How much financial support can I get?

How much financial support can I get?

As a full-time undergraduate student at university or college, you'll normally have to pay for your tuition fees as well as your living costs for the duration of your degree. You can apply to Student Finance England (SFE) for loans and grants to help with these costs.

If you've lived in the UK for at least three years (and this is where you usually live) then you'll probably be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees. This is paid directly to your university or college. You'll also be able to get a Maintenance Loan to help towards your living expenses, such as rent and bills.

If you're from a lower income-family (a household income equal to or less than £42,611) you'll be able to apply for a Maintenance Grant from SFE. The Maintenance Grant helps with your living costs.

There’s also extra support for those with special circumstances. That might include you if, for example, you have children (or adult dependant), a disability, a long-term health condition, a mental health condition or a specific learning difficulty.

Even if you don't qualify for additional funding from SFE you may be able to get other bursaries or grants from your university or college.

Tuition Fee Loan

What's it for?	Covers the cost of your tuition fees.
How much can I get?	You can get up to £9,000 to cover the fees your university or college charges you for a full-time course. The cost of tuition fees varies between different universities or colleges. It can also vary between different courses at the same university or college. If you apply for a Tuition Fee Loan you should confirm the tuition fee charged directly with university or college annually. This will ensure you apply to SFE for the correct amount.
Do I have to pay it back?	Yes, but not until you've left your university or college and your income is over £21,000 a year, or over £16,365 a year if you started your course before 1 September 2012.
How's it paid?	Once your attendance has been confirmed, SFE will pay your Tuition Fee Loan direct to your university or college, in three instalments across the academic year.

Maintenance Grant

What's it for?

Helps with your living costs throughout the academic year.

How much can I get?

You can get up to £3,354 depending on your household income. The table below is a rough guide to how much you could get.

Household income	How much?
£25,000 or less	Full £3,354 grant
Between £25,001 and £42,611	Partial grant, depending on your household income
More than £42,611	No grant

The amount of Maintenance Grant you get will affect the amount of Maintenance Loan you can borrow. SFE will reduce the amount of Maintenance Loan you can get by £0.50 for every £1 of Maintenance Grant to which you are entitled.

Do I have to pay it back?

No, unless you leave your course early.

Maintenance Loan

What's it for?

Helps with your living costs throughout the year. The figures shown below are totals for each academic year, so if you're able to get a £4,375 loan because you're living with your parents, this is roughly the amount you can expect to get [B]each year[/B] from SFE unless your circumstances change.

How much can I get?

Any full-time student under the age of 60 at the start of their course and eligible for student finance can get a Maintenance Loan. The amount you can get depends on your household income. The table below shows the maximum amounts for this year. If you get a Maintenance Grant, SFE will reduce the amount of Maintenance Loan available to you.

Living with parents	Up to £4,375
Studying in London and not living with parents	Up to £7,675
Studying outside London and not living with parents	Up to £5,500
Living and studying abroad for at least one academic term	Up to £6,535

Do I have to pay it back?

Yes, but not until you've left university or college and your income is over £21,000 a year, or over £16,365 a year if you started your course before 1 September 2012.

How's it paid?

This money is paid directly into your UK bank account along with any Maintenance Grant in three instalments. This is normally at the start of each term in September/October, January and April. Make sure you've enough money to cover your expenses for your first week at university or college as it usually takes several days, after your attendance has been confirmed, to get your first instalment.