How Student Finance

How Student Finance England works out if you’re eligible
The information on these pages doesn’t cover all circumstances, but it offers a general guide to the rules that are likely to apply if you normally live in England, are going to a UK university or college, and:

•you're studying for a higher education qualification - such as an ‘undergraduate’ degree, or
•you want to ‘top up’ a lower-level higher education qualification

Eligibility is based on two checks: one on personal eligibility and one on course and institution eligibility. These checks are carried out by Student Finance England when you apply - or by your local authority, if you started in the 2008/09 academic year or earlier.

Personal eligibility
Student Finance England (or your local authority) will look at your immigration status or nationality, and whether you meet certain residence conditions. When deciding whether you qualify for the Maintenance Loan, they will also consider your age.

Personal eligibility is tested once, at the start of your course - although it may need to be reviewed if, for example, you only have a temporary right to live in the UK.

Student finance: personal eligibilityCourse and institution eligibility
Student Finance England will also look at the qualification you’re studying for, and the university or college where you’re doing your course.

This is tested each academic year.

Student finance: course and institution eligibilityWhat if this information doesn’t apply to you?
Different rules will usually apply if:

•you normally live outside England
•you are doing your course outside the UK
•you are doing a postgraduate course (though you’ll qualify for elements of the student finance package if you’re doing a postgraduate course of Initial Teacher Training)