🇬🇧 Funding Your Studies in the United Kingdom
How students pay for a UK degree — Student Finance loans, scholarships, visa work rights, and what international students can actually access.
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UK tuition fees are substantial, but the loan system means most home students pay nothing upfront. International students face a different reality. Here's how the money works.
How studies are funded
Home students typically combine a Tuition Fee Loan that covers fees directly with a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Both are repaid only after graduation, only when earnings exceed a threshold, and are written off after 40 years. International students receive no government-backed loan support and must demonstrate funds upfront.
Student Finance & loans
Home (UK) students apply through Student Finance England (or the equivalent body in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland) before the academic year starts.
| Loan type | What it covers | 2024/25 maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee Loan | Paid directly to the university | Up to £9,250/year |
| Maintenance Loan | Living costs (means-tested) | Up to £13,348/year (London) |
Repayments are income-contingent: graduates repay 9% of earnings above £25,000 (Plan 5 threshold). Interest accrues at RPI; the balance is written off after 40 years.
Tip: Scottish students studying in Scotland pay no tuition fees — the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) covers them in full. Welsh and Northern Irish students have their own comparable schemes with different loan caps.
Scholarships & grants
- Chevening Scholarships — UK government award for international students from eligible countries (master's level).
- Commonwealth Scholarships — funded postgraduate awards for Commonwealth citizens.
- University bursaries and merit awards — almost every Russell Group and post-92 university offers its own scholarships; check each institution's financial-support pages.
- Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) — non-repayable funding for home students with a disability or long-term condition.
Working while you study
Students on a Student visa may work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during official vacations. Certain course types (e.g. foundation programmes below degree level at a non-university sponsor) carry a 10 h/week limit. Sandwich and work-placement years under a course structure are generally unrestricted. Check your visa endorsement — the exact allowance is stamped in your vignette or BRP.
Funding for international students
International students are not eligible for Student Finance England loans. Their routes are:
- University scholarships — the primary source; apply well before offer deadlines.
- Home-country sponsorship — government and employer schemes (e.g. Chevening, Commonwealth, GREAT Scholarships, bilateral government awards).
- Private savings and family funding — UKVI requires proof of funds covering first-year fees plus £1,334/month for living costs (£1,023/month outside London) before issuing a Student visa.
Tip: Postgraduate taught courses are not funded by default — target programmes that offer full scholarships or funded research studentships (funded PhDs cover fees plus a tax-free stipend, currently around £19,000/year).