Applying for Postgraduate Student Loan as a Student from Republic of Ireland

Hi !

I am from the Republic of Ireland and will be doing a full-time masters in Speech and Language Therapy in England next year. I am looking into applying for the NHS Learning Support Fund training grant, for which I need to be 'eligible for tuition fees and maintenance support from the Student Loans Company'.

I was wondering whether you could give me clarity on whether I, as someone from the Republic of Ireland who does not yet reside in England, am eligible for both tuition fees and maintenance support ?

Thanks in advance !

Reply 1

Drew SLC

Official Rep

Hi there,

If you were to be classed as a UK home student you would need to be living in England for 3 years prior to the 1st day of the 1st academic year of your course. Have you been living in the Republic of Ireland for the last 3 years and when do you plan to move to the UK? When does your course start?

Thanks, Drew

Reply 2

jhgdjadhg

Original post

by Drew SLC

Hi there,
If you were to be classed as a UK home student you would need to be living in England for 3 years prior to the 1st day of the 1st academic year of your course. Have you been living in the Republic of Ireland for the last 3 years and when do you plan to move to the UK? When does your course start?
Thanks, Drew

Hi Drew,

Thanks for your reply !
Yes, I have been living in the Republic of Ireland for the last 22 years, I am planning to move to the UK just before the start of the course in September 2025. I'm just confused because on gov.uk, in reference to eligibility for a masters loan, it states that "If you’ve been living in Ireland or a British overseas territory, you do not need to normally live in England. You can apply for the loan if you attend your course in England or do distance learning in England". https://www.gov.uk/masters-loan/eligibility

Thanks for your help,
Molly

Reply 3

Drew SLC

Official Rep

Hi there,

Can you confirm what university you will attend and the duration of the course?

Thanks, Drew

Reply 4

jhgdjadhg

Hi Drew,

I'm applying to Manchester Metropolitan, Leeds Beckett, Newcastle University, and the University of Reading. The duration of all courses are 2 years full-time.

Thanks,
Molly

Reply 5

Graeme SFE

Official Rep

Original post

by jhgdjadhg

Hi Drew,
I'm applying to Manchester Metropolitan, Leeds Beckett, Newcastle University, and the University of Reading. The duration of all courses are 2 years full-time.
Thanks,
Molly

Thanks Molly - is this a pre-registration course?

It's just these courses attract undergraduate funding, as opposed to the Masters Loan.

Thanks, Graeme

Reply 6

jhgdjadhg

Hi Graeme, yes, it's a pre-registration course.

Reply 7

SFE Clare

Official Rep

Hi jhgdjadhg,

Thank you for confirming. In that case, you would be applying for the undergraduate support for that course type.

To qualify for the Maintenance Loan, you would be required to have lived in the UK for 3 years or more prior to the first day of the first academic year of the course. If you do not meet that eligibility criteria, you would only be eligible to apply for the Tuition Fee Loan.

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies

Thanks, Clare

Reply 8

jhgdjadhg

Ok, thanks everyone for your help.