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Check if you qualify

There are rules on who can qualify for finance. To check if you qualify, see the link ‘EU students – what student finance do you qualify for’.

The funding rules are different if you want to study a postgraduate course or study in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland - see the link ‘EU students – what student finance do you qualify for’.

Courses starting after 1 September 2023

If you start your course after 1 September 2023 different rules apply - see 'EU student finance for 2012/13'.

• EU students: what type of finance could you qualify for?

• EU student finance for 2012/13

EU student finance 2011/12

If you're applying for 2011/12, the basic loans and grants are:

• full-time EU students - can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to help with the costs of tuition
• part-time EU students - can apply for a Fee Grant and a Course Grant to help with the costs of tuition

What do you have to pay back?

You have to pay back any loans plus interest once you complete your course and start earning more than £15,795.

You don't have to pay back any grants, scholarships or bursaries.

• Student loan repayments Opens new window

Tuition fee – loans and grants

Tuition fees are the amount universities or colleges charge you each year to study.

Full-time EU students – loans

The maximum Tuition Fee Loan in 2011/12 is £3,375 a year. This is paid directly to the university or college and you have to pay it back.

Part-time EU students – grants

Part-time EU students can’t apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Instead, they can apply for a Fee Grant. This is paid directly to the university or college and doesn’t have to be paid back.

The most you can get is £1,230 a year. The actual amount depends on things like: the ‘intensity’ of your course, your household income, if you’re single or if you have dependent children. Intensity is how long the part-time course takes to complete compared with the full-time equivalent. Ask your university or college to confirm your part-time course intensity.

• Forms and guides - EU student finance (2011/12)

Additional help – like living costs

You might be able to get help with things like your living costs if you meet certain conditions. For example, you’ve lived in the UK for more than three years before your course starts or you're a migrant worker from the EEA.

To find out about qualifying for additional support and how much you could get - see the link below.

• EU students: what type of finance could you qualify for?

Bursaries and scholarships

You may be able to get extra help through educational grants and charitable trusts.

• Bursaries, scholarships and awards

More useful links

• Funding postgraduate study

• Student Awards Agency for Scotland - finance for EU students Opens new window

• Norther Ireland and Wales - Contact the Student Finance Services European Team