Maintenance Loan
Up to £14k+Living-cost support paid to you if eligible.
Student Money Hub
Student money hub.
Understand funding, budgeting and student money decisions before you apply.
Plain EnglishAdult learner routeFunding-focused
Snapshot
£14k+support
£9k+tuition
SFEroute
Freeguidance
Funding cards
Student finance and support.
Core funding routes explained visually: living costs, tuition, grants and extra support.
Tuition Fee Loan
£9k+Course-fee support usually paid to provider.
Grants & bursaries
CheckExtra help may be available depending on circumstances.
Parents / DSA
Extra helpSupport for parents, disabilities or specific needs.
Calculator result
Your student finance estimate.
This is an indicative result. Final entitlement depends on SFE assessment, course intensity, household income, location and study mode.
Total possible support£23,925
Tuition Fee Loan£9,790
Maintenance Loan£14,135
Extra grantsCheck
Stage 1 · Before you apply
Confirm your status
SFE first checks who you are: your residency, nationality and whether you've studied before. This decides what you can get.
Who qualifiesUsually 3 years' UK residence + settled/eligible status
Watch-outPrevious study (ELQ) can reduce or block funding
Do this: Have your passport/ID, residency history and any previous-study details ready before you start.
Stage 1 of 8
Comparison table
Check funding routes.
Clear decision signals for course comparison, university comparison and funding guide pages.
| Route | Funding type | Maintenance Loan | Best for | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campus / blended undergraduate | Tuition + maintenance | Usually stronger | Students needing living-cost support | Best overall route |
| Weekend-only | Needs careful check | Risk area | Working adults with limited time | Ask adviser first |
| Online / distance learning | Tuition may apply | Usually no maintenance | Remote learners | Good flexibility, less living-cost support |
| Postgraduate Master’s | Postgraduate Loan | Different system | Graduates and career changers | Check loan cap and tuition |
Money & student life
Cost of living support while you study
From rent and travel to food, childcare and study materials, compare the support available and understand what could affect your student finance before you apply.
Check funding supportYStudy Money
Student money decisions after finance.
MoneySavingExpert-style cards for bank accounts, broadband, phone plans and student essentials.
Student bank account
Welcome reward
£100Overdraft up to £1,500. Check eligibility and terms before applying.
Student mobile SIM
Flexible monthly plan
100GBUseful for students who do not want a long contract.
Student broadband
Shared house option
150MbpsCheck installation, cancellation and minimum term.
YStudy resource
Student Money Hub
Budgeting, student discounts and money guidance for adult learners.
Budget planning
Understand study costs before applying.
Open →Student discounts
Useful offers for students.
Open →Repayments
Understand income-based repayment basics.
Open →Need help choosing the right route?
Use Degree Match Finder or speak to a YStudy adviser before applying.