All eligible full time students can get a Student Loan for Fees to meet their course costs. This is a non commercial loan from the Government. The money is paid directly to your college or university on your behalf and you only have to start repaying it once you have left university and are earning over £15,000 a year.

The amount you are loaned for your fees depends on how much your chosen university charges, but the vast majority charge the maximum amount - £3,145 for those starting university in September 2008. If you don’t want to take out a tuition fee loan then you can make arrangements with your university or college to pay the tuition fees directly to them.

Maintenance Grants are available to new full-time students and are non-repayable.  For students starting a higher education course in September 2008 the maintenance grant will be based on existing household income thresholds. Those with a household income of £25,000 or less will be eligible for a full grant - £2,835 per year. Those with a household income between £25,001 and £60,005 will be eligible for a partial grant. Those with a household income of over £60,005 will not be eligible for a grant.

You may also apply for a Student Loan for Maintenance. These are repayable loans available to help with living costs.  How much you get depends on where you decide to live and study as well as your household income. 

The amount you receive will also depend on whether you are eligible for a grant. If you’re getting a higher level of Maintenance Grant, it’s assumed that you won’t need to borrow as much through the Student Loan for Maintenance. This means that if you come from a lower income household, you’ll have a smaller loan to repay when you finish studying and start work.