Student funding and finance
This page provides a guide to sources of information about finance and funding for students.
Quick links
Note that the Office for Students does not provide student loans or finance.
Students in England
Universities and colleges in England can charge up to £9,250 a year for higher education courses. These fees can change from year to year and are expected to rise in 2025-26. Find out more about fees.
If you normally live in England and you’re studying for your first degree or other higher education qualification, you won't have to pay tuition fees upfront. Government loans are available to cover your fees and help with living costs.
Repayments of loans are based on your future income, not what you borrow.
There’s lots of information, for students in both higher and further education, on the GOV.UK website.
You can also visit the student finance zone at The Student Room.
Is your provider registered?
If you are studying in England and want to apply for a government tuition fee loan, you must be studying on an eligible course at a place of higher education that has registered with us (the Office for Students).
All English universities and colleges that provide higher education need to register with us for their students to be eligible for student support.
No English higher education provider will be able to confirm whether you can claim student support until they have successfully registered.
You can find out whether your choice of university or college is registered with us by asking them, or by checking our Register.
However, no course provider will be able to confirm whether you can claim student support until they have successfully registered.
Students outside England
Different finance arrangements apply to students normally living outside England. If you’re resident in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you should contact these organisations for more information:
Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS)
The Education Authority in Northern Ireland (SFni)
If you are a student living outside the UK, different fee levels apply. UK government loans may not be available. For information you can visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs.
Bursaries, scholarships and extra help
Please note: we provide universities and colleges with data and information that supports their work to address inequalities in higher education.
But we do not confirm or advise on student eligibility for this sort of financial support. Students should discuss this with their university or college.
Universities and college often provide bursaries or finance on top of the money they receive through their student finance for students in particular circumstances.
To find out more speak with your relevant university or college.
Students can also apply for extra financial help if they are:
- on a low income
- have children or dependent adults
- disabled
- medical, nursing, midwifery and allied health profession students
- a social worker student.
Last updated 12 December 2024 + show all updates
12 December 2024 - Fee limit rise.
26 February 2024 - We have updated the page with further information about forms of extra help for students.
07 January 2020 - Links to new Value for Money section created.
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