Find scholarships, bursaries, and grants
You could be eligible for more funding than you think.
Explore scholarships, bursaries, and grants matched to your background, achievements, or chosen course, and get support for your study and living costs.
Undergraduate tuition fees and student loans
How much are tuition fees and how are you going to pay for them? Find out how to fund your studies and how to apply here.
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.
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.
Exact fees vary by provider and course. Search for courses to see specific costs.
Studying elsewhere in the UK? Tuition fees differ if you're from Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
Studying a second degree, or another ‘equivalent or lower qualification’ (ELQ)?
Tuition fees may be higher and you might not be able to get the same financial support.
Contact the appropriate student finance provider for more information.
How to apply
Who is eligible?
You can apply for student finance if you meet these criteria:
- You're a UK national or have settled status
- You normally live in England
- You've lived in the UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man for three years before your course starts
- You're studying at a recognised publicly funded university or college
- You're on a recognised full-time course (first degree, foundation degree, HND, or initial teacher training)
- This is your first higher education qualification
Second degree or equivalent qualification? You may still get some funding, but it will be limited.
Find full eligibility details on GOV.UK
For detailed information about Tuition Fee Loans – including amounts, how they're paid, and evidence requirements – see our Tuition Fee Loans guide.
Flexible and part-time students
You can get a loan if you’re studying at a rate of at least 25% of an equivalent full-time course and if you’re a Home or EU student.
International and EU students
The UK Government has announced that EU, other EEA, and Swiss nationals will no longer be eligible for home fee status for undergraduate, postgraduate, and advanced learner financial support from Student Finance England for courses starting from academic year 2022/23 onwards. This change also applies to further education funding for those aged 19+, and funding for apprenticeships.
Check the GOV.UK website for further information.
For guidance on whether you are eligible to pay overseas or home/EU fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Read more about student finance for international and EU students
Advanced Learner Loans
Advanced Learner Loans will be available to those aged 19 and over, studying eligible courses from Level 3 (A level equivalent) up to Level 6 at approved course providers.
Applications can be made through the Student Loans Company.
Making changes
Making changes
You must notify Student Finance England if:
- you leave or change your course
- your personal circumstances change
- your household income changes
See more information on our Tuition Fee Loans page.
Not from England? Apply through:
How to apply for a student loan
Student finance usually consists of a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan to cover – or at least partially help with – your university costs.
All full-time undergraduate students are eligible for student finance, provided they meet some basic criteria:
- Residency – you’re a UK national or have settled status, normally live in your home country, and have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man for three years before the beginning of your course.
- Your university or college – you’re studying at a recognised publicly-funded university or college (or a private institution studying a course approved for public funding).
- Your course – you’re studying a recognised full-time course e.g. a first degree, a foundation degree, a Higher National Diploma (HND), or an initial Teacher Training course.
- It’s your first higher education course – you can still get some funding if you’ve studied a HE course before, but it will be limited and you’ll have to make up any shortfall.
Both Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans must be paid back once you graduate and you’re earning above a minimum salary. Repayment systems vary from country to country.
You have to apply for student finance for each year of your course – not just your first year. This is to guarantee you get the support you’re entitled to throughout your studies.
You must apply to the student finance body in your country, as well as notify them of any changes to your circumstances, e.g. you leave or change your course. Below is a guide to who looks after student finance in each country.
It can take up to six weeks to process student finance applications. Make sure you apply early – even if you have a conditional offer – as you can amend or cancel your application if your plans change.
Applicants from England
- The quickest and easiest way to apply is online at www.gov.uk/studentfinance. It’s important to apply as soon as possible so your funding is in place for starting your course.
- Applications take at least six weeks to be processed, but Student Finance England will do an initial assessment so you have some money as close to the start of your course as possible.
- For an independent view of what it costs, go to Money Saving Expert.
Applicants from Northern Ireland
The quickest and easiest way to apply is online. View more information about how and when to apply.
Applicants from Scotland
Apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) – although you can apply to the SAAS to cover your full tuition in Scotland, you may also get other support for living costs, or for tuition fees elsewhere in the UK.
SAAS encourages students to apply as early as possible to allow themselves time to gather the necessary supporting evidence.
Applicants from Wales
The quickest and easiest way to apply is online at www.studentfinancewales.co.uk. It’s important to apply as soon as possible so your funding is in place for starting your course.
Applicants from The Channel Islands and Isle of Man
Apply to the Guernsey Education Department, the States of Jersey website or the Isle of Man Department of Education & Children. If you're from these areas the fees can vary – find out more from the unis or colleges.
Applicants from outside the UK
Fees can vary depending where you're studying and whether you're from the EU or outside the EU – check university and college websites. Find the links in our search tool.
Tuition Fee Loans
Tuition Fee Loans are available to cover the full cost of tuition fees upfront.
They’re paid directly to your university or college, so you don’t have to worry about them too much (until it comes time to repay them).
Usually you can get a Tuition Fee Loan for the duration of your course plus one extra year, e.g. in case you drop out and return at a later date.
Maintenance Loans
Maintenance Loans are available to help with some of your living costs at university, e.g. accommodation, transport, food, and books. It’s unlikely this will cover all your living costs, in which case it’s up to you to make up the shortfall.
How much you get will work on a sliding scale, based on:
- where you’re studying – students studying away from home in London receive more to account for the higher cost of living here, compared to those living at home
- your household income – students from lower income backgrounds are eligible for more – this is often referred to as ‘means-tested’ finance, and requires your parents/guardians to provide evidence of their income
In some countries, Maintenance Loans are combined with non-repayable grants, with your household income deciding the ratio of loan-to-grant you get, i.e. students from lower income households receive higher grants and thus less in maintenance loans which they have to pay back.
Whatever maintenance support you receive will be paid to you in instalments, at the start of each term.
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 leavers
If you've been in care, you may be entitled to extra financial support. Many universities offer:
- guaranteed accommodation
- year-round accommodation (including holidays)
- additional bursaries
- personal support services
Extra financial support
There are also a number of grants and allowances to help with any extra costs you might incur while studying as a result of your personal circumstances, namely if you:
- are disabled
- are a parent
- have adult or child dependants you’re financially responsible for
- are facing financial hardship
To apply for these, you may have to undergo some form of assessment, e.g. to understand your needs due to your disability, or provide evidence that illustrates your situation, e.g. bank statements to show your financial hardship.
However, these extra sources of support can make a significant difference to your budget – and your student life in general. Plus, you don’t have to repay them.
What’s available and how much you can get will vary from country to country – read more in our regional finance guides: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Student finance not enough?
Once you know what student finance you’re eligible for, if your student budget is still looking tight – or quite frankly, simply not enough to cover the cost of university – it’s worth looking into additional funding, in the form of scholarships, bursaries, and grants.
These don’t have to be paid back either, and are awarded for all sorts of reasons – so check if you're eligible.
Our full guides on scholarships, grants, and bursaries go into detail about what they offer, how to apply, and the extra benefits they come with.
Our guide to managing your money at university contains lots of tips to make your cash stretch. Plus you can find the latest support on dealing with the cost of living here.