Student Loans
Loans are available to students to help with living costs, e.g. accommodation, food, clothes, travel etc. All student loans have interest applied to them. This interest rate is based on the annual March retail price index (RPI) or the highest base rate of a number of major banks plus 1%; whichever is lower. The amount you pay back will have broadly the same value as the amount you borrowed and no profit is made on the loan itself. The interest rate is currently 3%.
Can I apply for a loan?
If you are on a full-time, sandwich or part-time initial teacher training course, you are eligible to apply for a loan. If you have previously studied in Higher Education, your Local Authority will tell you if you are eligible to apply for a loan again. To receive a student loan you must be aged under 60.
How will my loan be paid?
Your loan is usually paid in three instalments, one at the start of each term, directly into your bank account. Student Finance Direct will issue a payment schedule letter to you which will explain what amounts will be paid and when.
How much can I Borrow?
This will depend upon your household income and where you live whilst you study. The amounts you can borrow are shown in the table below. Of this loan entitlement, 75% is non income-assessed, while 25% is income-assessed. This means that a proportion of the loan paid to you will be dependent upon your household income.
Your ‘household income’ means either:
1. Your income if you are an independent student, i.e.
- You are over 25 when you commence your studies OR
- You have been married or entered into a civil partnership before you start your course (your Local Authority (LA) may ask for proof of this) OR
- You have supported yourself financially for at least three years before you start your course OR
- You have no living parents.
- You are a full-time student who has care of a child or children, under the age of 18, on the first day of your course
If you identify yourself as an independent student and are married or in a civil partnership, your spouse or partner's income will also be taken into account.
OR
2. Your parents’ income if you are a dependent student (i.e. you live in your parental home and / or rely on at least one of your parents for financial support). For example, if you live with both parents, both their incomes will be taken into account. If you live with only one of your parents, it will be their income only that is taken into account. If they live with a spouse or partner (of either sex), this person’s income will also be taken into account.
If your parents or partner do not provide details of their income to your Local Authority, you will not receive all the financial support to which you are entitled.
Loan Rates
| Loan rates |
Maximum available |
| London |
£6475 |
| Elsewhere |
£4625 |
| Overseas |
£5510 |
| Living with Parents |
£3580 |
Loan Rates are slightly higher for students living in London (and not in their parental home) to accommodate the higher cost of living there. Your Local Authority (LA) will decide whether you will be entitled to the London loan rates on the basis of the post code of your place of study. If you are unsure whether you come into this category, your LA will be able to advise you.
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Help towards your tuition fees
Variable Tuition Fees and Tuition Fee Loans
Universities and colleges offering HE courses in England will be allowed to vary the amount of fees they charge new students. Institutions can charge between zero and £3,145 per year.
You can apply for the new Student Loan for Fees to cover the cost of these fees. This will give you the advantage of not having to find this money from elsewhere, and we will pay the fees directly to your institution. You then repay the fee loan in the same way as your other student loan – only once you have finished studying and are earning over the repayment threshold of £15,000 per year.
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