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We link to the provider so you can check the latest terms. A discount only saves money if you needed the purchase.
Look beyond the welcome perk.
Compare eligibility, overdrafts and ongoing requirements.
Overdrafts are borrowing, repayable on demand and subject to status. These are selected accounts, not a whole-market ranking. Check what happens after graduation before applying.
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No guaranteed earnings. No get-rich-quick promises.
Start with the money you have for the term. Set aside the essentials, then see what’s left each week.
A planning estimate. Your figures stay in this browser session.What pays for your course, what helps you live,
and what you repay later.
A Tuition Fee Loan covers eligible course fees and is paid to the provider. Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying in Scotland may instead have fees paid by SAAS, without a tuition loan. Apply for funding; it is not automatic.
Living-cost support helps with rent, food and travel. The package depends on your funding body, household circumstances and course. Grants and bursaries normally do not need repayment; loans do.
Start with the funding body for where you normally live, not simply where your university is. Residency, previous study, course type and study mode matter. Do not assume an online course qualifies for maintenance support.
For Plans 1, 2, 4 and 5, repayments are 9% of earnings above the plan threshold, not 9% of your whole salary. The separate Postgraduate Loan plan uses 6%.
Repayments normally begin no earlier than the April after leaving your course, once earnings exceed the threshold. Longer part-time courses have different start rules. Interest can accrue while you study and when no repayments are due.
Your funding body, course and start date determine the plan. Check your Student Loans Company account rather than choosing one yourself.
Find your repayment plan ↗| Plan | Annual threshold | Rate above it |
|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | £26,900 | 9% |
| Plan 2 | £29,385 | 9% |
| Plan 4 | £33,795 | 9% |
| Plan 5 | £25,000 | 9% |
| Postgraduate | £21,000 | 6% |
Payroll uses weekly or monthly thresholds, so bonuses can trigger deductions. Multiple loans can change the calculation. Official repayment rules ↗
Apply through your funding body, supply the requested identity, residency, course and household-income evidence, and check its current deadline. Confirm whether you need a new application each academic year. Keep your payment schedule and budget for the period until the next instalment. Find the application route ↗
Do not assume that full-time online study has the same support as campus study. For Student Finance England, distance-learning maintenance support is generally only available when a disability prevents in-person attendance. Other nations have their own rules. Get written confirmation from your funding body for your exact course before relying on it. England’s official rules ↗
UK income-contingent student loans do not appear on credit reports or affect your credit score, but lenders may account for repayments when assessing affordability. Read the official explanation ↗
Write-off timing depends on the repayment plan and, in some cases, when you first borrowed. Do not assume everyone has the same repayment period. Check your plan’s official cancellation rules before making decisions about extra repayments. Check write-off rules ↗
Tell your funding body promptly if you withdraw, suspend study or your circumstances change. Overpayments may be reclaimed separately from normal income-based repayments. Moving overseas does not cancel the loan: update the Student Loans Company and check overseas repayment requirements. Student loan repayment guidance ↗
Checked 6 November 2026. Thresholds shown are for UK repayments in the 2026/27 tax year. Funding and interest rules can change; follow the official sources for your course and circumstances.
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