Undergraduate tuition fees and student loans
How much are tuition fees and how are you going to pay for them? Find out how to fund your studies and how to apply here.
How much are tuition fees and how are you going to pay for them? Find out how to fund your studies and how to apply here.
Tuition fees are charged by universities and colleges to cover key elements of your course and academic life, as well as core services related to students’ wellbeing and experience on campus.
Tuition fees normally cover:
However, tuition fees won’t usually cover:
If you’re unsure if something is covered by your tuition fees – or if you’ll have to pay for it, ask your university or college.
Tuition fees can vary quite a bit – even for similar courses. You can see exactly how much they are by searching for a course, but you can get an approximate idea from the table below.
These are the maximum tuition fees depending on where you’re from and where you’re studying. Exact fees will be shown when you search for courses.
Student's home region | Studying in England | Studying in Scotland | Studying in Wales | Studying in Northern Ireland |
---|---|---|---|---|
England | Up to £9,250 | Up to £9,250 | Up to £9,000 | Up to £9,250 |
Scotland | Up to £9,250 | No fee | Up to £9,000 | Up to £9,250 |
Wales | Up to £9,250 | Up to £9,250 | Up to £9,000 | Up to £9,250 |
Northern Ireland | Up to £9,250 | Up to £9,250 | Up to £9,000 | Up to £4,710 |
EU and other international* | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable |
* This will not apply to Irish nationals living in the UK and Ireland whose right to study and to access benefits and services will be preserved on a reciprocal basis for UK and Irish nationals under the Common Travel Area arrangement.
Learn more about undergraduate tuition fees and funding available in your region: Check out our guides to student finance for students in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and for EU/international students.
The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assesses undergraduate teaching, awarding either a gold, silver, or bronze award to participating universities and colleges.
Universities and colleges in England that receive a TEF award are allowed to charge a maximum tuition fee of £9,250 per year for full-time undergraduate courses. Those without a TEF award can only charge up to £9,000.
The TEF has no impact on tuition fees in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
Search for a university to see its TEF ranking (and much more). Alternatively, learn more about TEF.
Tuition fees may be higher and you might not be able to get the same financial support.
Contact the appropriate student finance provider for more information.
Student loans can include a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan to help with your living costs.
The UK Government has announced that EU, other EEA, and Swiss nationals will no longer be eligible for home fee status for undergraduate, postgraduate, and advanced learner financial support from Student Finance England for courses starting from academic year 2022/23 onwards. This change also applies to further education funding for those aged 19+, and funding for apprenticeships.
Check the GOV.UK website for further information.
For guidance on whether you are eligible to pay overseas or home/EU fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Read more about student finance for international and EU students
Advanced Learner Loans will be available to those aged 19 and over, studying eligible courses from Level 3 (A level equivalent) up to Level 6 at approved course providers.
Applications can be made through the Student Loans Company.
EU students starting courses on or after 1 August 2021 must have settled or pre-settled status in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme to get student finance. This does not apply to students who are Irish citizens.
It’s important that you’re aware of this requirement before applying for student finance, otherwise you will not be eligible for funding.
Visit the EU Settlement Scheme information guide on GOV.uk for more information.
Student finance usually consists of a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan to cover – or at least partially help with – your university costs.
All full-time undergraduate students are eligible for student finance, provided they meet some basic criteria:
Both Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans must be paid back once you graduate and you’re earning above a minimum salary. Repayment systems vary from country to country.
You have to apply for student finance for each year of your course – not just your first year. This is to guarantee you get the support you’re entitled to throughout your studies.
You must apply to the student finance body in your country, as well as notify them of any changes to your circumstances, e.g. you leave or change your course. Below is a guide to who looks after student finance in each country.
It can take up to six weeks to process student finance applications. Make sure you apply early – even if you have a conditional offer – as you can amend or cancel your application if your plans change.
Full-time undergraduate applications for 2023 to 2024 are now open. The quickest and easiest way to apply is online. View more information about how and when to apply.
Apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) – although you can apply to the SAAS to cover your full tuition in Scotland, you may also get other support for living costs, or for tuition fees elsewhere in the UK.
SAAS encourages students to apply as early as possible to allow themselves time to gather the necessary supporting evidence.
Tuition Fee Loans are available to cover the full cost of tuition fees upfront.
They’re paid directly to your university or college, so you don’t have to worry about them too much (until it comes time to repay them).
Usually you can get a Tuition Fee Loan for the duration of your course plus one extra year, e.g. in case you drop out and return at a later date.
Maintenance Loans are available to help with some of your living costs at university, e.g. accommodation, transport, food, and books. It’s unlikely this will cover all your living costs, in which case it’s up to you to make up the shortfall.
How much you get will work on a sliding scale, based on:
In some countries, Maintenance Loans are combined with non-repayable grants, with your household income deciding the ratio of loan-to-grant you get, i.e. students from lower income households receive higher grants and thus less in maintenance loans which they have to pay back.
Whatever maintenance support you receive will be paid to you in instalments, at the start of each term.
Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) helps cover some of the extra study-related costs you may incur due to an impairment, mental health condition, or learning difference. This is a non-repayable allowance which is in addition to other student finance.
The amount you’ll receive depends on your individual needs not on your income, nor that of your parents or partner. However, there are some restrictions on what you may use DSA for and there are regional differences around the UK, so check the details carefully.
There are also a number of grants and allowances to help with any extra costs you might incur while studying as a result of your personal circumstances, namely if you:
Once you know what student finance you’re eligible for, if your student budget is still looking tight – or quite frankly, simply not enough to cover the cost of university – it’s worth looking into additional funding, in the form of scholarships, bursaries, and grants.
These don’t have to be paid back either, and are awarded for all sorts of reasons – so check if you're eligible.
Our full guides on scholarships, grants, and bursaries go into detail about what they offer, how to apply, and the extra benefits they come with.
Our guide to managing your money at university contains lots of tips to make your cash stretch. Plus you can find the latest support on dealing with the cost of living here.