Student Loans 2012 Entry

Tuition Fee Loan

It is important to remember that all eligible* students from England, Northern Ireland, Wales or the EU, entering university in 2012, can study without paying a penny in tuition fees upfront, or during their course by taking out a tuition fee loan.

Please note: Government financial support arrangements for students from Scotland studying at English universities have not yet been confirmed.

  • The government, via The Student Loans Company, will lend you the money to cover the full cost of your tuition fees for every year of your course, through a loan, known as the Tuition Fee Loan
  • The loan is paid directly to your university, it isn’t paid to you
  • You only start to pay back the loan when you are earning over £21,000 a year

* Eligibility will depend on factors including where you live, the course you choose to study, where you study, and whether or not you already hold a higher education qualification. (Source: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.)

Living Cost Loan

  • Students from England** are also entitled to a living cost loan to help pay for living expenses such as food, accommodation and travel
  • The amount you can borrow depends on where you live and study, and your household income
  • A loan of up to £5,500 a year will be available if you live away from home and study outside London
  • A loan of up to £4,375 a year will be available if you live with your parents
  • Like the tuition fee loan, the money for the living cost loan comes from the government via The Student Loans Company. Loans are paid in three instalments, one at the start of each term. You are entitled to a reduced loan in your final year.

The amount of your living cost loan entitlement varies depending on whether you are also entitled to a non-repayable grant. See table below:

Living away from home and studying outside London
Package of support for 2012/13
Household income
 Living cost loan
 Non repayable grant
 Total
£25,000 or less £3,875 £3,250 £7,125
£30,000 £4,330 £2,341 £6,671
£35,000 £4,784 £1,432 £6,216
£40,000 £5,239 £523 £5,762
£42,600 £5,475 £50
(minimum grant) 		£5,525
£42,875 £5,500
(maximum loan)		 £0 £5,500
£45,000 £5,288 £0 £5,288
£50,000 £4,788 £0 £4,788
£55,000 £4,288 £0 £4,288
£60,000 £3,788 £0 £3,788
Over £62,125 £3,575 £0 £3,575
 

**Please note: students from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should see their relevant student finance body for details.

Loan Repayment Calculator

Get an idea of what your loan repayments could be using the Directgov loan repayment calculator.

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