studentsterling.
What pays for your course, what helps you live,
and what you repay later.
A Tuition Fee Loan covers eligible course fees and is paid to the provider. Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying in Scotland may instead have fees paid by SAAS, without a tuition loan. Apply for funding; it is not automatic.
Living-cost support helps with rent, food and travel. The package depends on your funding body, household circumstances and course. Grants and bursaries normally do not need repayment; loans do.
Start with the funding body for where you normally live, not simply where your university is. Residency, previous study, course type and study mode matter. Do not assume an online course qualifies for maintenance support.
Eligible Scotland-domiciled students on eligible courses in Scotland can apply for tuition-fee support. Living-cost support may include a loan and bursary, depending on circumstances. Apply every year, including for fee-only support. Studying elsewhere in the UK has different fee support.
SAAS loans use Plan 4.
Check funding & apply with SAAS ↗Eligible undergraduates can apply for tuition-fee and maintenance loans. Living-cost support depends on circumstances including household income and where you live while studying. Check the specific rules for courses starting on or after 1 January 2027, when the funding system changes.
Undergraduate courses starting from 1 August 2023 generally use Plan 5; earlier cohorts differ.
Check funding & apply with Student Finance England ↗Check tuition-fee support and the available maintenance loan and grant package for your course and academic year. Your circumstances affect the mix of support. Use the Welsh application route if you qualify through Wales, even when studying elsewhere in the UK.
Undergraduate courses starting from 1 September 2012 use Plan 2; earlier courses use Plan 1.
Check funding & apply with Student Finance Wales ↗Check the available tuition-fee loan, maintenance loan and grant support for your course. Where you study, household circumstances and eligibility can affect the package. Read the current academic-year guidance before planning your budget.
Student Finance NI loans use Plan 1.
Check funding & apply with Student Finance NI ↗For Plans 1, 2, 4 and 5, repayments are 9% of earnings above the plan threshold, not 9% of your whole salary. The separate Postgraduate Loan plan uses 6%.
Repayments normally begin no earlier than the April after leaving your course, once earnings exceed the threshold. Longer part-time courses have different start rules. Interest can accrue while you study and when no repayments are due.
Your funding body, course and start date determine the plan. Check your Student Loans Company account rather than choosing one yourself.
Find your repayment plan ↗| Plan | Annual threshold | Rate above it |
|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | £26,900 | 9% |
| Plan 2 | £29,385 | 9% |
| Plan 4 | £33,795 | 9% |
| Plan 5 | £25,000 | 9% |
| Postgraduate | £21,000 | 6% |
Payroll uses weekly or monthly thresholds, so bonuses can trigger deductions. Multiple loans can change the calculation. Official repayment rules ↗
Apply through your funding body, supply the requested identity, residency, course and household-income evidence, and check its current deadline. Confirm whether you need a new application each academic year. Keep your payment schedule and budget for the period until the next instalment. Find the application route ↗
Do not assume that full-time online study has the same support as campus study. For Student Finance England, distance-learning maintenance support is generally only available when a disability prevents in-person attendance. Other nations have their own rules. Get written confirmation from your funding body for your exact course before relying on it. England’s official rules ↗
UK income-contingent student loans do not appear on credit reports or affect your credit score, but lenders may account for repayments when assessing affordability. Read the official explanation ↗
Write-off timing depends on the repayment plan and, in some cases, when you first borrowed. Do not assume everyone has the same repayment period. Check your plan’s official cancellation rules before making decisions about extra repayments. Check write-off rules ↗
Tell your funding body promptly if you withdraw, suspend study or your circumstances change. Overpayments may be reclaimed separately from normal income-based repayments. Moving overseas does not cancel the loan: update the Student Loans Company and check overseas repayment requirements. Student loan repayment guidance ↗
Living-cost figures by home nation and circumstance are in the funding guidance pack.
Checked 6 November 2026. Thresholds shown are for UK repayments in the 2026/27 tax year. Funding and interest rules can change; follow the official sources for your course and circumstances.