Loans
You can apply for loans to cover the cost of studying at Newcastle University.
Placement year
Funding is different for each type of placement. If you're planning a study or work placement, here's what you'll need to know:
Does my finance application need to be different?
Apply for your student funding as early as possible. Let SFE know you’re on a placement on your application. If you don’t know the details of your placement you can still apply and update SFE later. If you need to change anything please do it six weeks before the start of your placement. That way you’ll get your money at the start of your placement.
What if I need to make changes while I’m away?
Student Finance England (SFE) now have a live chat function so you can make changes to your application online. If you want a family member or University staff to speak to SFE on your behalf you can set up Consent to Share (CTS). You can do this over the phone or by uploading this form (PDF: 27KB) to your SFE account.
You need to give SFE the below information:
- First line of University address: Claremont Road
- University postcode: NE1 7RU
- Relationship: Higher Education Provider
- Password: your choice, but you’ll need to share it with us before we call SFE
Will I still get an Opportunity Scholarship?
If you’re on a full-year placement your tuition fee is reduced. As such, you won’t be eligible for an Opportunity Scholarship while you’re away.
If you’re on a part-year placement, you will pay a full tuition fee, so you can be considered for a scholarship. You’ll get placement funding for the time you’re on placement, and standard funding for the time you’re at University.
What happens if I have money trouble while I’m away?
If you find yourself struggling for money while you’re on a registered placement, apply to the Student Financial Support Fund to help with living costs. You’ll need to provide documents like banks statements, student finance entitlement letters and tenancy agreements to support your application. Make sure you have access to these documents while you’re away.
Detailed information for each type of placement is below:
You can apply for funding if you’re working abroad during your placement year. You’ll pay a lower tuition fee, and you can apply for maintenance funding for living costs.
How do I apply?
Apply to Student Finance England (SFE) as early as possible. Advise them you’re on a work placement for the year. If you don’t know your specific placement details, you should still apply – you can update your application at a later date.
What can I get?
Money for tuition fees: apply for a tuition fee loan to cover the full cost of your placement year fee.
Money for living costs: every student is guaranteed to receive £3,022 from SFE for their year abroad.
Other funding options: you may be eligible for funding through the Turing Scheme or funding from the University. Please contact the Global Opportunities team for more information by sending an email here.
If you plan to study abroad you can access funding from Student Finance England (SFE). You’ll pay a lower tuition fee and you can apply for income-assessed maintenance funding and a travel grant.
How do I apply?
Apply to Student Finance England (SFE) as early as possible and advise them you’re going on placement. If you don’t know your specific placement details, you should still apply. You can update your application at a later date.
What can I get?
Money for tuition fees: full details of the funding available for your time abroad can be found in our guide.
Is there any other funding available?
You can apply for SFE’s Travel Grant to help with the costs associated with studying overseas.
If you plan to work in the UK on your placement you can access funding from Student Finance England (SFE). You’ll pay a reduced tuition fee and you can apply for a non-income assessed maintenance loan.
How do I apply?
You should apply to Student Finance England (SFE) as early as possible and advise them you’re going on placement. If you don’t know your specific placement details, you should still apply and update your application at a later date.
What can I get?
Money for tuition fees: you should be able to apply for a tuition fee loan to cover the full cost of your placement year fee.
Money for living costs
| Academic Year | Maintenance Loan (non-final year rate) | Maintenance Loan (final year rate) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 |
£2,205 non income assessed (if you're living at home) | £1,675 non income assessed (if you're living at home) |
| £2,940 non income assessed (if you're living elsewhere) | £2,292 non income assessed (if you're living elsewhere) | |
| £4,128 non income assessed (if your placement is in London) | £3,158 non income assessed (if your placement is in London) |
If you’re on a specific type of unpaid placement, you might be able to apply for an income-assessed maintenance loan:
- in a hospital or in a public health service laboratory or with a clinical commissioning group in the UK
- with a local authority acting in the exercise of its functions relating to the care of children and young people, health or welfare, or with a voluntary organisation providing facilities or carrying out activities of a like nature in the UK
- with a local authority acting in the exercise of public health functions in the UK
- in the prison or probation and aftercare service in the UK
- research in a UK institution or, in the case of a student attending an overseas institution, as a part of their course in an overseas institution
- with a Special Health Authority, the NHS Commissioning Board, the National Institute for Care and Excellence, the Health and Social Care Information Centre, a Local Health Board, a Health Board or a Special Health Board in Scotland, or a Health and Social Services Board in Northern Ireland
- in the UK Parliament
If you need more information about these unpaid placements please get in touch.
As an undergraduate student on a placement year as part of your degree programme, you are granted a significant reduction in your tuition fee for that year. Undertaking a placement year as a formal part of your degree entitles you to:
- retain your student status
- access to both academic and pastoral support
Placement years are assessed. If you pass the placement year, you will have this achievement recognised on your degree certificate.
Retaining student status (as a registered student) provides you with access to University and NUSU resources:
- library resources (required to complete your assignments)
- student counselling service
- careers service
- chaplaincy
- student wellbeing
- Students’ Union advice centre
- sports facilities
- IT account and services
This is in addition to the ongoing administrative, academic and pastoral support provided by either your school or the Careers Service, before, during and after your placement year. The Careers Service has more information about your placement year.
Wider student benefits include:
- council tax exemption
- access to student loans
- reduced travel costs for students working in London
- student discounts
If you’re on a Placement Year abroad, you might be able to claim some money back from the Travel Grant.
What can I get?
You can claim money you spend on travel (and other costs) if it’s related to your placement. If you’re eligible, you’ll have to pay the first £303, but Student Finance England (SFE) will pay you back for anything over this amount.
All of your claims must be reasonable. This means picking the cheapest flight you can find, or travelling by bus instead of by taxi.
If you're on a full-year placement, you can claim for:
- up to three return journeys between the UK and your placement location
- the cost of a child/children’s fare between the UK and the overseas placement if you’re a lone parent and you need to take your children with you
- medical insurance, visas and medical expenses you have to pay for while abroad
- journeys between your residence and your placement location while you’re abroad
If you're on a part-year placement, you can claim travel costs if you've been on placement for at least 50% of a term. This means you can claim:
- one return flight if you're on placement for one term
- two return flights if you're on placement for two terms
- the cost of a child/children’s fare between the UK and the overseas placement if you’re a lone parent and you need to take your children with you
- medical insurance, visas and medical expenses you have to pay for while abroad
- journeys between your residence and your placement location while you’re abroad
Am I eligible?
You’ll need to be income assessed by Student Finance England (SFE) and on one of these placements:
- studying abroad in a non-EU Country
- an Erasmus Year where you are studying or working
If your household income is £39,796 or under, you will need to pay the first £303 of your costs. You will pay extra if you have a household income of over £39,796.
You can’t get the Travel Grant if you’re on a UK work placement or working in a non-EU Country.
How do I apply?
On your student finance application, you need to tell SFE you’re on a placement and be income assessed. The Global Opportunities Team will send your placement details to SFE before you go abroad. This lets SFE know you're eligible for placement funding, including the Travel Grant.
Once you have incurred costs, you should send in the SFE expenses form (PDF: 45KB).
You will also need to send proof of payment to claim back your costs. These must be full receipts. SFE won’t accept an itinerary or a quote.
You can send in multiple claim forms throughout the year. You don't need to wait until the end of the academic year to claim all of your costs. You can even claim costs before you travel, as long as you have proof of purchase.
Send your claim form and supporting evidence in the post (preferably by recorded delivery) to:
Student Finance England
Travel Grant Team
PO Box 210
Darlington
DL1 9HJ
How is it paid?
SFE will check your details against the information you have provided on your student finance application and the Study Abroad spreadsheet. If accepted, you should receive written confirmation from SFE. Payment should reach your bank account within six weeks.
Change of circumstances
A change of circumstance can have an impact on your eligibility to receive student loans.
What is a change of circumstances?
A change of circumstances is when you:
- repeat a year or part year of your course (including an external resit or studying on a part-time basis)
- suspend at any point during your course
- transfer to a new course
- withdraw from your course
Why is it important?
A change of circumstance can have an impact on your eligibility to receive student loans. If you decide to make a change in your studies before looking into the financial implications, you might not be able to get a tuition fee loan in future, especially if you have previous study from another degree. Your funding body might also ask for a repayment from you if they think you’ve had an overpayment from your maintenance funding.
How can I find out more?
Take a look at the items below before you make any decisions. You can also give us contact us if you have any questions.
You will need to agree with your School whether you:
- need to repeat all or part of the year again
- will be repeating in residence (where you attend as normal)
- will be repeating as an external student (where you only return to resit examinations)
Student loan and grant
If you register and repeat all or part of an academic year, you can usually receive a student maintenance loan. You may not be able to receive a maintenance grant and tuition fee loan.
Entitlement to maintenance grant and tuition fee loan funding is calculated as the:
- normal length of your course plus one additional year minus any previous years (including part years) of study
Maintenance loans are usually unaffected by previous years of study, unless you already have an Honours degree. If you do not have enough funding entitlement to cover the duration of your course because of repeat years, you will usually be required to self-fund your tuition fees in the earlier years of your course. Remaining funding entitlement will be applied to the last year of your course and worked backwards.
Exceptional personal circumstances
If you experience exceptional personal circumstances which result in you having to repeat study, Student Finance may consider awarding you additional years of funding above your standard entitlement. The decision about awarding additional years of funding is at the discretion of Student Finance. You will need to provide supporting evidence of your compelling personal reasons for consideration.
Studying on a part-time basis
If you remain registered on a full-time course, even if you are only repeating some of the credits, you should still be eligible to receive student finance. This is because you are still registered on a full-time course but attending it on a part-time basis. Your student finance will be pro-rated based on the number of weeks you will be in attendance during the academic year.
If you are only required to repeat Semester 2, you should ensure your School has notified the Student Data Team to confirm you have resumed studies. The Student Data Team will inform the Student Loans Company you have returned to studies. Please be aware it could take up to six weeks for your student finance payment to reach your bank account once you have resumed studies.
External resit
If you are an external student and not in attendance, you will not be eligible to receive student funding for this period, and no tuition fees are payable.
Tuition fees
If you are repeating the whole year, you will be charged the full fee. If you are only required to repeat some of your modules, you may be charged less, but this will depend on the number of credits you take. You can check the cost of your tuition fees by:
- calling: 0191 208 5520
- emailing: tuition-fees@ncl.ac.uk
They will calculate how much tuition fee you are liable for based on your attendance.
The Student Progress Service website has more information on suspending your studies.
Student loan and grant
Your DPD (Degree Programme Director) must authorise suspension of studies. Once agreed, the Student Data Team will inform the Student Loans Company (SLC) about the details of your suspension. Your entitlement to student finance will be reassessed based on the dates you attended University. You would not usually receive any further maintenance payments in the current academic year after the agreed date of suspension.
If you receive a maintenance loan and/or grant, you could be asked to repay some back immediately depending on the date of your withdrawal. For example, withdrawing mid-term would mean you would need to repay approximately half of your first term maintenance payment.
You must not ignore SLC correspondence that you receive about overpaid loans and/or grants, as your student finance entitlement could be affected in the future. If you are concerned about having to repay overpaid elements of Student Finance, you may be able to negotiate a repayment schedule with the SLC.
Ill health
If you suspend your studies due to ill health, Student Finance should automatically award you an additional 60 days of funding from the date of suspension.
Exceptional personal circumstances
In some instances, usually if you are experiencing exceptional personal circumstances, you can contact student finance to request they pay your funding for the reminder of the academic year. You must be able to demonstrate that you have ongoing financial commitments and a lack of funding would lead to financial hardship.
Contact Student Finance to find out more. They'll be able to tell you about the evidence you need to supply to support your request. Any decision to award funding for the time spent out on a suspension of studies is entirely at the discretion of Student Finance.
Returning to your studies
Take a look at the financial implications of repeating a year of your course.
Tuition fees
The amount of the tuition fees you will pay will depend on the term in which you suspend. If you suspend during:
- the first two weeks of Term 1 (usually last week of September/first week of October), you will be charged 0% of the total academic year's fee
- Term 1, you will be charged 25% of the total academic year’s fee
- Term 2, you will be charged 50% of the total academic year’s fee
- Term 3, you will be charged 100% of the total academic year’s fee
Do you have a tuition fee loan?
If you have a loan for tuition fees, the University will notify the Student Loan Company that your liability for tuition fees has reduced. Therefore the amount of your loan will be reduced by the Student Loans Company. No refunds will be made directly to you.
Accommodation
If you have signed a tenancy agreement but you are moving out because you are suspending your studies, you will need to think about your liability for rent.
If you live in University accommodation, you will usually be charged full rent for your room for the relevant termly billing period. You should speak to the University Accommodation Service for advice about what to do when you leave our accommodation.
If you live in private accommodation, you should speak to your landlord. Contact the Student Advice Centre by telephoning 0191 239 3979 if you need help in understanding your tenancy agreement or dealing with your landlord.
TV Licence
If you are leaving your student accommodation and will not use your TV licence before it expires, you can claim a refund for any unused quarter (three consecutive calendar months).
Benefits
Unless you're already eligible, you are not usually entitled to claim any welfare benefits whilst you have suspended your studies. This is because you will still be treated as being a full-time student as you have not withdrawn or abandoned your course and intend to return to full-time study. For help and advice relating to benefit entitlement, contact the Student Advice Centre by:
- calling: 0191 239 3979
- emailing us
Council Tax
If you need help or advice about Council Tax, contact the Student Advice Centre by:
- calling: 0191 239 3979
- emailing us
The Student Progress Service website has more information on the procedure you need to follow to transfer your study to another programme..
Student loan and grant
If you change your course or institution, notify Student Finance:
- if you transfer before the start of an academic year, you will be able to make this change on your online student finance account
- if you transfer after the start of the academic year, contact the University so they can inform Student Finance
If you transfer to another course and can start your new course mid-year, your student loan and grant entitlement should remain unaffected.
If you are not able to transfer to your new course mid-year and need to wait for the next academic year, your funding entitlement may be reassessed and you may be asked to repay some of your Student Finance. See Suspending your studies.
If you transfer and are starting a new course in the next academic year, any previous study you have undertaken can affect your entitlement to funding on your new course. The rules surrounding funding entitlement and previous study are complex, and you should check your entitlement to funding.
Entitlement to a maintenance grant and tuition fee loan funding is calculated as the:
- normal length of your course plus one additional year minus any previous years (including part years) of study
Maintenance loans are usually unaffected by previous years of study (unless you have already obtained an Honours degree). If you do not have enough funding entitlement to cover the duration of your new course, you will usually be required to self-fund your tuition fees in the earlier years. Remaining funding entitlement will be applied to the last year of your new course and worked backwards.
Tuition fees
If you transfer to another undergraduate course at Newcastle University and you transfer to your new undergraduate course mid-year, your tuition fee loan should cover the cost of your fees.
If you transfer to a new course mid-year but you are not able to continue on your new course until the beginning of the next academic year, you may be liable for a fee for your old course as well as the full fee when you start your new course.
If you transfer to another institution, you should contact the Tuition Fees Team to find out what fee you will be charged for your time at Newcastle. You can contact the Tuition Fees Team by:
- calling: 0191 208 5520
- emailing us
They will calculate how much tuition fee you are liable for based on your attendance at Newcastle.
Accommodation
If you have signed a tenancy agreement but you are moving out because you are suspending your studies, you will need to think about your liability for rent.
If you live in University accommodation, you will usually be charged full rent for your room for the relevant termly billing period. You should speak to the University Accommodation Service for advice about what to do when you leave our accommodation.
If you live in private accommodation, you should speak to your landlord. Contact the Student Advice Centre by telephoning 0191 239 3979 if you need help in understanding your tenancy agreement or dealing with your landlord.
TV Licence
If you are leaving your student accommodation and will not use your TV licence before it expires, you can claim a refund for any unused quarter (three consecutive calendar months).
The Student Progress Service has more information about the procedure for withdrawing from your course, along with a short questionnaire to complete about your withdrawal.
Student loan and grant
Your DPD (Degree Programme Director) must authorise your withdrawal. Once agreed, the Student Data Team will inform the Student Loans Company (SLC) about the details of your withdrawal. Your entitlement to student finance will be reassessed based on the dates you attended University. You would not usually receive any further maintenance payments in the current academic year after the agreed date of your withdrawal.
If you receive the maintenance loan and/or grant, you could be asked to repay some back immediately, depending on the date of your withdrawal. For example, withdrawing mid-term would mean you would need to repay approximately half of your first term maintenance payment.
You must not ignore SLC correspondence that you receive about overpaid loans and/or grants, as your student finance entitlement could be affected in the future. If you are concerned about having to repay overpaid elements of Student Finance, you may be able to negotiate a repayment schedule with the SLC.
Thinking of starting another course at university?
If you are thinking of starting another course at university, your previous study can affect your entitlement to funding on your new course. The rules surrounding funding entitlement and previous study are complex and you should check your entitlement to funding before commencing a new course.
Entitlement to maintenance grant and tuition fee loan funding is calculated as the:
- normal length of your course plus one additional year minus any previous years (including part years) of study
Maintenance loans are usually unaffected by previous years of study (unless you already have an Honours degree). If you do not have enough funding entitlement to cover the duration of your new course, you will usually be required to self-fund your tuition fees in the earlier years of your course. Remaining funding entitlement will be applied to the last year of your course and worked backwards.
Tuition fees
If you decide to withdraw from your programme of study at Newcastle, the amount of the tuition fees you will pay depends on the term in which you withdraw. If you suspend during:
- the first two weeks of Term 1 (usually last week of September/first week of October), you will be charged 0% of the total academic year's fee
- Term 1, you will be charged 25% of the total academic year’s fee
- Term 2, you will be charged 50% of the total academic year’s fee
- Term 3, you will be charged 100% of the total academic year’s fee
Do you have a tuition fee loan?
If you have a loan for tuition fees, the University will notify the Student Loan Company that your liability for tuition fees has reduced. Therefore the amount of your loan will be reduced by the Student Loans Company. No refunds will be made directly to you.
Council Tax
If you withdraw from your course, you will no longer be classed as a full-time student and you will cease to be exempt from paying council tax. For help and advice you can contact the Student Advice Centre by:
- calling: 0191 239 3979
- sending an email
Bank accounts
If you have a student bank account with an interest-free overdraft, you may become liable to pay interest on any money that you owe. You should check the terms and conditions of your bank account.
Accommodation
If you have signed a tenancy agreement but you are thinking of moving out because you are withdrawing from university, you will need to think about your liability for rent.
If you live in University accommodation, you will usually be charged full rent for your room for the relevant termly billing period. You should speak to the University Accommodation Service for advice about what to do when you leave our accommodation.
If you live in private accommodation, you should speak to your landlord. Contact the Student Advice Centre by telephoning 0191 239 3979 if you need help in understanding your tenancy agreement or dealing with your landlord.
TV Licence
If you are leaving your student accommodation and will not use your TV licence before it expires, you can claim a refund for any unused quarter (three consecutive calendar months).
If it takes you longer than expected to finish your course and you have exceptional circumstances, your funding body might give you additional years of funding. You’ll need to write a letter to explain your circumstances and provide supporting evidence. Additional funding is at the discretion of your funding body.
What is classed as CPR?
If your studies have been adversely affected by something out of your control, you can claim for CPR. CPR can be:
- serious illness or injury
- a family crisis
- mental health conditions
This list is not exhaustive and your funding body will consider all applications.
Why is it important?
If it has taken you longer than expected to complete your course, you may not get a tuition fee loan in one of your years of study. However, if you’ve had to withdraw or repeat because of compelling personal reasons, you may get a tuition fee loan when you otherwise wouldn’t.
How do I apply?
You’ll need to write to your funding body. Give your name, customer reference number, and the academic year it relates to. You should send the letter as soon as you realise it will take you longer to complete your course than expected.
The letter should outline your extenuating personal circumstances and how this affected your studies. You can give as much or as little information as you’re comfortable with, but your funding body may ask for more information if they can’t make a decision.
You need to attach evidence to support your application. This can be:
- a GP letter confirming your diagnosis and how this affects you
- a letter from social services
- a supporting letter from a member of staff at the University who is fully aware of your situation and can indicate how this affected your studies
The above list is not exhaustive. You may want to provide other types of evidence.
Can I get help applying?
If you need help applying you can contact us. The Student Advice Centre in the Students’ Union can also help.
When will I hear back?
You’ll usually receive a decision within six weeks of your funding body receiving evidence from you. They should send a letter to the ‘Letters and Emails’ section of your online student finance account and by post.
What if I’m rejected for CPR?
If you’re unsuccessful, you may need to self-fund your tuition fees for the year. You’ll need to think about your options and what is financially viable to you. You may make an appeal, but it can take six weeks for this to be processed. CPR funding is at the discretion of SFE and isn’t guaranteed. The SAC may be able to help with you putting together your appeal.
The Student Loans Company (SLC) know that the normal way of doing things doesn’t suit everyone. You might need to be paid early, or need money through a period of suspension. The SLC’s Financial Hardship Team can help registered English and Welsh students with money problems.
Early payments
If you have cash-flow problems or are expecting a large outgoing, you can asked to be paid early. This can only be done for the second or third instalments in January and April. You should understand that your instalment needs to last longer, so you'll need to plan a budget until your next loan instalment drops.
To arrange this, you need to fill in the SFE Financial Hardship Confirmation application form (PDF: 38KB) and outline why you need to be paid early. You need to provide evidence to show you’re in financial hardship and how the early payment will help.
Suspension
Future payments of your maintenance loan are cancelled if you suspend studies. If you have ongoing outgoings during a period of suspension and can’t cover the costs, you can ask for help. You could get a future instalment of your loan when you otherwise wouldn’t.
To arrange this, you need to fill in the and outline why you need to be paid. You need to provide evidence to show you’re in financial hardship and how the payments will help.
Overpayments
If you suspend part-way through a term, you may be asked to pay back some of your maintenance loan. This is known as an overpayment. They’ll ask for this to be paid in one lump. If this puts you in financial difficulty, you can speak to your funding body about it. You might be able to:
- cancel the overpayment so you pay it back when you graduate
- negotiate a payment plan so you don’t have to pay it back in one go
- have the overpayment automatically taken from next year’s maintenance loan
You need to understand the longer term effects before you make a decision. Reducing future funding or entering an unrealistic payment plan could put you in hardship further down the line. Preparing a budget will help with this.
Health issues
If you suspend your studies for health reasons, you’ll automatically get an extra 60 days of maintenance loan. Most of the time, this supports you for the rest of term and prevents overpayments. This doesn’t apply to withdrawals.
Other sources of support
Personal tutor
You may find it useful to discuss your options with your personal tutor.
Student wellbeing service
If you need to speak to someone about the financial implications of repeating, taking time out, transferring or withdrawing, book an appointment with one of the student finance advisers.
If you are experiencing personal or emotional problems, you may find it helpful to speak to a student wellbeing adviser.
To make an appointment, contact the student wellbeing service by calling 0191 208 3333 or complete an online enquiry form.
Student advice centre
If you want to talk to someone about your entitlement to benefits, council tax exemption or an academic issue, book an appointment with the student advice centre by telephoning 0191 239 3979 or sending an email.
Study matters
If you are finding the academic content of your course difficult and you want help, speak to your tutor. You may also find the following University services helpful:
- the University Library offers lots of information to help you improve your study skills
- the Academic Skills Team provides resources, advice and one-to-one support on a range of academic and study skills.
- Maths Aid is a drop-in centre which provides assistance with mathematics and statistics
Careers service
The Careers Service offers free and impartial advice about the options available to you and your next steps.
External sources
- Prospects: changing or leaving your course
- Not Going to Uni: apprenticeships, gap years, distance learning, and jobs
What can I get?
You can get a £11,836 (2022 entry) loan to contribute to your course costs. For students starting in September 2023 the loan will be £12,167. Your household income is not taken into account, so if you’re eligible you can borrow any amount up to £11,836. The loan is paid directly to you: you can then pay your fees or put the money towards your living costs.
Who is it for?
You can apply for the Postgraduate Master’s Loan if you are:
- a UK National, or you have settled status in the UK, have been ordinarily resident in the UK for three years on the first day of the academic year of your course and living in England on the first day of the academic year of your course
- an EU National who has Settled/Pre-Settled status and has been ordinarily resident in the EEA or Switzerland for the past three years and living in England on the first day of the academic year of your course
- studying a taught or research Master’s in any discipline, eg MA, MSc, MRes, MEd, MBA, LLM, MPhil, MLitt, MFA
- studying a one or two year full-time Master’s
- studying a two year part-time Master’s
- studying a three or four year part-time Master’s which has a 2 year full-time equivalent course
- studying a three year part-time Master’s where there isn’t a full-time equivalent course
Some residency status' aren't listed above - if you'd like to discuss your eligibility please get in touch.
Who can’t apply?
You won’t receive the loan if you:
- already have a Master’s, an equivalent to a Master’s, or a higher level qualification
- are eligible to receive healthcare funding from the National Health Service (NHS), Department of Health (DoH) or Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
- are studying a doctoral degree
- are studying a lower level course, a course that attracts undergraduate funding or studying top-up credits to gain a Master’s from a lower qualification
- are over 60
- are studying at a course duration not listed above, eg a part-time course lasting three academic years which has a one year full-time equivalent course
When will I be paid?
You’ll get in three instalments paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term.
If you’re a part-time student you’ll only receive payments in the first and second year of your course – if you’re on a three or four year course you’ll have to budget with the payments you received in Years 1 and 2.
How do I pay it back?
- you’ll pay 6% of any income you earn over £21,000 a year
- if you earn below £21,000 a year at any point you’ll stop repaying until you earn over £21,000 again
- you’ll start to repay the loan the April after you graduate
- your interest will be charged at the Retail Price Index plus 3%
It’s important to know that if you already have an undergraduate loan you’ll repay your postgraduate loan at the same time, meaning you’ll pay 9% for your undergraduate loan and a further 6% for your postgraduate loan on income over £21,000 a year.
How do I apply?
2023/24 applications are now open via SFE's application portal.
Students from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
You will need to apply for support from your own student finance agency:
- SAAS offer Postgraduate Loans to students from Scotland. For 2021 entry you can apply for a £5,500 tuition fee loan and a £4,500 living cost loan for a full-time Master’s course. Part-time courses are not eligible. If the course is available in Scotland, you will not be eligible to apply for the Loan.
- SFW offer Postgraduate Loans to students from Wales (*) For 2021 entry, you can apply for a Loan of up to £18,025 which will be part-loan and part-grant. The grant is income-assessed, so your household income will reflect the proportion of the grant received.
- SFNI offer Postgraduate Loans to students from Northern Ireland (*) For 2021 entry you can apply for a Loan of up to £5,500 to cover tuition fees only.
(*) Before making your application for a Postgraduate Loan from SFNI or SFW, please contact Newcastle University via email and let us know the course title, qualification, mode (full time or part time) and programme code (if known) that you will be requesting a loan for. We will then be in touch to advise you when you can make your application to SFNI or SFW.
Contact details
In the first instance, please contact SFE’s Postgraduate Loans helpline on 0300 100 0031. If you feel you need further help you can contact us.
What can I get?
You can get a £27,892 loan to contribute to your course costs if you enter in 2022/23. For students who enter in 2023/24 the loan will be £28.673. Your household income is not taken into account, so if you’re eligible you can borrow any amount up to £27,892. The loan is paid directly to you - you can then pay your fees or put the money towards your living costs.
You can get up to £11,836 in each year of study. If you study for three years the loan is divided equally into three, so you would receive £9,297 per year.
Students who enter in 2023/24 can get up to £12,167 per year of study. If you study for three years the loan is divided equally into three, so you would get £9,557 per year.
Who is it for?
You can apply for the Postgraduate Doctoral Loan if you are:
- a UK National, or you have settled status in the UK, have been ordinarily resident in the UK for three years on the first day of the academic year of your course and living in England on the first day of the academic year of your course
- an EU National who has been ordinarily resident in the EEA or Switzerland for the past three years and living in England on the first day of the academic year of your course
- be a full-time or part-time standalone doctoral course (not a top-up course)
- started on or after 1 August 2018
- last between 3 to 8 academic years
Examples of postgraduate doctoral qualifications are PhD, EdD, EngD or DPhil.
Who can’t apply?
You won’t be eligible for the loan if:
- you’ve received or will receive Research Council funding (for example, studentships, stipends, scholarships and tuition fee support)
- you’re already getting a social work bursary
- you’re already getting an Educational Psychology bursary and your course starts on or after 1 August 2021
- you’re eligible to apply for an NHS bursary (even if you’re not receiving it)
- you’re already getting payments from Student Finance England for another course that you’re studying
- you’ve received a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan before - unless you left your course due to illness, bereavement or another serious personal reason
- you already have a doctoral degree, or a qualification that’s equivalent or higher
- you’re receiving a doctorate by publication
- you’re behind in repayments for any previous loans from the Student Loans Company
From 2021/22 new EU students cannot receive the loan unless they have Settled/Pre-Settled status as part of the EU Settlement Scheme.
If you'd like to discuss your eligibility please get in touch.
When will I be paid?
The loan will be paid in 3 instalments of 33%, 33% and 34% each year. The first instalment is paid after you register, the remaining 2 instalments are paid later in the year. The dates are dependent on your start date.
How do I apply?
The 2023/24 cycle is now open. You can apply using Student Finance England’s online application form.
Scotland and Northern Ireland don’t currently offer a Doctoral Loan.
Students from Wales can apply for the loan on the same terms as English students. Apply online.
Contact details
In the first instance, please contact SFE’s Postgraduate Loans helpline on 0300 100 0031. If you feel you need further help you can contact us.