Postgraduate Loan for EU Students

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals with Settled or Pre-settled status who study for a postgraduate course in the UK may be eligible for a Student Finance Masters Loan to cover course fees and more. 

EU students may also pay lower fees compared to international students, depending on the course and institution.

Student Finance England offers the Postgraduate Loan for EU students who need a student loan for masters degrees. This student loan can cover tuition fees, living costs, and other expenses related to your studies. 

Postgraduate loans are intended to provide financial help to UK and EU students on UK postgraduate courses only. If you want to know more about student loans and fees for undergraduate courses, visit our EU Student Finance page.

The Postgraduate Loan can be up to:

• £13,206 – for postgraduate courses starting in the academic year 2026/27.
• £12,858 – for postgraduate courses starting in the academic year 2025/26.

You can request the amount of funding which is best suited to your needs:

• The Postgraduate Loan is not means-tested, so the funding that you get is not based on your income.
• You can request the maximum loan amount even if it exceeds your course fees.

The Student Loan Company (SLC) transfers the funds directly into your bank account in 3 different instalments of 33%, 33% and 34% of the entire loan during the academic year.

If the duration of your postgraduate course is more than a year, the loan is divided equally for each year of your postgraduate studies.

As for other EU student loans, to be eligible for the Student Finance Postgraduate Loan, you should fall under one of the following categories:

• EU, EEA, or Swiss national with Settled or Pre-settled Status who has lived in the UK, the EEA, or Switzerland for the last 3 years before the course start date.
• UK national or a relative of one who has lived in the UK or the EU in the last 3 years before the course start date.
• UK Resident with Indefinite Leave to Remain who has lived in the UK for more than 3 years before the course start date.

To be eligible, you must also:

• attend a qualified postgraduate degree.
• be less than 60 years of age before your course start date.
• not have received a Postgraduate Loan previously.
• not have completed a postgraduate degree or equivalent level in the past.

In some cases, you may be entitled to receive additional funding for masters degrees from Student Finance, such as the Disabled Students’ Allowance and extra funding for financial hardship.

If you have not previously applied for a student loan, you must first create an account with Student Finance England.

Once you’re registered, you should proceed with the Student Finance application as soon as possible to receive your funding on time.

To complete the application you will need:

• a valid passport
• the details of your course and institution
• your National Insurance Number (NIN)
• your bank account details

If you need help with your postgraduate course application, you can book a free consultation with an education consultant. We will guide you throughout the university application process, including the application for postgraduate funding.

You can visit the UK Government page on Masters Loan for more information on how to apply.

Book a free consultation with an education advisor to make your university application faster and stress-free. Let us guide you throughout your postgraduate degree application.