UK Student Finance

You may be eligible for:

• tuition fee loans
• money for living costs
• funding if you go on a placement

Depending on what you apply for, you may need to support your application with information about your household income.

Other support includes:

• help for students with financial dependants
• loans for postgraduate students
• NHS funding for dentists and medics
• funding for PGCE students

It’s also important to know about:

• how your funding might be affected by repeating a part of your course
• what happens if you suspend studies
• what happens if you withdraw
• what happens if you want to transfer to a new course

You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to pay your fees while you’re studying. This means you don’t need to worry about paying your fees up-front.

Student Finance England (SFE) pays the loan directly to the University, so you don’t need to arrange payment.

Am I eligible?

The tuition fee loan isn’t assessed on your household income. If you meet residency criteria, you’ll be eligible. Your eligibility may be affected if you’ve studied a higher education course before.

What can I get?

In 2019/20, your fees will be £9,250. You can take a partial tuition fee loan, but you’ll need to speak to us about paying the remaining balance.

What if I don’t want a tuition fee loan?

If you want to pay your tuition fees yourself, you should find out about other payment options available.

You can apply to Student Finance England (SFE) for funding to cover your living costs. Funding is paid directly to you at the start of each term. You can use it to pay for accommodation, food and course-related costs.

Am I eligible?

If you meet residency criteria, you’ll be eligible. Your eligibility can be affected if you’ve studied a higher education course before.

Do my personal circumstances make a difference?

The amount of funding you get depends on:

• whether you provide SFE with information about household income
  • for example, your parents' or partner's income
• whether you live away from home
• the year you started university
• your year of study
• whether you get funded by the NHS
• whether you’re on a placement year

What can I get?

If you’re at University in 2019/20 and your household income is £62,215 or under, you’ll get means-tested support via a Maintenance Loan and/or Maintenance Grant.

• SFE loan rates for students who commenced their course in 2016, 2017, 2018 or 2019 (PDF: 339KB)
• SFE loan rates for students who commenced their course in 2012, 2013, 2014 or 2015 (PDF: 300KB)
• SFE loan rates for students who commenced their course in 2009, 2010 or 2011 (PDF: 295KB)

If you start University in the 2020/21 academic year and your household income is £62,249 or under, you'll get means-tested support via a Maintenance Loan and/or Maintenance Grant.

• SFE loan rates for students who commenced their course in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 or 2020 (PDF: 321KB)

How is it paid?

Your entitlement letter will outline your exact payment dates and amounts. You'll usually get paid at the start of each term.

You can apply online for your finance. You don’t need to have a confirmed place; just use your preferred choice on your application.

If you’re applying for non-income assessed support (not using your household income), you can fill the whole application yourself. If you want to be income-assessed, your parents or partner will need to fill in a section of the application.

Paper forms are available to apply for finance, but the online application portal is quick, efficient and user-friendly. You have to apply on a paper form for non-standard funding like the Childcare Grant (CCG).

Is there a deadline?

Applications usually open in February. You should apply as early as possible to make sure your funding is in place for the start of term. If you need to change any details on your application, do this online before the start of your course.

To make sure you receive your finance by the start of the 2020/21 year you need to have applied by June 30th 2020.  You can still apply after this date but there's no guarantee you'll be paid on time.

Do I have to apply every year?

Yes, you’ll need to submit an application for each year of study if you’re applying for income-assessed funding.

If your details haven’t changed and you’re applying for non-income assessed funding, your application might be automatically rolled over. SFE will send you a notification letter by April. If everything’s correct, you’ll just need to check the details and send back your declaration form.

If you want to get the maximum funding for living costs, you’ll need to give Student Finance England (SFE) details about your household income. If you don't do this, you’ll get non-income assessed funding. In the 2019/20 academic year, SFE will ask for income details from the 2017/18 tax year.

Whose household income is assessed?

This depends on whether you’re a dependent or independent student.

If you’re an independent student, you’ll need to provide your own income details if you’re working full-time while studying. If you live with a partner, they might need to send income evidence too.

If you’re a dependent student, SFE ask for the household income of your sponsors, who are usually your parents. They’ll also ask for details of your own income if you’re working full-time while studying.

What is residual household income?

Once SFE have income evidence, they’ll calculate your residual household income. This is your gross household income minus certain allowances, which include:

• a deduction for each financially dependent child other than yourself who lives in the household
• deducting pension payments and additional voluntary contributions
• deducting allowable expenses on which tax relief was claimed
• a deduction for parents who are also students

What if my household income has dropped?

If your household income has dropped by 15% or more, then you can ask SFE for a Current Year Income Assessment (CYIA) which could result in you getting more money.

If you have any queries about your household income assessment calculation, please call SFE on 0300 100 0607.

If you’re assessed as an independent student, Student Finance England (SFE) won’t take your parents’ income into account. They’ll ask for your income details and if you have a partner they’ll ask for their income details too.

Can I be classed as Independent?

You have to meet certain criteria to be considered an independent student. For instance:

• you’re 25 years old or over prior to 1 September of that academic year
• you have been married or in a civil partnership before 1 September of the academic year
• you have the care of a person under the age of 18
• you have no living parents
• you can prove that you supported yourself financially for the three years before the start of your course

What if I’m not in contact with my parents?

If you haven’t been in contact with your parents - usually for a year or longer - and this isn’t likely to change, you can apply as estranged student. Find out more on StandAlone’s website.

Am I independent if I’ve been in care?

You can apply for independent status if you were looked after by a local authority throughout any three month period ending on or after the date you turned 16, and before the first day of the first academic year of your course.

Have I supported myself financially?

You need to be able to prove that you have earned enough money to live on for three full years prior to the start of your course. Living in the parental home can stop you being considered independent unless you can prove you were contributing to the household. Your parents choosing not to give you money doesn’t mean you’re financially independent.

How does being Independent change my funding package?

Independent students are assessed on their and/or their partner’s household income. For most students, this results in you being paid a higher amount of maintenance loan.

How do I tell SFE that I’m Independent?

SFE will ask questions about your personal circumstances on your online application. Once you’ve answered these questions, SFE will ask for evidence to support your claim.

Examples of evidence include:

• a copy of your marriage certificate if you’ve been married
• copies of P60s or payslips if you’ve supported yourself financially
• birth certificates for children under the age of 18 and evidence you’re caring for them, such as Child Benefit or Universal Credits letters.

If you need any help with your application for independent status, get in touch with the Student Advice Centre in the Students’ Union. They can support you in gathering all relevant information and building a case.

If your sponsors’ (usually your parents or partner) income drops by 15% or more you can request a Current Year Income Assessment. This means Student Finance England (SFE) take estimates of your sponsors’ 2019/20 income into account so you could get more maintenance funding. Estimates are finalised in April 2020.

Am I eligible?

2019/20:

If your household income has dropped by 15% since the 2017/18 tax year, you can apply for a CYIA. A drop in household income could occur when a sponsor retires, is made redundant, goes part-time, and so on. If you think you’re eligible, you need to be income assessed based on the 2017/18 tax year first. You can then ask for a CYIA so SFE can determine whether there’s been a drop in income.

2020/21:

If your household income has dropped by 15% since the 2018/19 tax year, you can apply for a CYIA. A drop in household income could occur when a sponsor retires, is made redundant, goes part-time, and so on. If you think you’re eligible, you need to be income assessed based on the 2018/19 tax year first. You can then ask for a CYIA so SFE can determine whether there’s been a drop in income.

How does it work?

Your sponsors fill in the relevant Current Year Income Assessment form with what they expect to earn in the current tax year. These figures will be estimates and you might get more maintenance funding.

From the following April SFE will write to your sponsors to ask for proof of their earnings for the tax year. If their evidence matches the estimated figures, then the assessment will stay as it is.

If your actual income income has changed from your original estimate, you should let SFE know as soon as you can. They may adjust the amount of your maintenance funding:

• if your actual income is higher and they’ve paid you too much, they may ask you to pay it back
• if your actual income is lower and they haven’t paid you enough, they’ll top up your payments

Is there a deadline?

2019/20:

You need to be income assessed by 31 May 2020 in the first instance. If you need to apply for a CYIA after April 2020, your sponsors can enter actual earnings for the 2019/20 tax year.

2020/21:

You need to be income assessed by 31 May 2021 in the first instance. If you need to apply for a CYIA after April 2021, your sponsors can enter actual earnings for the 2020/21 tax year.

What happens to the application in the next academic year?

2019/20:

When you apply in 2020/21 and 2021/22, SFE will assess you on the figures used in 2019/20 unless you ask for another CYIA in the meantime.

2020/21:

When you apply in 2021/22 and 2022/23 SFE will assess you on the figures used in 2020/21 unless you ask for another CYIA in the meantime.

Where can I get the forms?

Your sponsors need to use a PFF2 form to be income assessed in the first instance. They can then use a CYIA form to apply for a Current Year Income Assessment. Both forms are available on the gov.uk website.

he amount you repay depends on how much you earn and when you started your course. Interest is charged from the date of your first instalment and is linked to the rate of inflation.

I started my course after September 2012

You’ll start to repay your loan the April after you graduate if you’re earning over £25,725 per year. You’ll pay 9% of anything over £25,725, and this will come directly from your wages. So if you earn £30,000 a year, you’ll pay 9% of £4,275 a year, which is £32 a month.

Interest rates on tuition fee and maintenance loans are calculated as the current Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 3%. Since 2012, interest rates have been:

• 2012/13: RPI (3.6%) plus 3% = 6.6%
• 2013/14: RPI (3.3%) plus 3% = 6.3%
• 2014/15: RPI (2.5%) plus 3% = 5.5%
• 2015/16: RPI (0.9%) plus 3% = 3.9%
• 2016/17: RPI (1.6%) plus 3% = 4.6%
• 2017/18: RPI (3.1%) plus 3% = 6.1%
• 2018/19: RPI (3.3%) plus 3% = 6.3%

I started my course before September 2012

You’ll repay 9% of any income you earn over £18,935 per year, and this will come directly from your wages. This means if you earn £25,000 per year, you’ll repay 9% of £6,065, which is £45 a month.

If you're a student on Plan 1, you can find interest rates on the Student Loan Repayments Portal.

Where can I get extra help?

Find detailed information on interest and repayments on the Student Loan Repayments Portal. If you need to discuss your repayments, call SFE on 0300 100 0611.

The funding available from Student Finance England (SFE) is aimed at helping students who are taking an undergraduate degree for the first time. If you’ve already studied on a higher education course, read the following information, even if you’ve never received funding.

You already have a degree or higher level qualification

If you already hold a degree or higher from either a UK or an overseas institution and you want to study for an equivalent level qualification or lower, you aren’t usually entitled to any further undergraduate funding from SFE. This means you’ll have to cover the cost of your new course. There are some exceptions to this rule.

Exceptions

• Architecture, Master of (MArch)
  • If you’re returning to study within two academic years of completing the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Part 1 you can apply for same funding package as first degree students. This includes tuition fee loan, maintenance loan and/or maintenance grant through SFE. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for Dependant Grants and/or Disabled Students Allowance.
• Dental Surgery BDS
  • In Years 1-4, you’ll need to self-finance tuition fees, although a maintenance loan is available through SFE. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for Dependant Grants and/or Disabled Students Allowance.
  • In Year 5, you can apply for a reduced rate maintenance loan through SFE. Tuition fee and living cost support is available through NHS Student Bursaries. Dependant Grants and Disabled Students Allowance are also available through the NHS.
• Medicine and Surgery MB BS
  • In Years 1-4, you’ll need to self-finance tuition fees, although a maintenance loan is available through SFE. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for Dependant Grants and/or Disabled Students Allowance.
  • In Year 5, you can apply for a reduced rate maintenance loan through SFE. Tuition fee and living cost support is available through NHS Student Bursaries. Dependant Grants and Disabled Students Allowance are also available through the NHS.
• Medicine and Surgery (Accelerated Programme) MB BS
  • In Year 1, you’ll need to self-finance tuition fees, although a maintenance loan is available through SFE. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for Dependant Grants and/or Disabled Students Allowance.
  • In Years 2–4, you can apply for a reduced rate maintenance loan through SFE. Tuition fee and living cost support is available through NHS Student Bursaries. Dependant Grants and Disabled Students Allowance are also available through the NHS.
• Speech and Language Therapy BSc Honours
  • You can apply for a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan through SFE. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for Dependant Grants and/or Disabled Students Allowance.
• Physician Associate Studies MSc
  • 2019/20: Health Education England North East (HEENE) will support eligible students enrolled onto this course with an education bursary of £2,500 in each year of study. Applicants will also be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Master's loan.
• Language Pathology MSc
  • You can apply for undergraduate funding through Student Finance England (SFE). This means you'll get a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for Dependant Grants and/or Disabled Students Allowance. You can also apply through the NHS for the Learning Support Fund (LSF).
• Teacher Training
  • You can apply for a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan through SFE, unless you’re studying the Employer Based PGCE or salaried version of School Direct. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for Dependant Grants and/or Disabled Students Allowance. Check to see if you qualify for a Teaching Bursary.

You did not complete your previous higher education course and do not have any higher level qualifications

If you didn’t finish your previous course and do not have any higher level qualifications, you may still be eligible to receive tuition fee loan funding through SFE for your new course. The amount of previous study, including part-years, will determine if you’re eligible for a tuition fee loan. Our examples of previous study with no higher level qualifications (PDF: 390KB) show the calculations used to work out your eligibility.

You should be eligible to receive a maintenance loan for each year of your new course as long as you don’t already have a degree or higher level qualification. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for Dependant Grants and/or Disabled Students Allowance.

Your most recent course was a degree and you left with a lower level exit qualification

If you already have a higher education qualification which is lower than a BA Hons degree, you may still be eligible to receive funding through SFE for your new course. Common lower level higher education qualifications are HNCs, HNDs, CertHE, DipHE and Foundation Degrees. You may have been awarded one of these qualifications as an exit award from a previous degree. Your previous study and entry point on your new course will determine if you’re eligible for a tuition fee loan. Our examples of previous study with lower level exit qualification (PDF: 391KB) show the calculations used to work out your eligibility.

You should be eligible to receive a maintenance loan for each year of your new course as long as you don’t already have a degree or higher level qualification. Depending on your circumstances you may qualify for Dependant Grants and/or Disabled Students Allowance.

You have a lower level higher qualification and your most recent course was not a degree

If you already have a higher education qualification lower than an Honours degree, you may still be eligible to receive funding through SFE for a degree. Common lower level higher education qualifications are HNCs, HNDs, CertHE, DipHE and Foundation Degrees. SFE make tuition fee loan funding available for students wishing to top up their qualification to degree level. However, your previous study and entry point on your new course will determine if you’re eligible for a tuition fee loan. Our examples of previous study with a lower level qualification (PDF: 391KB) show the calculations used to work out your eligibility.

You should be eligible to receive a maintenance loan for each year of your new course as long as you don’t already have a degree or higher level qualification. Depending on your circumstances you may qualify for Dependant Grants and/or Disabled Students Allowance.

Contact Us

If you’re unsure about your funding entitlement or have received different advice and guidance from SFE, please get in touch. If possible, contact us well in advance of starting your course as you could be personally liable to pay tuition fees once you’ve registered

You may be eligible for:

• tuition fee loans
• money for living costs
• funding if you go on a placement

Other support available includes:

• help for students with financial dependants
• loans for postgraduate students
• NHS funding for dentists and medics
• funding for PGCE students

It’s also important to know about:

• how your funding might be affected by repeating a part of your course
• what happens if you suspend studies
• what happens if you withdraw
• what happens if you want to transfer to a new course

You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to pay your fees while you’re studying. This means you don’t need to worry about paying your fees up-front. Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI) pays the loan directly to the University so you don’t need to arrange payment.

Am I eligible?

The tuition fee loan isn’t assessed on your household income. If you meet residency criteria, you’ll be eligible. Your eligibility can be affected if you’ve studied at university before.

What can I get?

In 2019/20, your fees will be £9,250 which means you can apply for a tuition fee loan to cover these costs. The loan is automatically paid directly to us so you don’t need to worry about organising the payment of your fees. You can take a partial tuition fee loan but you’ll need to speak to us about paying the remaining balance.

What if I don’t want a tuition fee loan?

If you want to pay your tuition fees yourself you should find out about other payment options available.

You can apply to Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI) for funding to cover your living costs. This will be paid directly to you at the start of each term. You can use this to pay for accommodation, food and course-related costs.

Am I eligible?

If you meet residency criteria you’ll be eligible. Your eligibility can be affected if you’ve studied a higher education course before.

Do my personal circumstances make a difference?

The amount of loan you get depends on:

• whether you provide SFNI with information about household income
  • for example, your parents' or partner's income
• whether you live away from home
• which year you started university
• your year of study
• if you get funded by the NHS
• if you’re on a placement year

What can I get?

If you’re at University in 2019/20 and your household income is £41,065 or under you may get means-tested support via a Maintenance Loan and/or Maintenance Grant.

2019/20 SFNI A guide to Financial Support for Full Time Students in Higher Education (PDF: 545KB)

Some students can get more Loan or Grant. Students who are likely to qualify for this extra funding include:

• single parents
• student parents if they have a partner who is also a student
• students with certain disabilities

How do I get paid?

Your entitlement letter will detail your individual payment dates and amounts. You're normally paid at the start of each term.

You can apply online for your finance. You don’t need to have a confirmed place; just use your preferred choice on your application.

If you’re applying for non-income assessed support (not using your household income) you can fill the whole application yourself. If you want to be income-assessed, your parents or partner will need to fill in a section of the application.

Paper forms are available to apply for finance, but the online application portal is quick, efficient and user-friendly. You have to apply on a paper form for non-standard funding like the Childcare Grant (CCG).

Is there a deadline?

Applications usually open in February. You should apply as early as possible to make sure your funding is in place for the start of term. If you need to change any details on your application you can do this online before the start of your course.

Do I have to apply every year?

Yes, you’ll need to submit an application for each year of study, but you won’t always have to send evidence. From your second year, SFNI will contact you automatically with application instructions.

To get an income assessed maintenance loan, your sponsors need to give Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI) details about household income. In the 2019/20 academic year, SFNI will ask for income details from the 2017/18 tax year.

Whose household income is assessed?

If you’re under 25 years old, SFNI ask for the household income of your sponsors, who are usually your parents. If you live with one parent, they’ll be your sponsor, and nobody else needs to give income details. They’ll also ask for details of your own taxable income.

If you’re an independent student, you’ll need to provide your own income details. If you live with a partner, they’ll need to send income evidence too. Take a look at the SFNI criteria you must meet to be considered an independent student (PDF: 361KB).

What is residual household income?

Once SFNI have evidence of your sponsors’ income, they’ll calculate your residual household income. This is your gross household income minus certain allowances, which include:

• a deduction for each financially dependent child other than yourself who lives in the household
• deducting pension payments and additional voluntary contributions

If one of your parents is a student, SFNI will only use the income information of the parent who is not a student.

What if my household income has dropped?

If your household income has dropped by 5% or more, then you can ask SFNI for a Current Year Income Assessment (CYIA) which could result in you getting more money.

Your sponsors will estimate their income for the 2019/20 tax year. SFNI will then reassess your application based on these estimates. At the end of the 19/20 tax year, your sponsors will need to send evidence to prove their income for the year.

Contact

If you have any queries about your household income assessment calculation, please call SFNI on 0300 200 4050.

If you’re assessed as an independent student, then Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI) won’t take your parents income into account. They’ll ask for your income details and if you have a partner they’ll ask for their income details too.

Can I be classed as Independent?

You have to meet certain criteria to be considered an independent student. For instance:

• you’re 25 years old or over prior to 1 September of that academic year
• you have been married or in a civil partnership before 1 September of the academic year
• you have the care of a person under the age of 18
• you have no living parents
• you can prove that you supported yourself financially for the three years before the start of your course

SFNI criteria you must meet to be considered an independent student (PDF: 361KB).

If you haven’t been in contact with your parents for a year or longer and this isn’t likely to change you can apply as an estranged student. Find out more on the StandAlone website.

Am I independent if I’ve been in care?

You can apply for independent status if you were looked after by a local authority throughout any three month period ending on or after the date you turned 16, and before the first day of the first academic year of your course.

Have I supported myself financially?

You need to be able to prove that you have earned enough money to live on for three full years prior to the start of your course. Living in the parental home can stop you being considered independent unless you can prove you were contributing to the household. Your parents choosing not to give you money doesn’t mean you’re financially independent.

How does being Independent change my funding package?

Independent students are assessed on their own household income. Most young people’s income is much lower than their parents’ so this could result in you being paid a higher amount of maintenance loan.

How do I tell SFNI that I’m Independent?

SFNI will ask questions about your personal circumstances on your online application. Once you’ve answered these questions, SFNI will ask for evidence to support your claim.

Examples of evidence include:

• a copy of your marriage certificate if you’ve been married
• copies of P60s if you’ve supported yourself financially
• birth certificates for children under the age of 18 and evidence you’re caring for them, such as Child Benefit or Universal Credits letters

If you need any help with your application for independent status you should get in touch with the Student Advice Centre in the Students’ Union. They can support you in gathering all relevant information and building a case.

If your sponsors’ (usually your parents or partner) income drops by 5% or more, you can request a Current Year Income Assessment. This means Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI) take estimates of your sponsors’ 2019/20 income into account so you could get more maintenance funding. Estimates are finalised in April 2020.

Am I eligible?

2019/20:

If your household income has dropped by 5% since the 2017/18 tax year, you can apply for a CYIA. A drop in household income could occur when a sponsor retires, is made redundant, goes part-time, and so on. If you think you’re eligible, you need to be income assessed based on the 2017/18 tax year first. You can then ask for a CYIA so SFNI can determine whether there’s been a drop in income.

2020/21:

If your household income has dropped by 5% since the 2018/19 tax year, you can apply for a CYIA. A drop in household income could occur when a sponsor retires, is made redundant, goes part-time, and so on. If you think you’re eligible, you need to be income assessed based on the 2018/19 tax year first. You can then ask for a CYIA so SFNI can determine whether there’s been a drop in income.

How does it work?

Your sponsors fill in the Current Year Income Assessment form with what they expect to earn in the current tax year. These figures will be estimates and you might get more maintenance funding.

From the following April SFNI will write to your sponsors to ask for proof of their earnings for the tax year. If their evidence matches the estimated figures, then the assessment will stay as it is.

If your actual income income has changed from your original estimate, you should let SFNI know as soon as you can. They may adjust the amount of your maintenance funding:

• if your actual income is higher and they’ve paid you too much, they may ask you to pay it back
• if your actual income is lower and they haven’t paid you enough, they’ll top up your payments

Is there a deadline?

2019/20:

You need to be income assessed by 31 May 2020 in the first instance. If you need to apply for a CYIA after April 2020, your sponsors can enter actual earnings for the 2019/20 tax year.

2020/21:

You need to be income assessed by 31 May 2021 in the first instance. If you need to apply for a CYIA after April 2021, your sponsors can enter actual earnings for the 2020/21 tax year.

What happens to future applications?

2019/20:

When you apply in 2020/21 and 2021/22, SFNI will assess you on the figures used in 2019/20 unless you ask for another CYIA in the meantime.

2020/21:

When you apply in 2021/22 and 2022/23, SFNI will assess you on the figures used in 2020/21 unless you ask for another CYIA in the meantime.

Where can I get the forms?

You can get the forms to support an initial means assessment or CYIA from the SFNI website.

You’ll start repaying your loan the April after you graduate or leave your course. The amount you repay depends on how much you earn. Interest will be charged from the date of your first instalment and is linked to the rate of inflation.

You’ll repay 9% of any income you earn over £18,935 per year, and this will come directly from your wages. So if you earn £30,000 a year, you’ll pay 9% of £4,275 a year, which is £32 a month.

The current interest rate is 1.75%. If you're a student on Plan 1, you can find interest rates on the Student Loan Repayments Portal.

Where can I get extra help?

Find detailed information on interest and repayments on the Student Loan Repayments Portal. If you need to discuss your repayments, call SFNI on 0300 100 0077.

The funding available from Student Finance NI is aimed at helping students who are taking an undergraduate degree for the first time. You’ll usually get student finance for your first higher education degree, but exceptions can apply.

You could get limited funding if, for example:

• you change course
• you leave your course but decide to start again
• you’re ‘topping up’ a higher education qualification – for example, you’ve finished an HNC, HND or Foundation Degree and now want to do an Honours degree

If you already have a degree and you're starting a specified second degree, contact Student Finance NI for details of eligible courses.

If you've previously studied a course at degree qualification level you may not get funding, even if your previous course was self-funded.

You may be eligible for:

• tuition fee loans
• money for living costs
• funding if you go on a placement

Other support available includes:

• help for students with financial dependants
• loans for postgraduate students
• funding for dentists and medics
• funding for PGCE students

It’s also important to know about:

• how your funding can be affected if you repeat a part of your course
• what happens if you suspend studies
• what happens if you withdraw
• what happens if you want to transfer to a new course

You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to pay your fees while you’re studying. This means you don’t need to worry about paying your fees up-front. The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) pay the loan directly to the University so you don’t need to arrange payment.

Am I eligible?

The tuition fee loan isn’t assessed on your household income. If you meet residency criteria, you’ll be eligible. Your eligibility can be affected if you’ve studied at university before.

What can I get?

In 2019/20, your fees will be £9,250, which means you can apply for a tuition fee loan to cover these costs. The loan is automatically paid directly to us so you don’t need to worry about organising payment of your fees. You can take a partial tuition fee loan but you’ll need to speak to us about paying the remaining balance.

What if I don’t want a tuition fee loan?

If you want to pay your tuition fees yourself you should find out about other payment options available.

You can apply to the Student Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for funding to cover your living costs. This will be paid directly to you at the start of each term. You can use it to pay for accommodation, food and course-related costs.

Am I eligible?

If you meet residency criteria you’ll be eligible. Your eligibility can be affected if you’ve studied a higher education course before.

Do my personal circumstances make a difference?

The amount of loan you get depends on:

• whether you provide SAAS with information about your household income
  • for example, your parents' or partner's income
• whether you live away from home
• which year you started university
• your year of study
• if you get funded by the NHS
• if you’re on a placement year

What can I get?

You’re eligible to receive £4,750, regardless of the level of your household income. If your parents provide information about their household income, the maximum living costs loan is £5,750, of which £1000 is income-assessed. If your household income is £34,000 or above, you’ll get the £4,750 non-means tested support.

If you meet conditions to be an independent student the maximum loan available is £6,750. All independent students are eligible to receive £4,750 regardless of the level of their household income. The remaining £1,500 is income assessed.

You may also be eligible for a bursary from SAAS. Find out about SAAS funding rates 2019/20 (PDF:807KB).

For more detailed information, visit Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

How do I get paid?

Your entitlement letter will detail your individual payment dates and amounts. You're normally paid at the start of each term.

You can apply online for your finance. You don’t need to have a confirmed place; just use your preferred choice on your application.

If you’re applying for non-income assessed support (not using your household income), you can fill the whole application yourself. If you want to be income-assessed, your parents or partner will need to fill in a section of the application.

Paper forms are available to apply for finance, but the online application portal is quick, efficient and user-friendly.

Is there a deadline?

Applications usually open in April. You should apply as early as possible to make sure your funding is in place for the start of term. SAAS advise you’re guaranteed to receive money at the start of your course if you apply by 30 June. If you need to change any details on your application, do this online before the start of your course.

Do I have to apply every year?

Yes, you’ll need to submit an application for each year of study. You don’t normally have to send evidence to support your application from Year 2, but sometimes SAAS will ask for it as part of a sample check.

To get an income assessed maintenance loan your sponsors need to give Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) details about their household income. In the 2019/20 academic year SAAS will ask for income details from the 2017/18 tax year.

Whose household income is assessed?

If you’re under 25 years old, SAAS ask for the household income of your sponsors, who are usually your parents. If you live with only one parent, they’ll be your sponsor. They’ll also ask for details of your own taxable income.

If you’re an independent student, you’ll need to provide your own income details. If you live with a partner, they’ll need to send income evidence too. Take a look at the SAAS criteria you must meet to be considered an independent student (PDF:370KB).

What is gross household income?

SAAS calculate your entitlement to funding based on your gross household income. This is the total combined figure of yours and your sponsors’ household income before things like tax and national insurance are taken off.

What if my household income has dropped?

If your household income has dropped by 15% or more, you can ask SAAS for a Current Year Income Assessment (CYIA) which could result in you getting more money.

Your sponsors will estimate their income for the 2019/20 tax year. SAAS then reassess your application based on these estimates. At the end of the tax year, your sponsors need to send evidence to prove their income for the year.

Contact

If you have any queries about your household income assessment calculation, please call SAAS on 0300 200 4050.

If you’re assessed as an independent student, then the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) won’t take your parents income into account. They’ll ask for your income details, and if you have a partner, they’ll ask for their income details too.

Can I be classed as Independent?

You have to meet certain criteria to be considered an independent student. For instance:

• you’re 25 years old or over
• you were married, in a civil partnership or living with a partner before the start of your course
• you have child under the age of 18 who is financially dependent on you
• you have no living parents and you have no legal guardian
• you can prove that you supported yourself financially for the three years before the start of your course
• you don’t know where your parents live

What if I’m not in contact with my parents?

If you’re permanently not in contact with your parents and this isn’t likely to change, you can apply as an estranged student. Find out more on StandAlone’s website.

Am I independent if I’ve been in care?

SAAS offer separate support to students who have left care. Read more about support for care experienced students on the SAAS website.

Have I supported myself financially?

You need to be able to prove that you have earned enough money to live on for three full years prior to the start of your course. Living in the parental home can stop you being considered independent unless you can prove you were contributing to the household. Your parents choosing not to give you money doesn’t mean you’re financially independent.

How does being Independent change my funding package?

Independent students are assessed on their and/or their partner’s household income. For most students, this results in being paid a higher amount of money for living costs.

How do I tell SAAS that I’m Independent?

SAAS will ask questions about your personal circumstances on your online application. Once you answer these questions, SAAS will ask you for evidence to support your claim.

If you need any help with your application for independent status, you should get in touch with the Student Advice Centre in the Students’ Union. They can support you in gathering all relevant information and building a case.

If your sponsors’ (usually your parents or partner) income drops, you can ask for a Current Year Income Assessment. This means the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) take estimates of your sponsors’ income 2019/20 into account so you could get more maintenance funding. Estimates are confirmed in April 2020.

Am I eligible?

You’re eligible if your household income has dropped:

• by 15% since the 2017/18 tax year or
• from over £34,000 to below £34,000 or
• from £24,000 - £33,999 to £19,000 - £23,999 or
• from £19,000 - £23,999 to £18,999 or under

A drop in household income could occur when a sponsor retires, is made redundant, goes part-time, and so on. If you think you’re eligible, contact SAAS. You can then ask for a CYIA. They’ll ask for household income evidence for the 2017/18 tax year to determine whether there’s been a drop in income.

For students applying in 2020/21 SAAS will compare your estimates to the 2018/19 tax year.

How does it work?

Your sponsors fill in the 2019/20 Current Year Income Assessment form with what they expect to earn in the 2019/20 tax year. These figures will be estimates and you might get more maintenance funding.

From April 2020, SAAS will write to your sponsors to ask for proof of their earnings for the 2019/20 tax year. If their evidence matches the estimated figures, then the assessment will stay as it is.

If your actual income income has changed from your original estimate, you should let SAAS know as soon as you can. They may adjust the amount of your maintenance funding:

• if your actual income is higher and they’ve paid you too much, they may ask you to pay it back
• if your actual income is lower and they haven’t paid you enough, they’ll top up your payments

Is there a deadline?

2019/20:

You need to be income assessed by 30 May 2020 in the first instance. If you need to apply for a CYIA after April 2020, your sponsors can enter actual earnings for the 2019/20 tax year.

2020/21:

You need to be income assessed by 30 May 2021 in the first instance. If you need to apply for a CYIA after April 2021, your sponsors can enter actual earnings for the 2020/21 tax year.

What happens to future applications?

2019/20:

When you apply in 2020/21 and 2021/22, SAAS will assess you on the figures used in 2019/20 unless you ask for another CYIA in the meantime.

2020/21:

When you apply in 2021/22 and 2022/23, SAAS will assess you on the figures used in 2020/21 unless you ask for another CYIA in the meantime.

Where can I get the forms?

Your sponsors should fill in the SAAS household income form to be income assessed. Contact SAAS on 0300 555 0505 for advice on applying for a CYIA.

You’ll start repaying your loan the April after you graduate or leave your course. The amount you repay depends on how much you earn and when you started your course. Interest will be charged from the date of your first instalment, and is linked to the rate of inflation.

You’ll repay 9% of any income you earn over £18,935 per year, and this will come directly from your wages. The Scottish Government have committed to raising the repayment threshold to £25,000 by April 2021. Under current rules, this means if you earn £30,000 a year, you’ll pay 9% of £11,065 a year, which is £83 a month.

The current interest rate is 1.75%. If you're a student on Plan 1, you can find interest rates on the Student Loan Repayments Portal.

Where can I get extra help?

Find detailed information on interest and repayments on the Student Loan Repayment Portal. If you need to discuss your repayments, call SAAS on 0300 555 0505.

You may be eligible for:

• tuition fee loans
• money for living costs
• funding if you go on a placement

Other support available includes:

• help for students with financial dependants
• loans for postgraduate students
• NHS funding for dentists and medics
• funding for PGCE students

It’s also important to know about:

• how your funding can be affected by repeating a part of your course
• what happens if you suspend studies
• what happens if you withdraw
• what happens if you want to transfer to a new course

Student Finance Wales (SFW) changed the type of funding you can get in the 2018/19 academic year. You can either apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and a Fee Grant or a Tuition Fee Loan on it's own. This means you don’t need to worry about paying your fees up-front. What you get depends on when you started your course. 

Am I eligible?

Tuition fee loans and grant aren’t assessed on your household income. If you meet residency criteria, you’ll be eligible. Your eligibility can be affected if you’ve studied at university before.

What can I get?

In 2019/20 your fees will be £9,250. You can apply for a tuition fee loan of £9,250 to cover this.

If you started in 2017/18 or before, you can apply for a £4,296 tuition fee loan and a £4,954 tuition fee grant. The loan and grant will be paid directly to us, so you don’t need to worry about organising the payment of your fees. You can take the fee grant on its own, but you’ll need to speak to us about paying the remainder of your tuition fees.

What if I don’t want a tuition fee loan?

If you want to pay your tuition fees yourself you should find out about other payment options available.

You can apply to Student Finance Wales (SFW) for funding to cover your living costs. This will be paid directly to you at the start of each term. You can use it to pay for accommodation, food and course-related costs.

Am I eligible?

If you meet residency criteria you’ll be eligible. Your eligibility can be affected if you’ve studied a higher education course before.

Do my personal circumstances make a difference?

The amount of loan you get depends on:

• whether you provide SFW with information about your  household income
  • for example, your parents' or partner's income
• whether you live away from home
• which year you started university
• your year of study
• if you get funded by the NHS
• if you’re on a placement year

What can I get?

If you’re starting University in 2019/20 and your household income is £59,200 or under, you'll be eligible to receive a £9,225 living costs loan/grant.

• SFW rates for students who started their course in 2018 or 2019 (PDF: 337KB)
• SFW rates for students who started their course in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 (PDF: 302KB)

Some students can get more Loan or Grant. Students who are likely to qualify for this extra funding include:

• single parents
• other student parents if they have a partner who is also a student
• students with certain disabilities

• SFW rates for students eligible to receive benefits who started their studies in 2018 or 2019 (PDF: 290KB)

How do I get paid?

Your entitlement letter will provide details about your individual payment dates and amounts. You're normally paid at the start of each term.

Partial Cancellation of loan

If you took a Maintenance Loan from Student Finance Wales in the academic year 2017/18 or before, you could have up to £1,500 cancelled from your balance by the Welsh Government when you start repaying. Once you make your first repayment, up to £1,500 will be automatically cancelled off your Maintenance Loan. You won’t be eligible for partial cancellation if you have any outstanding charges, costs, expenses or penalties in relation to your loan or if you’re in breach of your loan agreement.

Apply online for your finance. You don’t need to have a confirmed place; just use your preferred choice on your application.

If you’re applying for non-income assessed support (not using your household income) you can fill the whole application yourself. If you want to be income-assessed, your parents or partner will need to fill in a section of the application.

Paper forms are available to apply for finance, but the online application portal is quick, efficient and user-friendly. 

Is there a deadline?

Applications usually open in February. You should apply as early as possible to make sure your funding is in place for the start of term. If you need to change any details on your application, you can do this online before the start of your course.

To make sure you receive your finance by the start of the 2020/21 year you need to have applied by June 30th 2020.  You can still apply after this date but there's no guarantee you'll be paid on time.

Do I have to apply every year?

Yes, you’ll need to submit an application for each year of study. If you're returning in September 2020 you can apply from February 2020.

To get an income assessed maintenance loan your sponsors need to give Student Finance Wales (SFW) details about their household income. In the 2019/20 academic year SFW will ask for income details from the 2017/18 tax year.

Whose household income is assessed?

If you’re under 25 years old, SFW ask for the household income of your sponsors, who are usually your parents. If you live with one parent, they’ll be your sponsor and nobody else needs to give income details. They’ll also ask for details of your own taxable income.

If you’re an independent student, you’ll need to provide your own income details. If you live with a partner, they’ll need to send income evidence too.

What is residual household income?

Once SFW have evidence of your sponsors’ income, they’ll calculate your residual household income. This is your gross income minus certain allowances, which include:

• a deduction for each financially dependent child other than yourself who lives in the household
• deducting pension payments and additional voluntary contributions
• a deduction for parents who are also students

What if my household income has dropped?

If your household income has dropped by 15% or more, then you can ask SFW for a Current Year Income Assessment (CYIA) which could result in you getting more money.

Your sponsors will estimate their income for the 2019/20 tax year. SFW then reassess your application based on these estimates. At the end of the tax year, your sponsors need to send evidence to prove their income for the year.

Contact

If you have any queries about your household income assessment calculation, call SFW on 0300 200 4050.

If you’re assessed as an independent student, Student Finance Wales (SFW) won’t take your parents’ income into account. They’ll ask for your income details and if you have a partner they’ll ask for their income details too.

Can I be classed as Independent?

You have to meet certain criteria to be considered an independent student. For instance:

• you’re 25 years old or over prior to September 1st of that academic year
• you have been married or in a civil partnership before 1 September of the academic year
• you have the care of a person under the age of 18
• you have no living parents
• you can prove that you supported yourself financially for the three years before the start of your course

The full list of criteria is on SFW’s website.

What if I’m not in contact with my parents?

If you haven’t been in contact with your parents for a year or longer and this isn’t likely to change, you can apply as an estranged student. Find out more on the StandAlone website.

Am I independent if I’ve been in care?

You can apply for independent status if you were looked after by a local authority throughout any three month period ending on or after the date you turned 16, and before the first day of the first academic year of your course.

Have I supported myself financially?

You need to be able to prove that you have earned enough money to live on for three full years prior to the start of your course. Living in the parental home can stop you being considered independent unless you can prove you were contributing to the household. Your parents choosing not to give you money doesn’t mean you’re financially independent.

How does being Independent change my funding package?

Independent students are assessed on their and their partner’s household income. For most students this results in being paid a higher amount of living costs funding.

How do I tell SFW that I’m Independent?

SFW will ask questions about your personal circumstances on your online application. Once you’ve answered these questions SFW will ask for evidence to support your claim.

Examples of evidence include:

• a copy of your marriage certificate if you’ve been married
• copies of P60s or payslips if you’ve supported yourself financially
• birth certificates for children under the age of 18 and evidence you’re caring for them, such as Child Benefit or Universal Credits letters.

If you need any help with your application for independent status, get in touch with the Student Advice Centre in the Students’ Union. They can support you in gathering all relevant information and building a case.

If your sponsors’ (usually your parents or partner) income drops by 15% or more, you can request a Current Year Income Assessment (CYIA). This means Student Finance Wales (SFW) take estimates of your sponsors’ 2019/20 income into account so you could get more money for living costs. Estimates are finalised in April 2020.

Am I eligible?

If your household income has dropped by 15% since the 2017/18 tax year you can apply for a CYIA. A drop in household income could occur when a sponsor retires, is made redundant, goes part-time, and so on. If you think you’re eligible, you need to be income assessed based on the 2017/18 tax year first. You can then ask for a CYIA so SFW can determine whether there’s been a drop in income.

If you apply in 2020/21 SFW will compare your estimates to your household income from the 2018/19 tax year.

How does it work?

Your sponsors fill in the Current Year Income Assessment form with what they expect to earn in the current tax year. These figures will be estimates and you might get more maintenance funding.

From the following April SFW will write to your sponsors to ask for proof of their earnings for the tax year. If their evidence matches the estimated figures, then the assessment will stay as it is.

If your actual income income has changed from your original estimate, you should let SFW know as soon as you can. They may adjust the amount of your maintenance funding:

• if your actual income is higher and they’ve paid you too much, they may ask you to pay it back
• if your actual income is lower and they haven’t paid you enough, they’ll top up your payments

Is there a deadline?

2019/20:

You need to be income assessed by 31 May 2020 in the first instance. If you need to apply for a CYIA after April 2020, your sponsors can enter actual earnings for the 2019/20 tax year.

2020:21:

You need to be income assessed by 31 May 2021 in the first instance. If you need to apply for a CYIA after April 2021, your sponsors can enter actual earnings for the 2020/21 tax year.

What happens to future applications?

2019/20:

When you apply in 2020/21 and 2021/2022, SFW will assess you on the figures used in 2019/20 unless you ask for another CYIA in the meantime.

2020:21:

When you apply in 2021/22 and 2022/23, SFW will assess you on the figures used in 2020/21 unless you ask for another CYIA in the meantime.

Where can I get the forms?

Your sponsors can apply for an income assessment using a PFF2 form. To apply for a Current Year Income Assessment, use a CYIA form.

You’ll start repaying your loan the April after you graduate or leave your course. The amount you repay depends on how much you earn and when you started your course. Interest will be charged from the date of your first instalment and is linked to the rate of inflation.

I started my course after September 2012

You’ll only start to repay your loan if you’re earning over £25,725 per year. You’ll pay 9% of anything over £25,725 and this will come directly from your wages. This means if you earn £30,000 a year you’ll pay 9% of £4,275 a year, which is £32 a month.

Interest rates on tuition fee and maintenance loans are calculated as the current Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 3%. Since 2012 interest rates have been:

• 2012/13: RPI (3.6%) plus 3% = 6.6%
• 2013/14: RPI (3.3%) plus 3% = 6.3%
• 2014/15: RPI (2.5%) plus 3% = 5.5%
• 2015/16: RPI (0.9%) plus 3% = 3.9%
• 2016/17: RPI (1.6%) plus 3% = 4.6%
• 2017/18: RPI (3.1%) plus 3% = 6.1%
• 2018/19: RPI (3.3%) plus 3% = 6.3%

In 2019/20 interest is 5.4% (calculated as RPI (2.4%) plus 3%).

I started my course before September 2012

You’ll repay 9% of any income you earn over £18,924 per year and this will come directly from your wages. This means if you earn £25,000 per year, you’ll repay 9% of £6,076, which is £45 a month.

The current interest rate is 1.75%. If you're a student on Plan 1, you can find interest rates on the GOV.UK website.

What’s a partial cancellation of my maintenance loan?

If you take out a maintenance loan through Student Finance Wales (SFW) before 2018/19, you could have up to £1,500 cancelled from your student loan balance by the Welsh Government once you make your first repayment. You won’t be eligible for partial cancellation if you have any outstanding charges, costs, expenses or penalties in relation to your loan or if you’re in breach of your loan agreement.

Where can I get extra help?

Find detailed information on interest and repayments on the GOV.UK website.  If you need to discuss your repayments, call SFW on 0300 200 4050.