Funding explained
Tuition fee loan
Covers your course fees and is paid straight to the provider. You pay nothing upfront.
Maintenance loan
Up to £14,135 a year, depending on your eligibility and where you live. It helps with living costs and is paid to you in instalments.
Repayment
You repay only once you earn above the repayment threshold, as a percentage of what you earn above it. Nothing is due while you’re below it.
Both are loans, not a grant or a wage. The 2026/27 maximum maintenance loan is £14,135 for students living away from home in London. It is lower elsewhere (up to £10,830 away from home outside London, and £9,118 living with parents) and depends on household income. Whether you qualify, and how much you receive, is decided by Student Finance England.
Is this for you?
- You’re aged 21 or over and have real work or life experience
- You’ve lived in the UK for the past 3 years or more (some other residency routes qualify)
- You don’t already hold a UK bachelor’s degree
- You want a career change or a step up, and you’re ready to study
- You can attend on campus in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff or another UK location
Final eligibility is confirmed by the education provider and Student Finance England.
Find out if you could apply
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