Tuition Fee Loan (UK)

The Tuition Fee Loan is part of student finance for mature students who pay their university fees. It doesn’t go to your bank account. It goes directly to the university, so you don’t have to pay anything up front.

This guide explains what the Tuition Fee Loan is, who can get it, how much it covers, how to apply, and how repayments work.

What is a Tuition Fee Loan?

The Tuition Fee Loan provides financial support to cover the cost of your course.
This means:

• You don’t pay for your university yourself
  
• You don’t need savings
  
• There are no credit checks
  
• Everyone eligible can receive it
  

It is not the same as the Maintenance Loan, which is money for living costs.
And it is not the same as grants, which are extra payments (for childcare, dependants, etc.) that you do not repay.

Here is the difference:

Who is the Tuition Fee Loan for?

You must be “ordinarily resident in England” and meet the rules for one of the following:

• British citizen
  
• Irish citizen
  
• Settled status
  
• Pre-settled status (with work/residency conditions)
  
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
  
• Refugee / Humanitarian protection
  
• EU with retained worker rights
  
• People living legally in the UK for the required period
  

For mature students with pre-settled status, one of the key entry requirements is showing regular work and income (around £850/month or more, depending on rules).

Course & provider eligibility

You must study:

• At an approved university or college, and
  
• On an eligible higher education course
  

Examples of courses that qualify:

• Full-time undergraduate degrees
  
• Part-time undergraduate degrees (depending on intensity)
  
• Courses with a Foundation Year
  
• HNC / HND
  
• Top-Up degrees
  
• Accelerated degrees

If you want to find out more about what courses are available to you, you can check out or course page here – Courses

If the provider appears on the government list of approved HE institutions, the Tuition Fee Loan can be used.

Previous study

A previous study can affect your eligibility because of the ELQ (Equivalent or Lower Qualification) rules.

BUT mature students often still qualify if:

• You did not finish your previous course
  
• Your previous degree was outside the UK
  
• You are now doing a degree in a professional subject with exemptions (e.g., Nursing, Allied Health, Social Work, STEM degrees)
  
• You qualify for a “gift year”
  
• Your course includes a Foundation Year
  

This needs case-by-case review — which is exactly what we do at Enrollmate.

Part-time Tuition Fee Loan (course intensity)

Mature students studying part-time can also get a Tuition Fee Loan.

You just need the course to have a minimum course intensity, which usually means:

• You are doing at least 25% of the full-time equivalent hours
  
• You complete the course in a reasonable timeframe
  

Part-time students:

• Apply each academic year
  
• Have the loan paid directly to the university
  
• Pay nothing up front

Example:
If a full-time course takes 3 years, a part-time version might take 5–6 years.
As long as your part-time course meets the intensity threshold, you can receive the Tuition Fee Loan every year.

How much can the Tuition Fee Loan give you?

The amount depends on your course type. These are the maximums per year:

Universities set their own tuition fee amounts. The Tuition Fee Loan covers up to the maximum allowed for that type of course.

Calculate your funding

Tuition Fee Loan for a foundation year

Foundation year (Year 0) is fully covered by the Tuition Fee Loan, as long as:

• The course is at an approved provider
  
• It leads to a recognised degree
  
• You meet residency and previous study rules
  

Some universities charge lower fees for the Foundation Year (around £5,760). Others charge the standard fee (up to £9,535).

Either way, the loan covers it, so you pay nothing up front.

How is the Tuition Fee Loan paid?

The Tuition Fee Loan never touches your bank account.

It works like this:

1. You apply for student finance
2. Your university confirms your place
3. Student Finance England pays the tuition directly to the university, in instalments
4. Your fees are automatically covered

This means no invoices, no monthly payments, and no surprises.

How to apply for the Tuition Fee Loan?

Applying is simple and takes around 30 minutes.

1. Create a Student Finance account

You do this on the official gov.uk website.

2. Enter your personal details

ID, NI number, residency history, etc.

3. Select your course and university

Search for the provider in the drop-down list.

4. Upload your evidence

This may include:

• BRP or Share Code
• The previous study documents

5. Submit your application

6. Track your application

You can see updates in your online portal.

7. Enrol at university

Once you enrol, the payments trigger.

Repayment of the loan

Repayment is the same as the Maintenance Loan.

You only repay after you earn above the threshold.

For Plan 5, this means:

• You repay 9% of anything you earn over £25,000/year
  
• If you earn less, you pay £0
  
• If your income changes, repayments go up or down automatically
  
• After 40 years, any remaining debt is wiped

You never repay if your salary stays below the threshold.

Estimate repayments with our Student Loan repayment calculator

FAQs

What does the Tuition Fee Loan cover?

It covers the full cost of your university fees, paid directly to the institution.

Can I get a tuition loan if I study part-time?

Yes — as long as your course meets the minimum intensity requirement.

Is there an age limit for Tuition Fee Loans?

There is no upper age limit for Tuition Fee Loans in England.

Can I combine the Tuition Fee Loan with a Maintenance Loan?

Yes, if eligible. Use the calculators to estimate your support and repayments.

Other loans for mature students:

• Maintenance loan
• Grants