Website of the UK government

Student Loans from the government

Student Loans from the government are there to help with the costs of higher education.

If you're an eligible, full-time student you’ll be able to take out two Student Loans for each year of your course - a ‘Student Loan for Tuition Fees’ to cover your fees in full, and a ‘Student Loan for Maintenance’ to help with your accommodation and other living costs.

• Starting in 2009/2010? Estimate how much you're likely to get with the Student Finance Calculator Opens new window

• Student Finance Calculator: retrieve a saved estimate Opens new window

How to apply

It’s best to apply in advance, but you can still apply up to nine months after the start of the academic year. You apply for Student Loans through the main student finance application.

The quickest and easiest way to apply for 2009/2010 is to do it online. But it's also possible to apply for 2009/2010 using a paper form.

• Register, login and apply online for 2009/2010

• More on applying for student finance

Student Loan for Tuition Fees

Eligible full-time students entering higher education in or after September 2006 can get a Student Loan for Tuition Fees. The amount that you can borrow does not depend upon your household income.

The loan will cover the full amount you’re charged for tuition fees (up to £3,225 in 2009/2010).

Student Finance England pays this direct to your university or college.

Started before September 2006?

Help with tuition fees is different if you started before September 2006 - or you’re treated as if you did because, for example, you took a gap year in 2005/2006.

• Finance after your first year: full-time students who started before September 2006

Student Loan for Maintenance

The Student Loan for Maintenance is there to help with accommodation and other living costs.

If you're living away from home, the maximum loan is £4,950 for 2009/2010 - more if you're studying in London.

Student Finance England usually pays the money into your bank account in three instalments - one at the start of each term.

How the Student Loan for Maintenance works

All eligible full-time students can get a Student Loan for Maintenance, but the exact amount you can borrow will depend on several factors - including household income, where you live while you’re studying, when you started your course and whether you’re in your final year.

It’s also affected by any help you get through the Maintenance Grant (though not the Special Support Grant).

How much you can get

You'll be eligible for a proportion of the maximum Student Loan for Maintenance regardless of your household income (though this proportion will vary depending on the level of help you get through the Maintenance Grant).

Whether you get the remainder - the 'income assessed' part of the loan - depends on your household income.

• Student Loan rates 2009/2010

Repaying Student Loans

Your first repayment will be due in the April after you leave your course (the start of the new financial year).

You’ll repay nine per cent of your earnings over £15,000 (or the monthly or weekly equivalents) - but you can repay more if you want to clear your loan faster.

The more you earn, the quicker you repay the loan. So, someone earning £18,000 a year (the average starting salary for a graduate-level job) will have to pay back nine per cent of £3,000 (£18,000 minus £15,000). This works out at around £5.19 a week.

Interest on Student Loans

Student Loans accrue interest from the date they are paid out, up until they are repaid in full.

• Repaying student loans (courses starting from 1998)

Applying for 2008/2009?

This page contains information about the 2009/2010 academic year.

If you’re applying for 2008/2009, see ‘Finance for full-time students starting in 2008/2009’.

• Finance for full-time students starting in 2008/2009

More useful links

• Download Student Loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2009/2010 (PDF, 190K)

• Download Student Loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2008/2009 (PDF, 241K)