Website of the UK government

Are you eligible for student finance?

To qualify for financial help from the government, both you and your course need to meet some conditions – based on where you live, the type of course you’re doing and some other factors.

Your eligibility will be assessed when you apply - but if you’re a full-time student starting in 2009/2010, you can enter your details into the Student Finance Calculator for an idea of whether you’re likely to qualify.

• Student Finance Calculator: get an estimate of how much you could get Opens new window

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

How Student Finance England works out if you’re eligible

The information on these pages doesn’t cover all circumstances, but it offers a general guide to the rules that are likely to apply if you normally live in England, are going to a UK university or college, and:

• are studying for a first higher education qualification, like a first or ‘undergraduate’ degree, or
• are ‘topping up’ a lower-level higher education qualification

Eligibility is based on two checks, one on personal eligibility and one on course and institution eligibility. These checks are carried out by Student Finance England when you apply - or by your local authority, if you started in the 2008/2009 academic year or earlier.

Personal eligibility

Student Finance England (or your local authority) will look at your immigration status or nationality, and whether you meet certain residence conditions. When deciding whether you qualify for the Student Loan for Maintenance, they will also consider your age.

Personal eligibility is tested once, at the start of your course - although it may need to be reviewed if, for example, you only have a temporary right to live in the UK.

• Student finance: personal eligibility

Course and institution eligibility

Student Finance England will also look at the qualification you’re studying for, and the university or college where you’re doing your course.

This is tested each academic year.

• Student finance: course and institution eligibility

There are additional rules for particular types of student finance, including some Student Loans and grants.

What if this information doesn’t apply to you?

Different rules will usually apply if:

• you normally live outside England
• you are doing your course outside the UK
• you are doing a postgraduate course (though you’ll qualify for elements of the student finance package if you’re doing a postgraduate course of Initial Teacher Training)

• Student finance: not from England

• Studying at an overseas university (Britons living abroad section)

• Funding postgraduate study

More useful links

• Initial Teacher Training: what financial help can you get?

• Download higher education student finance - how you are assessed and paid 2009/2010 (PDF, 1169K)

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