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Tuition Fee Loan Postgraduate Tuition fee and extra help student

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2. Who can get this loan?

You don't need to work out if you're eligible - we'll do it for you

This page is intended for your information only. Make your application for student finance, we'll determine your eligibility and let you know.

The following can contribute to your eligibility for a Tuition Fee Loan.

Nationality and residency

You could get this funding if you're able to identify as one of the following:

A UK or Irish citizen or someone with settled status in the UK

You must:

  • normally live in Northern Ireland
  • have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three years before the first day of your first academic year

Irish citizens and family members of Irish citizens with less than three years residency in UK & Islands may be eligible for tuition fee only funding.

An EU national

You must:

  • have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
  • normally live in Northern Ireland
  • have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three years before the first day of your first academic year

If you're an EU national or family member of an EU national with less than 3 years residency in UK & Islands you may also be eligible if you have lived in the UK, Gibraltar, the EEA or Switzerland for the three years before the first day of your first academic year. You would be eligible as a tuition fee only funding student.

A UK national or family members of a UK national who has been living in the EEA or Switzerland

You must:

  • have normally lived in the EEA or Switzerland on or before 31 December 2020
  • have lived in the UK, Gibraltar, the EEA or Switzerland for the three years before the first day of your first academic year
  • be studying in Northern Ireland

An eligible exception residency type

Our eligible exception residency types can include refugees, those under humanitarian protection or their immediate family members.

Resident in another area of the UK but living in Northern Ireland while you study

You will not be classed as 'ordinarily resident' in Northern Ireland and will not be eligible for support from Student Finance NI. You should contact your home funding provider for further information on what support is available.

Age

There is no upper or lower age limit for a Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan.

Course

Your course must start on or after 1 August 2017, and must be one of the following:

  • Postgraduate Master's
  • Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert)
  • Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip)

The course can be studied in attendance at a university or through distance learning.

If you're studying a Postgraduate Master's it must lead to a qualification such as:

  • Master of Science (MSc)
  • Master of Art (MA)
  • Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
  • Master of Research (MRes)
  • Master of Law (LLM)
  • Master of Letters (MLitt)
  • Master of Fine Art (MFA)
  • Master of Education (MED)
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Where the Master's course incorporates another postgraduate qualification of the same or lower level, the Master's course is eligible for Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan funding. For example, a Master of Law (LLM) is an eligible course whether or not it incorporates a Legal Practice Course (LPC) (the LPC being a Postgraduate Diploma qualification).

It can be taught or research-based and studied either full time or part time but must not last longer than three academic years.

A Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan is not available for:

  • Postgraduate Doctoral degree
  • Master's degrees that are undertaken as part of a Postgraduate Doctoral Degree
  • postgraduate courses that are eligible for undergraduate support

Master of Architecture

If you plan to study for a Master of Architecture (MArch) qualification full time, apply for undergraduate support.

The Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan will only be available for a MArch if you're either taking a part-time course or you aren't eligible for undergraduate funding for another reason.

Any other sources of funding you receive (including bursary funding) will not affect your eligibility for Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan.

Place of study

Your university must be in the UK (including Open University) or a specified provider in the ROI and be publicly funded (paid for by the government).

Previous study

If you've never received postgraduate funding before

The Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan will be available to you even if you already hold a postgraduate qualification of any level.

If you have a lower level qualification, such as a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma which you have self-funded, and want to 'top-up' to a Master's degree, you will be eligible for a Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan.

If you've received postgraduate funding in the past

You won't be able to receive a Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan if you've previously received postgraduate funding from any of the following:

  • Student Finance NI
  • Student Finance England
  • Student Finance Wales
  • Student Awards Agency for Scotland

If you were unable to complete your course due to compelling personal reasons then you may be eligible for a Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan for a new course, you can contact our postgraduate helpline for more information.

If you only got Disabled Students' Allowance for your previous postgraduate course, you will still be able to get a Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan.

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