In short
- Whether you can get student finance depends on where you live, your status in the UK, your age, your course and any funding you’ve had before.
- UK and Irish citizens and people with settled status usually need their home to be in England, and to have lived in the UK for the 3 years before their course starts.
- With pre‑settled status, you may be able to get a tuition fee loan, but not a maintenance loan.
- You must be under 60 on the first day of your course to get a tuition fee loan.
This guide covers courses starting on or after 1 January 2027.
Where you live and your status
UK or Irish citizen, or settled status
You can usually get a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan if your home is in England and you’ve lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the 3 years before your course starts. Short periods away, such as holidays, are usually fine.
Pre‑settled status
If you have pre‑settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may get a tuition fee loan, but not a maintenance loan. The same applies if you’re a family member of someone with settled status and you’ve been living in the UK.
Other situations
You may also get a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan if you:
- are not a UK national but have a valid residency status in the UK
- are over 18 and have lived in the UK for at least 20 years, or for at least half your life
The rules depend on your exact status, so check yours with the GOV.UK eligibility checker.
Your age
You must be under 60 on the first day of your course to get a tuition fee loan. If you’re 60 or over, you may still get some help with living costs.
Your course and where you study
Most courses from level 4 to level 6 qualify, such as bachelor’s degrees, foundation years that are part of a degree, foundation degrees and Higher Technical Qualifications. The university or college must be registered with the Office for Students, the regulator for higher education in England.
You usually need to be studying between 30 and 180 credits a year. A full‑time year is usually 120 credits.
If you’ve studied before
You can currently borrow up to £39,160 for tuition across your working life. Tuition funding you’ve had before is taken off, so you may have less. Our guide Can I get student finance for a second degree? shows roughly how much you’d have left.
The maintenance loan, for living costs
On top of the rules above, you need to attend your course in person. Distance learning courses don’t normally qualify, unless you have a disability or long‑term illness. You also need at least £1,587.50 of your tuition fee loan left.
How much you get depends on where you live, how much you study and your household income.
How to check
- Use the GOV.UK eligibility checker to check your nationality and residency.
- Check your course with your university or college. We can check it for you.
- When you apply, send any evidence you’re asked for, such as proof of identity or household income.
Not sure where you stand? Ask an adviser and we’ll go through it with you.
Official sources
- Who’s eligible for student finance from January 2027
- What student loans you can get
- Check your eligibility: nationality and residency
This guide is general information, not financial advice. Rules can change, so always check GOV.UK before you apply.