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What financial help can you get?

Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for:

• help with tuition fees
  
• help with tuition fees and ‘additional help’ – for example, living costs

If you want to study in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales, the rules are different.

• For Scotland: contact the Student Awards agency

• For Northern Ireland and Wales: contact the Student Finance Services European Team

EU students

Tuition Fees

To qualify for a Tuition Fee Loan the following needs to apply:

• you’re an EU national, or the family member of an EU national
  
• your course qualifies – see the section ‘Does your course qualify’

To find out how much money you can get and how to apply, see the links below.

• EU student finance for 2012/13

• EU student finance 2011/12

• How to apply for finance - EU students

Additional help

Some EU nationals may qualify for a Tuition Fee Loan and additional help, but usually only if all of the following apply:

• you’re an EU national, or the family member of someone who is
  
• you’ve lived in the UK for three years or more before your course starts
  
• you’ll be living in the UK on the first day of the academic year in which your course starts
  
• usually your main reason for living in the UK was not to receive full-time education
  
• your course qualifies – see the section ‘Does your course qualify’

If you qualify for this level of help, the application process is different. You need to apply in the same way as students from England.

• Apply for student finance if you qualify for additional help

Migrant workers

EEA and Swiss migrant workers

You may qualify for help with tuition fees and additional help if all of the following apply:

• you’re a national from an EEA country or Switzerland
  
• you’re working in the UK
  
• you’ve lived in the EEA or Switzerland for three years or more before your course starts
  
• you’ll be living in the UK on the first day of the academic year in which your course starts
• your course qualifies

You may also qualify if you’re a family member of an EEA or Swiss migrant worker.

Children of Turkish workers

You may qualify for help with tuition fees and additional help if all of the following apply:

• you're the child of a Turkish national who usually lives and works in the UK
  
• you’ve lived in the EEA, Switzerland or Turkey for three years or more before your course starts
  
• you’ll be living in the UK on the first day of the academic year in which your course starts
• your course qualifies
  

The application process is different if you want to apply as a migrant worker or the child of a Turkish worker. You need to apply in the same way as students from England.

• Find a list of EEA countries Opens new window

• Apply for student finance - migrant workers

Does your course qualify?

Your course must take place at one of the following:

• a UK university
  
• a college that receives government funding
  
• a private institution offering specifically designated higher education courses (ask your university or college if it qualifies)
  
• a group of schools taking part in the School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) scheme

Your course must lead to one of the following qualifications:

• degree (like a BA, BSc or BEd) – you may not qualify if you already have one
  
• foundation degree
  
• Diploma of Higher Education (DipEd)
  
• Higher National Diploma (HND)
  
• Higher National Certificate (HNC)
  
• Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
  
• Initial Teacher Training (ITT)

If you want to study a postgraduate course (other than a PGCE), the funding rules are different.

• Funding postgraduate study

For help on the qualifying rules

If you want to speak to someone about eligibility for student finance and what help you can get, use the links below.

• EU students: contact the Student Finance Services European Team

• EEA and Swiss migrant workers: contact Student Finance England

• Children of Turkish workers in the UK: contact Student Finance England

If you’re unhappy with a student finance decision

It may be possible to have your application re-assessed. Contact the Student Finances Services European Team.

• Student Finance Services European Team