🇬🇧 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.
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).