Migrant worker evidence for Student Finance England
Find our more about applying for student finance as a migrant worker and evidence you need to provide.
Student finance for migrant workers
If you’re a migrant worker or you’re the family member of one, you could be eligible for tuition fee and living cost funding if you can provide evidence of continued employment in the UK.
Any loans you borrow have to be paid back, but not until you’ve finished or left your course, and your income is over the repayment threshold.
Eligibility
Migrant workers
Migrant workers must be:
- an EEA or Swiss national, and have lived in the EEA or Switzerland for at least 3 years before the start of your course
- living in England on the first day of the first academic year of your course
- planning to study a course that qualifies for student finance
- working or self-employed in the UK
- working enough to reasonably support yourself throughout your studies
Family members of migrant workers
Family members of migrant workers must:
- have lived in the EEA or Switzerland for at least three years before the start of your course
- have pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
- be living in England on the first day of the first academic year of your course
- be planning to study a full-time course that qualifies for student finance
Your EEA or Swiss national family member must:
- have lived in the EEA or Switzerland for at least three years before the start of your course
- be living and working in England (they must be working enough to support you for the whole academic year)
What's available for migrant workers and their families?
If you're studying a full-time undergraduate course
You can get a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9,790 to cover the fees charged by your university or college, and a Maintenance Loan to help with living costs, such as rent and books.
There’s also extra help if you have a disability, or if you have children or an adult who depends on you financially.
If you're studying a part-time undergraduate course
If you’re starting a part-time course on or after 1 August 2018, you can get a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £6,935 to cover the fees charged by your university or college. You can also get a Maintenance Loan to help with living costs, such as rent and books. There’s also extra help if you have a disability.
If you're studying a postgraduate course
- If you’re studying a postgraduate Master’s course, you can get a loan of up to £12, 858 as a contribution towards your course and living costs.
- If you’re studying a postgraduate Doctoral course, you can get a loan of up to £30,301 as a contribution towards your course and living costs.
There’s also extra help if you have a disability.
How to apply
Applying to continue receiving student finance as a migrant worker
If you’ve previously had student finance as a migrant worker on your current course, you should apply online.
Applying as a migrant worker for the first time
If this is the first time you’ve applied for student finance as a migrant worker, you should apply on a PN1 form.
Along with your application you’ll need to send Student Finance England the following evidence:
- original passport or National Identity Card
- evidence that you are working in the UK – the evidence you need to provide depends on your employment.
Once your application is approved
You must continue to be employed for the duration of your course to keep getting student finance as a migrant worker. If you stop working, or change employment, you need to tell Student Finance England straightaway.
Student Finance England will email you during the academic year asking for evidence to show you’re still employed.