Loans and grants for undergraduate students
Home undergraduate students can get Government support via a range of loans and grants. This is designed to cover the payment of tuition fees and help with living costs while you study.
Loans for students from England
From January 2027 onwards, students normally resident in England will access funding through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE). This new system gives learners access to af flexible funding entitlement that can be used for full qualifications or individual modules, making it easier to upskill and retrain throughout their working lives.
Loans are subject to repayment once students graduate or leave their course. English-resident students don't start paying back until the April aftesrwards, and once they're earning over the repayment threshold of £25,000 a year.
For more information, please see the Government website.
Tuition fee loans
Eligible students can access Tuition Fee funding equivalent to roughly four years of full study in the form of a Tuition Fee Loan. For extra years, such as those in integrated Master's degrees, years in industry or years abroad, additional funding is also available. The amount of Tuition Fee Loan students get partly depends on the number of credits they study.
Loans for maintenance or living costs
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) will also enable eligible students starting courses from January 2027 to access Maintenance Loans for living costs while studying full qualifications or individual modules.
Funding will be based on factors including household income, where the student lives, and how much they study, providing flexible financial support for learners at different stages of their careers.
Loan figures for 2027-entry are yet to be confirmed, but will be broadly similar to the figures for 2026 entry below.
| Student Finance England | Living at home | Living away from home (outside of London) | Studying Overseas (i.e. Study Abroad) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum entitlement per year | £4,013 (if household income is/over £58,387) | £5,048 (if household income is/over £62,410) | £5,996 (if household income is/over £66,069) |
| Maximum entitlement per year | £9,118 (if household income is/under £25,000) | £10,830 (if household income is/under £25,000) | £12,403 (if household income is/under £25,000) |
Note: Loan figures correct for 2026 entry.
Student loan repayments
You'll only start repaying any government loans in the April after you leave university, if you're in work and earning over £25,000 per year.
Repayments will be made at 9% of income above this £25,000 threshold, so the amount repaid each month will depend on your earnings. If for any reason your income falls below £25,000, your repayments will be suspended. Student finance payments are straightforward as they will be deducted automatically from your pay through the tax system (PAYE).
Interest will be charged at the Retail Price Index.
If you have not paid off your loan after 40 years, all outstanding repayments will be written off.
Please note, repayment thresholds may differ if you're not from England. Please visit GOV.UK or refer to your Government's website for repayment thresholds outside of England.
Government grants for students from England
Student grants provide non-repayable money for students with specific circumstances or needs.
Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)
If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty, you may be eligible for up to £27,783 in academic year 2026/27.
You can apply for help with the cost of specialist equipment, such as computer software, extra travel costs due to a disability, or other support necessary to study on your programme.
Grants for students with children
Students with dependants may be eligible for additional financial support. This support may include additional grants such as the Parents Learning Allowance, Adult Dependants Grant and Childcare Grant which is used towards paying childcare costs.
You should apply for these grants while making your main application for funding. You can contact the University's Money Advice and Guidance team for further advice.
How students from England can apply for Government funding
Applications are made online to Student Finance England. If you require assistance, you can call the Student Finance England customer helpline on 0300 100 0607.
Apply online for student finance
More information on applying for student finance
We recommend that you start your student finance application as soon as you are able. The application process normally opens in early Spring of each year you intend to go to university. You don’t need to wait until you have received all your offers, or decided for sure where you want to go to apply for funding.
Make sure you submit your application by the deadline, which is normally the end of May in the year you hope to start your programme.
Loans and grants for other UK nations
If you're from Northern Ireland, Wales or Scotland, refer to the relevant website to check what financial help you are eligible for and apply.
Northern Ireland
Northern Irish students may be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9,790 per year, as well as a Maintenance Loan to help with living costs, worth up to £11,699 per year, depending on where they study and their household income.
Repayments for Northern Irish students start the April after graduating or leaving their course, and once they are earning over £26,900 per year. Please see the Student Finance Northern Ireland's website for further details.
Student Finance Northern Ireland
Scotland
Scottish students may be eligible for funding through SAAS, which can cover tuition fees for eligible courses in Scotland or provide a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9,790 per year for study elsewhere in the UK.
Additional support for living costs is available through bursaries and student loans, with funding of up to £11,400 per year depending on household income.
Repayments for Scottish students start the April after graduating or leaving their course, and once they are earning over £33,795 per year. Please see SAAS' website for further information.
Student Awards Agency Scotland
Wales
Welsh students may be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9,790 per year through Student Finance Wales, alongside support for living costs through a combination of grants and loans.
Depending on household income and where they study, students can receive up to £15,720 per year in maintenance support, with part of this funding available as a grant that does not need to be repaid.
Repayments for Welsh students start the April after graduating or leaving their course, and once they are earning over £29,385 per year. Please see Student Finance Wales' website.