Use our calculator, provide some basic information about yourself and you can get a quick estimate of what financial support you might be able to get in 2013/14:
You can get either the Maintenance Grant or the Special Support Grant, not both
Which can you get?
If your household income is £41,065 or less and you are also eligible for Income Support or certain other means-tested benefits such as Housing Benefit, you may be able to get the Special Support Grant.
If you are not eligible to receive any means-tested benefits, but your household income is still £41,065 or less, you may be able to get the Maintenance Grant instead.
How much can you get?
The amount you can get depends on your income and that of your parents or partner.
Bursaries are extra financial help for students from families on a low income. If you receive the full Maintenance Grant or the full Special Support Grant you are guaranteed to receive a bursary.
If you receive some of the Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant you may still get a bursary, depending on the university or college you attend.
The amount you are entitled to receive can be different depending on the university or college you go to, so you should contact them directly to find out more about the bursaries they offer.
Extra help for students with particular circumstances
Students with children or adult dependants
There are extra grants available if you have children or if you have any adults who depend on you financially. You would not have to pay any of these back.
If you have a physical or mental disability, or a specific learning difficultly such as dyslexia, there are grants available to help you meet the extra costs of study you might face. You would not have to pay any of these back.
You can get a Tuition Fee Loan to cover all or part of your tuition fees
You need to pay it back after you have finished your course
You will be charged interest on any amount you borrow
The money is paid directly to your university or college, not to you
How much can you get?
This will depend on where in the United Kingdom you decide to study.
Universities and colleges in Northern Ireland can charge up to £3,575 for tuition fees in academic year 2013/14.
You can get a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the full amount of tuition fees your university or college is charging you, up to a maximum of £3,575.
Universities and colleges in England, Scotland and Wales can charge up to £9,000 for tuition fees in academic year 2012/13.
If you’re studying in one of these countries, you can get a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the full amount of tuition fees your university or college is charging you, up to a maximum of £9,000.
The amount you are charged may vary depending on the course or the university or college you choose to attend. Contact the university or college directly for more information.
Leaving your course during the year
If you leave your course during the year you will pay back the the following amount of the Tuition Fee Loan.
This ‘dummy’ version of the Student Finance Online Service opens in your browser. You can see every screen of the online application, with extra help added to explain common problems. Download the files and save them on to your computer to start.
This demo is for demonstrative purposes, and does not mirror the interactive nature of the live Student Finance system.
If you’re going to study in the Republic of Ireland, then your university or college will charge you an annual fee contribution.
The maximum amount for 2013/14 is €2,500 (the average annual exchange rate used is 0.8107 Euro to the pound).
To cover this upfront cost, you can get a Student Contribution Loan to help pay up to the full amount of the fee contribution. This is an interest bearing repayable loan.
We’ll send you a separate application form for the Student Contribution Loan, after you’ve applied online or through the PN1 application form. See the steps below so you know when to expect this:
Apply online or on the PN1 application form
We’ll identify if you’re studying in the Republic of Ireland based on your application
You’ll be assessed for support and receive your Student Finance Entitlement letter
After approximately four weeks you should receive your Student Contribution Loan request form.
Complete the form and return it to your ELB if you wish to take out the Student Contribution Loan.
If you don’t take the Student Contribution Loan or you take less than the full amount you’re entitled to, you’ll need to pay all or the difference directly to the university or college you are attending.
If you need to change the amount of Student Contribution Loan you are taking out, then contact your ELB for a new application form.
You may also be entitled to a Maintenance Loan to help with living costs.