Everything you need to know - eligibility, how to apply, deadlines, and repayment - explained clearly.
Student Finance England (SFE) is a government service that provides financial support to eligible students studying at UK universities and colleges. It is administered by the Student Loans Company on behalf of the Department for Education.
The funding covers two main areas: your tuition fees and your living costs, so that money is never the reason you miss out on a university education.
Crucially, you do not need to repay anything until you are earning above the repayment threshold, and any remaining balance is written off after 40 years.
Available for full-time and part-time students, both course types are eligible, though amounts differ as per individual circumstances.
No upfront payment required - tuition fees are paid directly to your university.
Maintenance loan paid directly to you in three instalments each academic year.
Repayment only begins once you earn above the threshold, currently £25,000 per year.
Any remaining balance is written off after 40 years, regardless of how much you have repaid.
| Loan Type | Maximum Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fee Loan Paid directly to your university. Covers the full cost of most courses. |
Up to £9,790/year |
| Maintenance Loan – Living away (London) For students living away from home in London. |
Up to £14,000 |
| Maintenance Loan – Living away (outside London) For students living away from home outside London. |
Up to £10,544 |
| Maintenance Loan – Living at home For students continuing to live in their family home. |
Up to £7,110 |
Student Finance England has clear eligibility criteria. Here is a straightforward breakdown of who can apply.
You must be a UK national or have settled status and normally live in England. You must have lived in the UK for at least three years before your course starts.
Your course must be a designated higher education course at an approved UK university or college. Most full-time and part-time degrees, HNDs, CertHEs, and foundation years qualify. View our courses.
You can generally only receive student finance for one undergraduate degree. If you have studied before, it may affect your eligibility. AEC Consultant can advise on your specific situation free of charge.
EU students who arrived in the UK with settled or pre-settled status may qualify. Refugee statuses also qualify. Visit our international students page for personalised advice.
Your tuition fee loan is not means-tested; everyone receives the same maximum amount. Your maintenance loan is means-tested. The lower your household income, the more maintenance loan you receive.
Not sure if you qualify? AEC Consultant's advisors check your eligibility for free. We have helped thousands of students access student finance who were unsure whether they were eligible.
The application process has several steps. Follow these in order and apply as early as possible. The deadline is earlier than most students expect. Missing the deadline may mean your money does not arrive in time for the start of the term.
Go to gov.uk/student-finance and create an account using your National Insurance number. If you do not have a National Insurance number, you will need to apply for one in advance. Allow around 30 minutes for registration.
Log in and complete the application form. You will need your course details, university name, and personal information. Apply even if you have not yet confirmed your university place; you can update your application later.
If you want your maintenance loan assessed on household income (to receive the maximum amount), your parents or partner needs to provide their income details through a separate linked form. You can skip this to receive a flat-rate maintenance loan.
You may need to upload proof of identity, such as a valid passport or birth certificate. International students may need additional documentation depending on their immigration status. Scan documents clearly and in colour.
Once your application is processed, Student Finance England will send you an entitlement letter confirming your tuition fee loan and maintenance loan amounts. Processing typically takes 6–8 weeks, so apply early.
Once you register at your university, they confirm your attendance to Student Finance England. Your first maintenance loan payment is then released, usually within one week of the term starting.
AEC Consultant helps students complete their Student Finance England application correctly the first time, avoiding common errors that cause processing delays and helping them receive the maximum entitlement or benefits they are eligible for. This service is completely free.
You only repay once you are earning above the repayment threshold. The following applies to Plan 5, which covers new undergraduate students starting from 2023 onwards.
You only begin repaying once your income exceeds £25,000 per year. Below this, you pay nothing regardless of your loan balance.
You repay 9% of everything you earn above the threshold. Earn £30,000? You repay 9% of £5,000 = £450 per year (£37.50/month).
Any remaining student loan balance is written off after 40 years, regardless of how much you have or have not repaid.
Many graduates never repay their full loan, and that is by design. Student finance functions more like a graduate contribution than a traditional loan. If you do not earn enough, you simply do not pay. AEC Consultant can help you understand what repayment would look like for your specific situation, entirely free of charge.
Missing the deadline does not mean you cannot receive student finance, but applying late may mean your money does not arrive in time for the start of the term. Always apply as early as possible.
| Deadline | Who It Applies To | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2026 – Recommended deadline for new students | Students starting their first year in autumn 2026 | Deadline Passed |
| 19 June 2026 – Recommended deadline for returning students | Students continuing their course in the 2026/27 academic year | Open |
| 9 months after the course start – Late application deadline | All students who missed the earlier recommended deadlines | Still Possible |
Student Finance England typically advises that complete applications can take 6–8 weeks to process. However, this is the standard maximum processing timeframe, and in the AEC Consultant's experience, straightforward applications are rarely delayed for this long. Most complete applications with the correct supporting documents are usually processed within the first 4–5 weeks. This is why applying as early as possible is essential. Submitting your application close to the deadline may increase the risk of receiving your funding after the start of the term. AEC Consultant helps you complete your application correctly the first time, reducing the likelihood of errors and unnecessary processing delays.
For most UK courses, yes. The tuition fee loan covers up to £9,790/year, which covers the full fees for the majority of degrees. The loan is paid directly to your university; you never handle this money. If your course fees exceed this amount, you would need to cover the difference, though this is rare for standard UK degrees.
You will typically need: your National Insurance number, a valid UK passport or birth certificate, your course and university details, and, if applying for income-assessed maintenance, your household's income information. International students may need additional documents. AEC Consultant provides a personalised documents checklist as part of our free guidance.
Yes, in most cases. You need to notify Student Finance England of any course change by updating your application. Your entitlement may be recalculated depending on the nature of the change. If you switch to a course with different fees or change universities, your tuition fee loan will be adjusted accordingly.
Student Finance England provides funding for the standard length of your course plus one additional year (known as a gift year). If you repeat your first year due to failing, this repeat year is typically funded. However, if you have already used your gift year, you may not receive further funding. Speak to your university's student finance team and AEC Consultant for guidance specific to your situation.
Yes, completely free. AEC Consultant charges students nothing for any of our services. We are funded by our partner universities, which means you receive expert admissions and student finance guidance at zero cost. There are no hidden fees, no subscriptions, and no charges at any point in the process.
AEC Consultant's advisors have processed over £60M in Student Finance England applications. Get expert, free help today.