Website of the UK government

What is changing from September 2012?

Students who start university or college on or after 1 September 2012 (academic year 2012/13) will be on a new student finance scheme.

The main changes are:

• universities and colleges can charge tuition fees of up to £9,000
• Tuition Fee Loans will go up to cover the higher fees
• part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan (replacing grants) for the first time
• you don’t start repaying your loan until you earn £21,000 (up from £15,000)

• Video: student finance - myths and facts about the support available Opens new window

Student finance: what money you can get

You can apply now for student finance for 2012/13 courses.

To cover the costs of studying you can apply for:

• a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your tuition fees in full
• a Maintenance Loan for living costs like rent (full-time students only)
• a Maintenance Grant if your household income is less than £42,600 (full-time students only)
• scholarships and bursaries from colleges and universities 
• extra financial help if you have a disability or children or adults depending on you

Full-time students have to pay back any loans plus interest once you leave your course and start earning more than £21,000 a year. Part-time students who earn over £21,000 a year have to start paying back their loans after four years even if their course hasn't finished.

If you leave your course early you need to repay a percentage of the Tuition Fee Loan for that year - see 'Paying back your student loan' for details.

You don't have to pay back grants, scholarships or bursaries.

You can apply online now for 2012/13 student finance.

• Paying back your student loan

• Applying for student finance

• Apply for student finance for 2012/13 Opens new window

Tuition fees and loans

Tuition fees are the amount universities or colleges charge you each year to study.

From September 2012 UK universities and colleges can charge students from England:

• up to £9,000 a year for new full-time students
• up to £6,750 a year for new part-time students

There are no restrictions on the amount private colleges or universities can charge.

If you start a course before 1 September 2012, you won't have to pay these higher fees.

• Student finance for 2011/12

Tuition Fee Loan

From 2012/13 you can get a Tuition Fee Loan of up to:

• £9,000 for new full-time students, including full-time distance learning students
• £6,750 for part-time students whose courses are at least 25 per cent of a full-time course each year (eg. four years part-time instead of one year full-time)
• £6,000 if you study on an approved full-time course at a private university or college
• £4,500 for students on an approved part-time course at a private university or college whose courses are at least 25 per cent of a full-time course each year (eg. four years part-time instead of one year full time)

The Tuition Fee Loan is paid directly to your university or college.

The Tuition Fee Loan may not cover the full cost of your tuition if you’re studying on an approved course at a private university or college.

If you’re an EU student from outside the UK, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan if you meet certain conditions.

• Student loans

• EU students

Loans and grants for living costs

Only full-time students can get Maintenance Loans and Maintenance Grants for their living costs.

Maintenance Loans

The maximum Maintenance Loan for new students starting from 1 September 2012 is:

• £5,500 if you live away from home and study at a university or college outside London
• £7,675 if you live away from home and study at a university or college in London
• £4,375 if you live at home

• Student loans

Maintenance Grants

You can also apply for a Maintenance Grant if your family income is below £42,600. You can get:

• £3,250 if your household income is £25,000 or under
• £50-£3250 if your household income is between £25,000 and £42,600

These loans and grants are paid into your bank account at the start of each term, once you've registered on your course.

• Student grants

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

You may be able to get a bursary, scholarship or award directly from your university or college. The National Scholarship Programme helps students with a family income of £25,000 or less.

Bursaries and scholarships do not have to be paid back.

• Bursaries, scholarships and awards

Finance for 2013/14

These rates apply to new students for the 2012/13 academic year. The student support package for 2013/14 and future years has not yet been decided and may change for both new and continuing students.

More useful links

• Student Finance Calculator Opens new window

• Paying back your student loan: courses starting after 1 September

• Student finance for 2011/12: new and returning students