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Explore scholarships, bursaries, and grants matched to your background, achievements, or chosen course, and get support for your study and living costs.
Tuition fees and Tuition Fee Loans
This guide explains what tuition fees are and how to get a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the cost of the fees charged by your university or college.
What are tuition fees?
Tuition fees are charged by universities and colleges to cover the essential elements of your course and student experience.
What tuition fees cover
Your fees typically include:
- Lectures, seminars, and tutorials
- Course administration
- Access to course-related facilities (laboratories, studios, workshops)
- Campus libraries and computer facilities
- Student support services
- Student union membership
What you'll need to pay for separately
Tuition fees don't usually cover:
- Textbooks and course materials
- Personal technology (laptops, software)
- Optional field trips
- Library printing and photocopying
- Travel to work placements
- Professional body membership
- Accommodation and living costs
- Graduation attire and photography
If you're unsure whether something is included, contact your university or college directly.
When you apply for Student Finance, you’ll need your National Insurance number and any employment history handy – you can get this quickly and easily in the HMRC app.
England: How much are tuition fees?
For courses starting in 2026/27, the maximum tuition fees in England are:
- Full-time students: £9,790 per year
- Part-time students: £7,145 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.
(The government intends to lay regulations implementing these changes in early 2026. These regulations will be subject to Parliamentary procedure.)
Exact fees vary by provider and course. Search for courses to see specific costs.
Tuition Fee Loans
Starting a course between 31 August 2026 and 31 December 2026
If you’re starting a full-time undergraduate course between 31 August 2026 and 31 December 2026, you can apply for student finance from late March 2026.
Starting a course on or after 1 January 2027
If you’re starting a higher education course on or after 1 January 2027, you can apply for student finance from September 2026.
You’ll need to repay any loans you borrow, but not until you’ve finished or left your course, and your income is over the repayment threshold.
Part-time students do not have to repay their loans until the April four years after the start of their course, or the April after they finish or leave their course, whichever comes first.
What's available?
Most students won’t have to pay for tuition fees up front – you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to pay your fees.
How much you can get depends on:
- how much your university or college charges
- whether you’re studying at a publicly or privately funded university or college
- when you started your course
- your course intensity (part-time students)
Full-time students
You could get a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9,790 if you're studying at an eligible university or college. If you're studying an accelerated degree course, you could get up to £11,750.
If you're not sure if a course qualifies for student finance, check with the university or college.
Part-time students
You can get a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £7,145.
Private universities or colleges may charge more than this. If they do, it's up to you to pay the difference.
Eligibility
Whether you can get student finance depends on your:
- personal circumstances
- course
- course intensity (part-time students)
- uni or college
- nationality or residency status
Find more details about eligibility on the GOV.UK website.
How to apply: England
New students
It’s important to apply as soon as possible so your funding is in place for starting your course.
- Set up a student finance account
When you register, you’ll be given a unique Customer Reference Number, and will need to create a password and secret answer. You should keep these safe, as you’ll need them to log in to your account to check the progress of your application, and reapply for student finance next year. - Fill in and submit your application
The first time you apply, you’ll be asked for proof of identity. You can easily do this by providing your valid UK passport details. If you don’t have a UK passport, you may have to send evidence.
If you want to apply for student finance that depends on your household income, Student Finance England will ask your parents or partner for their National Insurance number, and their personal income details.
You will also need the following information to complete your finance application:- course start date
- bank account details
- National Insurance number – don't worry if you don't know your National Insurance number, or where to find it. HMRC has made it quick and easy to find this information – all you have to do is register your details. This means you no longer have to contact HMRC directly to obtain your National Insurance number
- Submit any evidence you're asked for
Student Finance England may contact you, or your parents/partner, to ask for evidence to support your application. If you’ve had no contact with your parents for over a year, you might be able to apply as an ‘independent student’.
Tuition fee only students
If you qualify for tuition fee only funding, application forms are available to download on the GOV.UK website.
Continuing students
- Reapply online as soon as possible to get some money in time for starting your course.
- Tuition fee only students should reapply using the relevant academic year EUPR1a form available to download on the GOV.UK website.
How it's paid
You need to register at your university or college before Student Finance England can make your first payment. You’ll usually do this in the first week of your course, and you may have to show them your student finance notification of entitlement.
Your Tuition Fee Loan is paid directly to your university or college in three instalments during the academic year.
| When are payments made to your uni or college? | How much is paid to your uni or college? |
|---|---|
| At the start of term one | 25% of the tuition fee |
| At the start of term two | 25% of the tuition fee |
| At the start of term three | 50% of the tuition fee |
Evidence
Proof of identity
Include your valid UK passport details in your application the first time you apply. If you don’t have a UK passport, you may have to send Student Finance England evidence, such as a non-UK passport, or a copy of your UK birth or adoption certificate.
Non-UK nationals
The following documents can be accepted:
- Non-UK passport
- National identity card
- Biometric residency card
- Biometric residency permit
If you’re an Irish citizen and you don’t hold a UK passport, you need to send your original valid ROI passport as proof of identity.
Changing your details
Before your initial course start date: Tell Student Finance England about any changes by filling in a ‘Change of Circumstances’ form, which you can download from download from the GOV.UK website.
After your course start date: Ask your university or college to tell Student Finance England about any of the following changes:
- your tuition fee amount
- your course details
- your course intensity
- you repeat a year
- you leave higher education
- you suspend your studies
Living costs: Loans and bursaries
Tuition Fee Loans
Tution Fee Loans cover the full cost of your fees. For detailed information about Tuition Fee Loans – including amounts, how they're paid, and evidence requirements – see our Tuition Fee Loans guide.
Maintenance Loans
A Maintenance Loan helps with living costs like accommodation, food, transport, and books. The amount you receive depends on:
- where you live while studying – higher amounts for students living away from home, especially in London
- your household income – students from lower-income households receive more
Maintenance Loans are paid in instalments at the start of each term. They're unlikely to cover all your costs, so plan to supplement this with other income or savings.
You won't need to repay your Maintenance Loan until after you graduate and earn above the repayment threshold.
The maximum Maintenance Loan available for 2026/27 depends on where you live during your studies:
| Living location | Maximum loan |
|---|---|
| Living away from parents, outside London | £10,830 |
| Living away from parents, in London | £14,135 |
| Living with parents | £9,118 |
Final year students receive slightly less, as the academic year is typically shorter.
The actual amount you receive will depend on your household income. Students from lower-income households may also be eligible for additional grants that don't need to be repaid.
Studying in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland? Maintenance support works differently in each nation. See our guides for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
University and college bursaries
Many universities and colleges offer their own bursaries, scholarships, and hardship funds. These are usually:
- non-repayable
- based on household income, achievements, or specific circumstances
- awarded automatically or by application
Check with your chosen uni or college about what support they offer. Search for scholarships and bursaries.
Additional support
Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)
DSA helps cover extra study costs due to a disability, mental health condition, or long-term health condition. It's:
- non-repayable
- based on your individual needs, not household income
- available in addition to other student finance
Parents and caregivers
If you have dependent children or adult dependants, you may be eligible for:
- Childcare Grant
- Parents' Learning Allowance
- Adult Dependants' Grant
These are non-repayable and assessed based on your circumstances.
Financial hardship
If you're experiencing financial difficulty, you may be able to access:
- Hardship funds from your university or college
- Additional support from Student Finance England
Contact your university or college's student services for guidance.
Care experienced students
If you're in care, or have experience of being in care in the past, finance may seem like a particular challenge. But there's lots of help for you. Many universities offer:
- guaranteed accommodation
- year-round accommodation (including holidays)
- additional bursaries
- personal support services
Questions?
Visit GOV.UK Student Finance or contact Student Finance England.
Glossary
Advanced Learner Loans: Loans for those aged 19+ studying Level 3 to Level 6 courses at approved providers.
Bursary: Non-repayable financial support from your university or college, usually based on household income.
Maintenance Loan: Money to help with living costs, paid in instalments each term.
Means-tested: Financial support where the amount you receive depends on your household income.
Scholarship: Non-repayable financial award, often based on academic achievement or other merit.
Tuition Fee Loan: Loan that covers your course fees, paid directly to your university or college. Learn more about Tuition Fee Loans.
Household income: The combined income of your parents or partner, used to calculate means-tested support.
Home fee status: Determines whether you pay UK or international tuition fees, based on residency and other criteria.