The different types of funding you can receive depends on whether you live in England, Scotland, Wales or N. Ireland. The funding available also depends on if you move to a different part of the UK.
For EU and international students the different scenarios and situations are incredibly complex, so the best means of finding the most up-to-date answer is to contact directgov.gov.uk.
If you are an English student you are entitled to apply for a student loan to cover your maintenance and living costs, but this depends on your institution’s location and household income. The maintenance loan is 75% non-income assessed, with the remainder income assessed.
There is a maintenance grant available for students from low income families, and a special support grant from studentfinancedirect.co.uk.
You are also entitled to apply for a loan to cover your tuition fees. These are only valid for one year, so you must re-apply each year in order for the relevant board to pay your tuition fees.
You should apply to you local education authority.
If you are a Scottish students studying in Scotland, you do not have to pay tuition fees. You can apply for a student loan which is either means or non-means tested. It is affected by your course, where you live during your degree and the income which your parents have.
A ‘Young Students Bursary’ is available for students from low income families, which will reduce the size of the loan entitlement but does not have to be re-paid. In certain circumstances there are additional loans, grants and sources of finance available.
If you choose to study in England then you will have to pay the tuition fees. You can apply to the student loans company for a loan to cover the fees.
In addition, you are entitled to receive a student loan for living costs but these are affected by numerous factors . Additionally you are entitled to claim travel expenses if you have a means tested loan, and can apply for other sources of funding and grants which are available.
You should apply to The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS)
If you are Welsh, loans are available to help with living costs but the size of the loan is based on your household income and where you choose to study. The loan is 75% non-income assessed with an additional 25% income assessed.
-
If you choose to study in Wales there is a government grant available which doesn’t need to be repaid, and is used as an incentive to keep Welsh students in Wales.
-
If you choose to study in England or Northern Ireland no grant is available - instead a tuition loan to cover the cost of tuition will be made available.
-
If you chooses to study in Scotland, there is a flat tuition fee of £1700 (bar medicine which is £2700). There is a loan available to cover part of this.
As well as the maintenance loans, certain Welsh students are entitled to receive an Assembly Learning Grant which provides them with financial assistance to meet living costs that will incur. Again, this is dependent on family income, although it reduces the size of the maintenance loan.
There are special support grants, student hardship funds and bursaries available from the Welsh government – more detailed information can be found at studentfinancewales.co.uk.
If you are from Northern Ireland you will not have to pay tuition fees in advance of your course beginning. Instead you can apply for a loan and do not have to make repayments until you have graduated and are earning over £15,000.
You can also apply for a maintenance grant which depends on your household income. There is a special support grant for eligible students who would otherwise be claiming income support.
You can receive a student loan regardless of where you choose to study in the UK. Bursaries are available from the universities on a case by case basis.
Studentfinanceni.co.uk has more information and details on how to apply.
