Student Finance And Support Available

You can apply now through Student Finance England for 2020 entry, for a loan to cover tuition fees (paid directly to the university) and maintenance costs (paid directly into your bank account at the start of term). This is available wherever you choose to study in the UK, and is repayable. You don’t need to have a confirmed offer of a place at uni to start the process.

Find out more from Student Finance England

Other

Travel expenses – you may be able to get a grant to cover some of your travel expenses if:

• your course requires that you study abroad, or if you’re on an Erasmus work or study placement
• you’re a medical or dental student studying abroad, or undertaking a clinical placement in the UK

Tuition fees

If you live in Wales, you can apply for a tuition fee loan (repayable) to cover tuition fees, regardless of where you choose to study in the UK. This will be paid directly to your university or college by Student Finance Wales. You can apply from early 2019, and you don’t need to have a confirmed offer of a place at uni to start the process.

The Welsh government has some useful information about the financial support available on its website.

Apply to Student Finance Wales

Maintenance

All eligible students will receive £1,000 a year for accommodation and living costs. Students may also be eligible for an additional means-tested maintenance grant. The grant amount will be based on household income, with the highest level of support going to those most in need.

Students who do not receive a full grant will also be able to apply for a maintenance loan from Student Finance Wales. This is repayable and the amount depends on where you will be living. You can apply from February, and you don’t need to have a confirmed offer of a place at uni to start the process.

Apply to Student Finance Wales

Financial incentives​

The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offers additional funding if you study subjects through the medium of Welsh.

Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol has more info – contact them on 01267 610 400 or at [email protected]

Other

Travel expenses – if you are undertaking a clinical placement in the UK or studying abroad as part of your studies, you may be able to claim some of your costs. This grant can cover expenses such as medical insurance, visas, and vaccinations.

There are extra grants available to help support you through your studies, depending on your personal circumstances. There’s help available for students who have children, adult dependants, or a disability.

Tuition fees

If you live in Scotland and choose to study full-time at a Scottish university or college, you will not have to pay tuition fees. However, you will need to apply to SAAS to have your tuition fees paid for you, as this is not automatic.

Scottish students who wish to study elsewhere in the UK will be charged the standard tuition fees for their chosen course provider, but may apply for a loan to cover the costs through SAAS.

Part-time students with an individual income of up to £25,000 per year can apply for a fee grant. The amount paid depends on your course.

Maintenance

The student loan (repayable) is means tested. There are different levels of support available if you are applying as a dependent or independent student, and you don’t need to have a confirmed offer of a place at uni to start the process.

Apply to Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)

Bursaries (non-repayable) are means tested using either your parents’ income or your own household income if you are an independent student, and are available to Scottish students studying anywhere in the UK. Three bursaries are available:

• The Young Student’s Bursary (YSB) is an annual payment for students aged 25 or younger who are classed as ‘dependent’.
• The Independent Students’ Bursary (ISB) is an annual payment for independent students.
• Scottish-domiciled nursing and midwifery students may also apply for a non-income-assessed bursary (plus some additional allowances) for qualifying full-time courses at a Scottish university or college.

Other

Travel expenses – you may be able to claim help with reasonable travel expenses if:

• you’re on an Allied Health Profession (AHP) course, or taking a nursing diploma/degree and need to travel to a practical placement away from the university
• studying abroad is a compulsory part of your course – you can claim the cost of your journey abroad and medical insurance

Tuition fees

For students who live in Northern Ireland and choose to study at a Northern Irish course provider, the maximum tuition fee is capped, and you can apply for a tuition fee loan to cover this cost. Likewise, if you choose to study elsewhere in the UK, you may apply for a tuition fee loan, but the costs will be higher. This loan is repayable.

Maintenance

A repayable maintenance loan is available to full-time students to cover accommodation and living costs, and is paid directly into your bank account. The loan is means tested and will vary on where you live/study and the length of your course. You can apply from February and you don’t need to have a confirmed offer of a place at uni to start the process.

The maintenance grant and Special Support Grant are means tested and help you pay for additional course-related costs such as books, travel, equipment, and childcare. You can apply for either grant but not both, so check which is best for you. Neither grant is repayable.

Apply to Student Finance Northern Ireland

Other

Travel expenses – if you are a medical or dental student attending clinical training in the UK or Republic of Ireland as part of your course, or studying outside the UK for at least 50% of each term, you may be eligible to apply for a means tested grant to help with some of the costs incurred.

Further and higher education are inclusive environments, with support available to help you study.

If you’re a refugee or asylum seeker applying to higher education, there’s support available to help you with finance and your studies.

It’s a good idea to contact universities or colleges before you apply, to discuss what support they can offer you. This will depend on your circumstances, and you will need to let them know your refugee status.

Find out more

If you have any worries about starting your university course, just make sure you’re prepared.

• Make a schedule and arrange any childcare you need.
• Ask for help if there are any skills you need to update.
• Take time to settle in and talk to other students and support staff.

If you’re applying for student finance through Student Finance England or Wales 

If you are an independent student and you’re estranged from your parents, you can find information about support, financing your studies and accommodation options in the StandAlone student guide.

Find out more