Student finance for undergraduates

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Part-time students

You may be able to get a loan if your part-time course has a ‘course intensity’ of 25% or more.

‘Course intensity’ measures how much of your course you complete each year compared to an equivalent full-time course.

You can work this out by comparing your module credits with the number of module credits a full-time student will study. You’ll be asked how many credits you’ll study when you apply for the loan.

Check with your university or college if you’re not sure.

If your course started on or after 1 August 2018, you can apply for both a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan.

Tuition Fee Loan

Your university or college sets your tuition fee, and the loan is paid directly to them. You have to pay it back.

You can get up to £7,145 in an academic year.

Tuition Fee Loan for a foundation year

A foundation year is a year added to the start of an undergraduate course. You may be able to get a Tuition Fee Loan if you do a foundation year.

You can get up to £4,315 for a classroom-based subject, such as business, social science or humanities.

You can get up to £7,145 if the subject is partly practical, including science, engineering, subjects allied to medicine or the creative and performing arts.

Find out more about how much you could get for a foundation year course.  The amount you’re charged may vary depending on where in the UK you study.

Maintenance Loan for living costs

How much you can get depends on:

The loan is paid directly into your bank account 2 weeks after the start of each term. You have to pay the loan back.

If you’re a distance learning student, you can only apply for a Maintenance Loan if you cannot attend your course in person because of a disability.

You’re not eligible for a Maintenance Loan if you’re 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of your course.

If you’re eligible for a Maintenance Loan, you can use the student finance calculator to estimate how much you’ll get.

You must report any changes to your living arrangements in your online account, so you get the correct amount of student finance. You might need evidence of any changes.

If your course started before 1 August 2018

You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan only.

Your university or college sets your tuition fee, and the loan is paid directly to them. You have to pay it back.

You can get up to £7,145 in an academic year.

Apply

Apply for student finance or find out how to apply.

Further information

2025 to 2026 academic year

Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2025 to 2026

How you’re assessed and paid - 2025 to 2026 guide

2024 to 2025 academic year

Student loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2024 to 2025

How you’re assessed and paid - 2024 to 2025 guide

View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of Get undergraduate student finance: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if you're eligible for student finance

    1. If you’re from England or outside the UK, check if you're eligible

    There’s a different process if:

  2. Step 2 Find out how much loan you could get

    Find out the maximum tuition fee and maintenance loan you could get if you're a:

    How much maintenance loan you get depends on where you'll study and your household income.

    1. Use the student finance calculator to estimate your maintenance loan

    You'll have to pay back any loan you get.

    1. Find out how much you'll repay
    2. Find out when you'll start repaying

  3. and Check if you can get extra help

    You might be able to get extra money if you:

    You might also be able to get other financial help, for example from your university or the government.

    1. Find out about extra help

  4. Step 3 Prepare your application

    1. Check when you can apply
    2. Check what ID you'll need
    3. Check if you need to give proof of your household income

  5. Step 4 Apply online

    1. Apply online

    If you're eligible for Tuition Fee Loans, Maintenance Loans, or Maintenance Grants, you can apply online.

    You'll need to create a student finance account if you're a new student or sign into an existing account if you're a returning student.

    It can take up to 6 weeks to process your application. You might have to provide extra evidence.

  6. or Apply by post

    1. Apply by post

    If you’re eligible for tuition fee-only funding, you must complete a form and send it by post instead. You cannot apply online.

    You can also apply by post if you're unable to apply online.

    It can take up to 6 weeks to process your application. You might have to provide extra evidence.

  7. Step 5 Update your details if your circumstances change

    You must update your application if your circumstances change. For example if you:

    • change your course through clearing
    • change where you're going to live - for example with your parents instead of halls
    1. Find out how to update your application

  8. Step 6 Make sure you can be paid

    After you register at your university or college you'll usually get your maintenance loan paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term.

    Use your student finance account to:

    • update your bank details - for example if you open a student account
    • check how much you'll be paid
    • check when you'll be paid
    1. Sign in to your student finance account

  9. Step 7 Check what to do while you're studying

    You'll need to reapply for student finance for each year of your course.

    You must keep your details up to date throughout your course because some changes can affect your loan payments, for example if your household income or bank details change.

    1. Check how to update your details
    2. Find out what to do if you suspend or leave your course

  10. Step 8 Check what to do when you stop studying

    When you stop studying the Student Loans Company (SLC) will create a student loans repayment account for you.

    The log in details will be the same as for your student finance account. You should check your contact details are correct.

    1. Sign in to your student loan repayment account

    You must update your employment details if:

    • you leave the UK for more than 3 months
    • SLC asks you to update them
    1. Update your employment details

  11. Step 9 Repay your loan

    The repayment plan you're on will determine when you start repaying and how much you repay.

    1. Check which repayment plan you’re on
    2. Find out how much you'll repay
    3. Find out when you'll start repaying
    4. Find out how to repay