Student finance

Finance Fast Facts

The most important thing you need to know about student finance is that you CAN afford to go into higher education.

Here are a few fast facts for you.

No boring detail or number crunching included in this section!

1. You don't have to pay your tuition fees up-front out of your own pocket

Find out more about Student Loan for Fees

2. You can get a loan to help pay for your living costs while you are studying

Find out more about Student Loan for Maintenance

3. Student loans are not like normal loans

You can't go broke by paying back a student loan. You will only ever pay back the equivalent amount to what you have borrowed and in a way that you can afford to. Plus, you will only need to start repaying your loan back once you are earning over £15,000 per year.

Find out more about Student Loan Repayment

4. You may be entitled to receive non-repayable grants to help with your living costs

Find out more about Maintenance Grant

Find out more about Special Support Grant

Find out more about Extra Financial Help

Contact individual institutions to find out more about what they offer.

Find out more about Bursaries and Scholarships

As long as you are studying at the rate of at least half of a full-time course, you will be able to get some financial support to cover your fees and course costs.

Find out more about Part-time student finance

7. Mature students are entitled to the same financial help as students going straight from school

As long as it is your first higher education qualification, you are entitled to financial support whatever your age may be.

Aimhigher Mature Students page

HERO Mature Students page

The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education website

Find out more about Applying for student finance