Tuition Fees Loan
Most UK/ EU full-time undergraduate students will not have to pay fees whilst studying, unless they wish to. Instead, they will be able to apply for a student loan for fees.
As a new student - starting in 2012 - you will be able to apply for a student loan for tuition fees of up to £9,000.
Tuition Fees Loan FAQ
What is a tuition fees loan?
The student loan for fees is a loan that will be available to UK/EU full-time undergraduates and UK/EU students to match the level of tuition fees you have to pay, from the Student Loans Company (SLC).
This means that you are deferring payment of your tuition fees until after you have left university and are earning at least £21,000 per year.
How will my tuition fees be paid?
The SLC will pay your fee contribution to the university on your behalf, and the value of the fee will be added to your overall student loan, and will be repaid in the same way.
IMPORTANT: If you request a fee loan for less than this amount, you will be invoiced for the difference by the College.
How do I apply for tuition fees loan?
You can apply for a student loan for fees as part of your application for student support please refer to our Applying for Government Financial Supports page.
If you have not applied for a full student loan for fees, or are not eligible for a loan for the full amount of your fees, you will be expected to make payment in full. See Tuition Fees Policy 2012 and Methods of Payment (PDF)
When will I have to repay my student loans?
Repayments of loans start in the April after you leave higher education and only once you start earning over £21,000 Repayments will depend on the amount you earn, not the amount you borrowed. You will only repay 9% of your earnings above £21,000 (about £7.50 per month if you’re earning £22,000).
BBC News have also produced a Student Finance Calculator to give students an idea of how much it may cost them to pay off their student loans.
Where can I find further information?
- For more details on how repayments will work, and what you can expect from the SLC, please visit studentfinance-yourfuture.direct.gov.uk or watch Martin Lewis' Guide to Student Loans 2012 on YouTube.
- You can visit the Directgov for updates on student support arrangements in 2012-13.
- EU Students -You can contact the Student Finance Services European Team.
- The UKCISA site is very helpful and The British Council also provide some excellent advice on money matters.
- The Independent Taskforce on Student Finance - see Further Information
Important note for previous study students
The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) state that both new and existing undergraduate students who have previously completed an honours degree at either a UK or an overseas institution will be ineligible for a Student Loan for Fees and also for the Maintenance Grant.
Latest News
Deadline!
Student Finance England (SFE) 2012/13
The deadline for submitting applications for Continuing Students is 29th June 2012
The deadline for submitting applications for New Students is 31st May 2012
- Apply online at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
- The sooner you apply, the sooner you’ll get your finance sorted