Funding your studies

UK student finance for undergraduate students is awarded by all four nations in the UK and is only available if you are studying on a designated course, which is usually only one of the following types of course:

• an undergraduate degree
• a higher national diploma (HND)/higher national certificate (HNC)
• a diploma of higher education
• a teacher training course
• a certificate in higher education or a diploma/advanced diploma (Scotland only)

If you are studying on a further education course, check with your institution whether any funding is available.

You may not be eligible if you have previously received financial support (or a mandatory award) from the UK government to study a higher education course. The same applies if you have already studied a course at the same or lower level, including qualifications you have obtained in other countries.

UK student finance for postgraduate students is awarded by all four nations in the UK and is mainly for students on master’s courses, doctoral courses, and postgraduate teacher training courses.

Funding is awarded by the authorities in the part of the UK in which you normally live, which may be different to where you are studying.

Some UK public funding for postgraduate study is administered by research councils. UK Research and Innovation has links to seven research councils, plus Innovate UK and Research England.

Contact your institution’s academic department about other funding that may be available locally. You can also read information on further ways to fund your postgraduate study from Prospects.

For information about funding in other subject areas, such as healthcare, social work, and teacher training, visit Student Finance England’s A-Z. Information about equivalent funding from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, is available on their websites.

You will find guidance documents, basic eligibility requirements and details of how to apply at Student Finance England for undergraduate study and postgraduate study.

The Department for Education (DfE) publishes the regulations describing the categories of student who are entitled to student finance. These regulations can be amended by the DfE, so make sure to revisit the information on eligibility well in advance of applying for student finance. If you fall into one of the categories of student who are entitled to pay fees at the ‘home’ rate, then you will likely be entitled to some level of financial support. Find out more about fee status in England.

If you do not meet all of the requirements of a category at the start of your course, you may still become entitled to support later on if you experience a relevant change of circumstances.

If you are unsure about whether you are entitled to financial support or if you need further information, speak to an adviser at your institution or students' union or contact us on our student advice line.

You will find guidance documents, basic eligibility requirements and details of how to apply at SAAS (Student Awards Agency for Scotland) for undergraduate study and postgraduate study. Read further information about the Scottish government’s financial support for students.

The Scottish government publishes the regulations describing the categories of student who are entitled to student finance. These can be amended by the Scottish government, so make sure to revisit the information on eligibility well in advance of applying for student finance. If you fall into one of the categories of student who are entitled to pay fees at the ‘home’ rate, then you will likely be entitled to some level of financial support. Find out more about fee status in Scotland.

If you do not meet all of the requirements of a category at the start of your course, you may still become entitled to support later on if you experience a relevant change of circumstances.

If you are unsure about whether you are entitled to financial support or if you need further information, speak to an adviser at your institution or students' union or contact us on our student advice line.

You will find guidance documents, basic eligibility requirements and details of how to apply at Student Finance Wales for undergraduate study and postgraduate study.

The Welsh government publishes the regulations describing the categories of student who are entitled to student finance. These regulations can be amended by the Welsh government, so make sure to revisit the information on eligibility well in advance of applying for student finance. If you fall into one of the categories of student who are entitled to pay fees at the ‘home’ rate, then you will likely be entitled to some level of financial support. Find out more about fee status in Wales.

If you do not meet all of the requirements of a category at the start of your course, you may still become entitled to support later on if you experience a relevant change of circumstances.

If you are unsure about whether you are entitled to financial support or if you need further information, speak to an adviser at your institution or students' union or contact us on our student advice line.

You will find guidance documents, basic eligibility requirements and details of how to apply at Student Finance NI for undergraduate study and postgraduate study.

The Northern Ireland Assembly publishes the regulations describing the categories of student who are entitled to student finance. These regulations can be amended by the Northern Ireland Assembly, so make sure to revisit the information on eligibility well in advance of applying for student finance. If you fall into one of the categories of student who are entitled to pay fees at the ‘home’ rate, then you will likely be entitled to some level of financial support. Find out more about fee status in Northern Ireland.

If you do not meet all of the requirements of a category at the start of your course, you may still become entitled to support later on if you experience a relevant change of circumstances.

If you are unsure about whether you are entitled to financial support or if you need further information, speak to an adviser at your institution or students' union or contact us on our student advice line.

If your application for student finance is refused, you should ask for the reasons for the refusal in writing. If you feel you have been refused incorrectly, you can normally challenge the decision:

• If your application is refused by Student Finance England, you may find its policy guidance for practitioners useful if you do not agree with its decision.
• If your application is refused by Student Finance Wales, you can read its policy guidance for practitioners (choose ‘assessing eligibility guidance’) which may be useful if you do not agree with its decision.

If you are still not satisfied, you can formally appeal against the decision but first you should speak to an adviser at your institution or your students' union.

British Council: Study UK lists a selection of scholarships that are available for students by nationality.

The Scottish government lists scholarships for study in Scotland.

Study in Wales lists scholarships for study in the UK (including Wales).

The following postgraduate scholarships are for specific groups of international students who want to study in the UK:

• Chevening scholarships
• Marshall scholarships
• Commonwealth scholarships
• GREAT scholarships

Student Action for Refugees (STAR) and Displaced Student Opportunities UK list universities and colleges offering scholarships, bursaries, and fee waivers/reductions and offer resources for people who have claimed asylum in the UK and people in the UK who are displaced. Different eligibility and criteria may apply depending on whether you are still waiting for a decision on your asylum claim or whether you have been granted refugee status, discretionary leave to remain or another form of temporary leave resulting from an asylum claim.

You should plan to be able to pay your tuition fees and living costs without having to work in the UK.

If you need to make an immigration application in the UK, and you have been working lawfully within your existing work restrictions, you can use your UK earnings to show that you can meet the maintenance requirements for the further period of immigration permission. Find out more about what work you are allowed to do if you are in the UK under the Student route.

You should not plan to rely on money earned from working in the UK as:

• It can be difficult to find work.
• It is unlikely that you will earn enough to cover all your costs.
• You might lose your job.
• You might have problems with your studies if you spend too much time working.

You cannot take a gap year and work full time while you are in the UK with Student permission. However, you may have the option to do a work placement, which your Student Sponsor will advise you on.