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Tuition Fee Loan Part-time undergraduate, tuition fee and living cost students

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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 for part-time undergraduate tuition fee and living cost students.

Nationality and residency

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

A UK national 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

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 UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, for the three years before the first day of your first academic year

EU nationals with less than three years residency in UK & Islands may be eligible for tuition fee only student funding.

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 may not be classed as 'ordinarily resident' in Northern Ireland which means you may need to apply for funding from your home funding provider. You should contact your home funding provider for further information.

Course

To qualify for this loan your course must result in one of the following qualifications:

  • a first degree, for example, a BA, BSc or BEd
  • a Foundation Degree
  • a Certificate of Higher Education
  • a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
  • a Higher National Certificate (HNC)
  • a Higher National Diploma (HND)

Your university or college will be able to confirm the course's qualification.

Course intensity

To qualify for this loan you must have a course intensity of at least 25% during the academic year.

Age

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

Place of study

Your university or college must be based in the UK and either publicly funded (paid for by the government) or privately funded but running individual courses that receive public funding. Privately funded institutions must also be approved by the Department of Economy.

Your university or college will be able to confirm their eligibility for funding from us.

Previous study

You won't normally be eligible for funding if you already hold an honours degree or if you're applying for a course that is equivalent or lower in level than your first higher education course.

This is the case whether or not you have an equivalent qualification from a United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland or overseas institution or your previous qualification was publicly funded or self-funded.

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