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Student finance in England
If you're from England, it's important to understand how student finance works differently compared to other UK nations. This guide breaks down the unique features of the English system and highlights what sets it apart.
Applications for full-time and part-time undergraduate student finance are now open
Applications for courses starting between 31 August 2026 and 31 December 2026 are now available.
If this is your first time applying, you can use Student Finance England’s guide to help you understand how student finance works.
Starting uni or college in 2027
Student finance is changing. If your course starts from January 2027, you could apply for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) from September 2026. Find out more about LLE.
Follow SFE on social media for updates:
Tuition fees for 2026/27
For courses starting between 31 August 2026 and 31 December 2026, the maximum tuition fees in England are:
- Full-time students: £9,790 per year
- Part-time students: £7,335 per year
- Accelerated degrees: £11,750 per year
If you're studying a foundation year, fees may be up to £5,760 or £9,790 depending on your course. Learn more about foundation years.
You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance England (SFE) to cover the full cost of your tuition fees. This loan is paid directly to your college or university and is will be repaid once you’ve finished or left your course.
Part-time students may be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan if they’re studying at a course intensity of at least 25% of a full-time equivalent course.
Living costs: Maintenance Loans for 2026/27
You can apply for a Maintenance Loan to help towards your living costs, any Maintenance Loan you take will also be repaid once you’ve finished or left your course.
Maintenance Loan
- You can apply for a higher amount based on your household income
- Paid in instalments at the start of each term
- The amount you receive depends on where you live during term time
Maintenance Loans -- how much you can get
| Living location | Maximum Loan |
|---|---|
| Living with parents | £9,118 |
| Living away from parents (outside London) | £10,830 |
| Living away from parents (in London) | £14,135 |
For an estimation of how much you can get based on your household income, visit the student finance calculator on Gov.uk.
How to apply
It’s quick and easy to apply online for student finance. Here’s some steps to follow:
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1
Check your eligibility
To apply for tuition fee and living cost support, you generally need to:
- be a UK national (or have settled status)
- normally live in England
- have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man for three years before the start of your course.
If your circumstances are different, you can check what funding you’re eligible for by using the nationality and residency checker on Gov.uk.
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2
Apply to Student Finance England
Apply online to SFE, it should only take around 30 minutes. Applications for 2026/27 are expected to open at the end of March.
You don’t need a confirmed place at college or university to apply, and applications take around four weeks to process.
If you're starting a higher education course on or after 1 January 2027, you can apply for student finance from September 2026.
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3
Provide financial information
If you apply for a Maintenance Loan, it will be based on your household income. SFE will usually use your parents' or partner's income from the previous tax year to calculate how much you can get.
If your household income has dropped by 15% or more since the previous tax year, you can ask for the calcuation to be based on the income from the current year.
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4
Register on your course
You need to register on your course before you get your student finance. Your university or college will tell you how to do this closer to your course start date.
- Tuition Fee Loan: This is paid directly to your university or college in three instalments per year
- Maintenance Loan: This is paid directly to your bank account in three instalments (typically September, January, and April)
Part-time students
Part-time students may be eligible for a tuition fee loan provided they study at a course intensity of at least 25% of a full-time equivalent course.
Maintenance Loans are also available for some part-time students. The amount is calculated according to course intensity. Part-time students studying distance learning courses can only access a Maintenance Loan if they're studying remotely due to a disability.
Studying abroad
If studying abroad is a compulsory part of your UK course, you may be eligible for:
- Tuition fee support at a reduced rate
- Maintenance Loan support
- A travel grant – a non-repayable grant to help with travel costs if you normally live in England but are studying abroad.
Repaying your student loan
Student Finance England students who started their course from August 2023 onwards repay under Plan 5. Students who started between September 2012 and July 2023 repay under Plan 2.
Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)
DSA helps cover some of the extra study-related costs you may incur due to an impairment, mental health condition or learning difference. It's non-repayable and in addition to other student finance.
Additional support
SFE offers several supplementary grants for students in specific circumstances:
Travel-related support
- Travel grant: Non-repayable grant for students studying away from their home region as part of a compulsory element of their course
- Travel costs for clinical placements: Support available for medical and dental students attending compulsory UK placements
Other support available:
- Disabled Students' Allowance: For students with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia
- Childcare Grant: For students with dependent children aged under 15 (or under 17 if registered with special educational needs)
- Parents' Learning Allowance: For students with dependent children
- Adult Dependants' Grant: For students supporting an adult who is financially dependent on them
Bursaries and scholarships may also be available directly from your university or college, particularly for students from lower-income households. Check your institution's access and participation plan for details.
Glossary: Student finance terms
Student Finance England (SFE): The government body that administers student finance for students ordinarily resident in England.
Tuition Fee Loan: A loan to cover your full tuition fees (up to £9,790 for full-time students in 2026/27), paid directly to your university.
Maintenance Loan: A means-tested, repayable loan to help cover living costs, paid directly to the student in three instalments per year.
Plan 5: Repayment plan for SFE students who started their course from August 2023. Repayment threshold: £25,000; interest rate: RPI only; written off after 40 years.
Plan 2: Repayment plan for SFE students who started between September 2012 and July 2023. Higher interest rate (up to RPI + 3%) and a 30-year write-off period.
Course intensity: The proportion of a full-time course that a part-time student is studying. Must be at least 25% to qualify for a Tuition Fee Loan.
Household income: The combined income of the student and their parents (or partner, if applicable), used to determine the means-tested element of the Maintenance Loan.
Access and Participation Plan (APP): A plan required of universities and colleges charging the maximum tuition fee, setting out how they will improve equality of opportunity for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Department for Education: The UK government department responsible for student finance policy in England.