If you're applying to university for the first time, you don't have to pay for your course upfront. You can get a Government loan to help cover the costs.
The following information applies to students from the UK and Ireland. It also applies to EU, EEA and Swiss nationals who have citizens' rights following Brexit.
Student loans
The two main loans are:
- a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the cost of your course
- a Maintenance Loan to help pay for living costs (full-time students only).
There's more information about the loans below.
You can apply for both these loans online. Log in to Student Finance England* to get started.
Full-time and part-time students can apply for the Tuition Fee Loan and the Maintenance Loan (part-time students receive loans on a pro-rata basis). Distance learning students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan only.
The rules around eligibility are complex and we recommend visiting Gov.UK for full details of who qualifies for student finance. You can also talk to our Money Advice Service by email or in-person at an Open Day.
You won't start repaying your Maintenance and Tuition Fee loans until you're earning more than £25,000 a year (£27,295 for those who started a course on or before 31 July 2023). See below for more information about repaying student loans.
Both full-time and part-time students can apply for Tuition Fee Loan. It covers the cost of your course fees for the duration of your studies.
The money is paid directly to your university every semester. You won’t have to repay anything until the April after you graduate, and even then you’ll only pay 9% of any earnings over £25,000 a year (£27,295 a year if you started your course on or before 31 July 2023).
If you're a part-time student, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan if you’re studying more than a quarter (25% intensity) of a full-time course each year.
Visit Student Finance England* to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan.
If you'd rather not take out a Tuition Fee Loan, you can pay your tuition fees directly to your university.
You could receive support to help pay for living costs while you're studying. Living costs include things like accommodation, food and travel.
Most full-time UK students can apply for a Maintenance Loan from the Government. Some EU students may also be eligible. Visit Student Finance England* to get started.
The exact amount you’ll receive depends on your personal circumstances, including where you live during term-time and your household income. Read more about how the Maintenance Loan is assessed, and what you might receive.
The total Maintenance Loan you borrow is added to your Tuition Fee Loan, and only repaid at 9% of your earnings over £25,000 (£27,295 for those who started a course on or before 31 July 2023).
There's more information about the Maintenance Loan on the Government's website, along with an online calculator that gives a more detailed idea of exactly how much money you could get.
If you're looking into ways to support yourself through university, ARU Temps can help you find part-time work that fits around your studies. It's a great way to gain experience and skills.
We also offer a range of scholarships and bursaries.
Grants and allowances
If you get funding from Student Finance England* you may be able to apply for some additional grants and allowances. Some of these are income assessed.
Read more about how grants and allowances are assessed, and what you might receive.
This is a grant if you have a partner or other adult depending on you financially (not including grown-up children). It is income assessed.
Any amount you’re entitled to is paid to you in addition to your main student finance package. It’s paid directly into your bank account in three instalments, at the same time as any Maintenance Loan or other grants you get.
You can’t get this grant if the dependent adult is also a student receiving student finance funding.
You can apply for help with childcare costs, with 85% of weekly costs paid up to a weekly cap, over 52 weeks. This grant is income assessed.
You’ll need to complete the main application for student finance from Student Finance England, and then an additional Childcare Grant application form (CCG1) that you can download from your student finance account.
This allowance is to help with course-related costs like books, study materials and travel if you have dependent children. It is income assessed, based on your income and that of those you live with.
Any amount you’re entitled to is paid in addition to your main student finance package. It’s paid directly into your bank account in three instalments, at the same time as any Maintenance Loan or Grant you get.
If you have a disability we encourage you to get in touch during your application process so we can discuss what support we can offer you.
Our Disability and Dyslexia Service offers specialist support at weekday drop-in sessions, or you can email [email protected]
These grants help to pay the essential extra costs you may have as a direct result of your disability including a mental-health condition, or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia or dyspraxia.
What you’re entitled to depends on your needs assessment, this is an informal meeting to discuss what equipment and support will help you. It can go towards essential extra costs like human support, travel, assistive technology and training, and it doesn’t have to be paid back.
If you’re going to study full-time and are applying for a loan you can process your DSA with your application to Student Finance England. If you’re not applying for a loan or you’re studying part-time you can still complete a DSA1 form with Student Finance England.
The NHS Learning Support Fund is available to students starting a course in midwifery, nursing, operating department practice, or paramedic science.
For more details, visit the NHS Business Services Authority website. You can set up a Learning Support Fund (LSF) account on the website, and use this to apply for funding.
The Funding Clinic is also a useful resource and will give you information tailored to your circumstances.
If you're studying BA (Hons) Social Work you can apply for the Student Finance England Maintenance Loan (more details under the 'Student loans' tab).
During your second and third years of study you might meet the criteria to access the income-assessed NHS Social Work Bursary, introduced by the Department of Health as an incentive to train in social work. As a university, we're offered a limited number of bursaries, so we cannot guarantee that you will get one. Bursaries are allocated according to your interview score and passing the preparation for practice module, which reflects current Department of Health guidance.
The Social Work Bursary is available if you:
- don’t get funding from your employer
- are studying an approved undergraduate course in social work
- don’t already have a higher education social work qualification
- are nominated by your university.
Your bursary will be paid in three instalments, at the start of each semester.
You can check your eligibility and apply for an undergraduate bursary on the NHS Business Services Authority website.
If you have any questions about social work bursaries, you can find answers 24 hours a day, seven days a week using Ask Us.
Welfare benefits
Full-time students may be eligible for some welfare benefits. Read more about welfare benefit entitlement, and contact our Money Advice Service if you'd like further information and guidance.
Repaying student loans
Some student loans need to be repaid:
- Tuition Fee Loan
- Maintenance Loan
You won't start repaying these loans until after you graduate, and your income exceeds the threshold for repayments.
You do not need to pay back other student finance, for example grants and bursaries.
Generally the earliest you’ll start repaying is:
- the April after you leave your course
- the April four years after the course started if you’re studying part-time and your course is longer than four years
- April 2026 if you’re on Plan 5
Your repayments automatically stop if either:
- you stop working
- your income goes below the threshold
Income thresholds
Repayments are only ever based on your income. Parental/partner income is not included.
There are a number of different student finance arrangements, called Plans. Most new undergraduate students will be funded by Student Finance England and will be on Plan 5.
Each Plan has a different income threshold for repayments. Once you earn more than the threshold, you will start to repay your student loans:
- Plan 1 (funding from Student Finance Northern Ireland): £24,990
- Plan 2 (funding from Student Finance England or Student Finance Wales; course started between 1 September 2012 and 31 July 2023): £27,295
- Plan 3 (postgraduate loans, see our page about postgraduate student finance)
- Plan 4 (funding from Student Awards Agency Scotland): £31,395
- Plan 5 (funding from Student Finance England; course started after 1 August 2023): £25,000
You’ll repay 9% of your income over the threshold if you’re on Plan 1, 2, 4 or 5.
Examples for Plan 5 students are:
| Yearly gross income |
Monthly salary |
9% contribution – yearly |
9% contribution per month |
| £25,000 |
£2,083 |
£0 |
£0 |
| £27,000 |
£2,250 |
£180 |
£15 |
| £30,000 |
£2,500 |
£450 |
£37.50 |
| £45,000 |
£3,750 |
£1,800 |
£150 |
There is no upper limit for repayments.
Interest
Interest is charged on student loans, with the exact amount varying depending which Plan you're on. Currently, the rates are:
- 4.3% if you’re on Plan 1
- 4.3% if you’re on Plan 4
- 4.3% if you’re on Plan 5
- Plan 2 is more complex and information can be found on Gov.UK
If you'd like to speak to someone, our Money Advice Service offers information and advice about all aspects of student finance. You can email the team or speak to them in-person at an Open Day.
*If you live in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, you can apply through Student Finance NI, Student Awards Agency for Scotland or Student Finance Wales.
This information was updated in January 2025 but may be subject to change.
Social Work Bursary
If you're studying BA (Hons) Social Work you can apply for the Student Finance England Maintenance Loan (more details under the 'Student loans' tab).
During your second and third years of study you might meet the criteria to access the income-assessed NHS Social Work Bursary, introduced by the Department of Health as an incentive to train in social work. As a university, we're offered a limited number of bursaries, so we cannot guarantee that you will get one. Bursaries are allocated according to your interview score and passing the preparation for practice module, which reflects current Department of Health guidance.
The Social Work Bursary is available if you:
Your bursary will be paid in three instalments, at the start of each semester.
You can check your eligibility and apply for an undergraduate bursary on the NHS Business Services Authority website.
If you have any questions about social work bursaries, you can find answers 24 hours a day, seven days a week using Ask Us.