Students in universities and colleges of higher education may be able to get help with tuition fees, the costs of their course and their living expenses by getting student support in the form of student grants (including bursaries) or loans from the Government.

A grant does not have to be paid back. A student loan has to be paid back later when you start earning over a certain amount.

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Taxable: No

Administered by: Student Finance in each country of the UK

The amount of help you can get depends on where you are studying, where you are living whilst studying, the fees charged by your university or college and your family circumstances.

Some students could get extra financial help, for example:

•    single parents
•    student parents if they have a partner who is also a student
•    students with certain disabilities

Find more information on Gov UK: Student Finance website. 

You can apply online or on paper. Follow the links below for the applications forms.

• Students from England
• Students from Wales
• Students from Scotland
• Students from Northern Ireland

If you are a national of another European Union country, you can find more information on the Gov.UK: Student Finance - EU Students website page or you can contact Student Finance Services. 

What documents will I need?

You must provide your passport. If you do not have a passport, you can send your original birth certificate (or adoption certificate). If you send either of these documents, they must be accompanied by an identity confirmation form. Ask the Student Finance organisation for the country of the UK you live in where you get this from.

Depending on your circumstances, you may have to supply other evidence. For example, if you are claiming extra money because of a disability, you will need to provide evidence of the disability, such as a letter from a doctor.

If you will be under 25 at the start of the academic year, and you are married or in a civil partnership, you need to send your original marriage or civil partnership certificate.

The rules about how student income such as grants (including bursaries) and loans, affects benefits entitlement are quite complicated. You can find more information in our Student Income guide. 

Reviewed: January 2023