explains how to get a student loan in the United Kingdom.
UK Student Loans are available to eligible students in the United Kingdom. There will be occasions when you are unable to do one or more of the following: sales, marketing, or other student jobs. You may be unsure what to do to obtain finances. Here is a step-by-step guide to getting student loans in the United Kingdom:
Eligibility For UK Student Loans
In the United Kingdom, obtaining a student loan is contingent on a variety of factors. The following are essential requirements for obtaining student loans in the United Kingdom.
- Your Residence
To be eligible for student loans, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must have resided in the United Kingdom for three years before the commencement of your study.
- You must be a citizen of the United Kingdom with no visa restrictions.
- If you recently moved for attending school or enlisting in the British Armed Forces, you are still qualified for help.
2. Your Age
Depending on your age, you might not be qualified for some types of student debt. Grants and loans for education have no age restrictions. To qualify for a maintenance loan, you must be under 60 on the first day of the first academic year of your studies. You must also be under 60 on the first day of the first academic year of your degree. If you alter your path of study after turning 60, you will no longer be qualified for a maintenance loan. In addition to the foregoing, there are qualifying requirements based on your course and whether or not you have previously studied.
- Choice of University
Your course must be at a publicly funded UK university or a course approved for public financing at a private institution. Note that private institution tuition fees may be more than the tuition loan you receive, in which case you will be responsible for the difference.
- Your Choice of Study
It is required that your course be a ’recognized’ course. Undergraduate student financial aid is available for the following types of courses:
Degrees Eligible For UK Student Loans |
First degree foundation |
Foundation degree certificate |
Certificate of Higher Education |
Diploma of Higher Education |
Higher National Certificate (HNC) |
Higher National Diploma (HND) |
Postgraduate 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) |
Is My Course Eligible For a UK Student Loan?
If you’re not sure if your course qualifies, check with your university or your student financial organization.
Students in some courses may be eligible for funding from other public sources, such as the NHS bursary if it is still available.
If students get public funds from a different source, it may influence their eligibility for additional student aid or the amount they receive. You may want to learn
- Part-Time Study
If you’re a part-time student, your course eligibility is also determined by the ‘course intensity.’ This is 25% intensity if your course takes four times as long as the full-time equivalent. It entails taking about 30 credits every year.
You may be eligible for financial assistance with tuition fees and some course costs based on your household income, however, maintenance loans are only available in England and Wales.
When Do I Payback My Loan?
Part-time students should be informed that they must begin repaying their student loan four years after starting their course, even if they have not completed their education. However, repayments will only be accepted if your income exceeds the loan payback criteria.
- A previous study at the same (or higher) level
Despite having previously paid for your education on your own, student loans are frequently only available to those seeking their first degree. You may be qualified for extra undergraduate student support if you are enrolled in certain healthcare courses or a postgraduate teaching course (ITT/ITE, PGCE, or PGDE in Scotland).
You might only qualify for half of the tuition if you enrolled in a course but dropped out. The amount of time you have previously studied will decide this. If you only receive a portion of the financing you need, it will be up to you to find the rest of the money to finish your course.
Requirements To Apply For A UK Student Loan
- If you are unsure whether you meet the eligibility criteria, keep in mind that everyone’s circumstances are unique.
- We recommend speaking with universities or funding organizations directly if you have questions about your specific situation, as each university has the authority to decide each case on its own merits.
- None of this will have an impact on how you are evaluated for admission; these judgments are solely based on academic merit.
- Please note that undergraduate course applications are submitted through UCAS.
How to Apply For a Student Loan
You can apply for funding for your degree up to 9 months after the start of the academic year.
Start Date for Course | Apply by |
August 1-Dec 31 | 31st May after the course started January |
January 1st- March 31st | 30 September after your course started April |
April 1 -June 30 | 1 December after your course started |
Application Guide for New Students from England
Student Finance England accepts applications from most full-time and part-time students online.
- Create an online student funding account.
- Sign in and finish the web form.
- If necessary, mention your household’s revenue. We’ll ask your guardian or partner to attest to these facts.
- If necessary, submit identification evidence.
- Use the form finder to get the forms you need if you are unable to register online. Contact Student Finance by phone.
- If you want to register online but are unable to use a computer without assistance, try England.
Applying as a Continuing student from England
You’re a continuing student if you are:
- Moving on to the next year of your course
- Repeating a year of the same course or returning to a course after taking time out
- Transferring onto a new course from your old course
- You should log in to your student finance account and apply online.
If you’re returning to school after taking a break for personal reasons, there are a few things to consider;
- Log in to your student finance account and apply online.
- You must also provide a letter with supporting documents stating why your studies were halted.
- The following items must be included in the letter:
- your student loan customer reference number
- a statement about your position and why you had to put your education on hold
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Supporting evidence includes:
- A letter from your doctor or social services on headed paper
- Letter from your university or college on headed paper
- Copies of birth or death certificates
You should send the letter and evidence by post to Student Finance England, PO Box 210, Darlington with code (DL1 9HJ)