Website of the UK government

Studying full-time in England, Northern Ireland or Wales

This page describes the financial help available if you are a new or continuing EU student on a full-time undergraduate course in 2007/2008 or 2008/2009. 

If you are unsure if you or your course qualify, see 'Do you qualify for finance as an EU student'.

• Do you qualify for finance as an EU student?

Tuition Fee Loans

All eligible full-time EU students (whether new or continuing) can take out a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the cost of tuition fees.

The maximum you can borrow depends on the fees charged by your university. It is not dependent on your household income.

The loan is administered by Student Finance Direct, and is funded by the government of the country where you choose to study. Interest is linked to the rate of inflation - so the amount you repay is the same as the amount you borrow in real terms.

You start to repay the loan after you have left your course and are earning above a certain amount. For more information, see 'Repaying student loans - European Union (EU) students'.

• Repaying Student Loans - EU students

Tuition Fee Loan rates: if you are a new student, or your course started after September 2006

If you are studying in England or Northern Ireland, you can take out a maximum Tuition Fee Loan of:

• £3,070 in 2007/2008 
• £3,145 in 2008/2009

If you are studying in Wales, you can take out a Tuition Fee Loan to the full value of your tuition fee charged by your institution, less any grant that you receive, to a maximum of:

• £1,225 in 2007/2008
• £1,255 in 2008/2009

Tuition Fee Loan rates: if your course started before September 2006

If your course started before September 2006 (studying in England, Northern Ireland or Wales), you can take out a maximum Tuition Fee Loan of:

• £1,225 in 2007/2008 
• £1,255 in 2008/2009

Grants for tuition fees

A non-repayable grant for tuition fees is available if you are studying in England or Northern Ireland and your course in the UK started before September 2006, or you are studying in Wales.

The grant is paid directly to your college or university.

Rates are as follows:

Income assessment

If your course began before September 2006, the amount of tuition fee grant you get depends on your household income.

This can include your income, and (if you are under 25) the income of your parents and their partners. Depending on your circumstances, it could include the income of your spouse or partner. However, you don't have to count your own casual or part-time earnings during the course.

Household income is gross taxable income, minus certain deductions (for example if there are dependent children in your household).

Household income levels to qualify for Tuition Fee Grants are as follows:

If you are a single, independent student, different rules apply. You will receive a full grant for tuition fees if your income is less than £10,755.

To find out more about calculating household income, see 'How income assessment works'.

• How income assessment works

Other help available

You may be able to get extra finance from educational grants and charitable trusts.

• Bursaries, scholarships and awards

Studying in Scotland?

If you study in Scotland, applications for student finance are dealt with by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

• Apply for student finance at the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (opens new window)

What next?

To find out how to apply, see 'How to apply for finance - European Union (EU) students'.

• How to apply for finance - European Union (EU) students