If you’re from an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland and study a full-time or part-time course, you may be eligible to pay Home fees and receive the Tuition Fee Loan and other financial help from Student Finance. 

Keep reading to learn more about Home fees, Student Finance loans and eligibility for EU students in undergraduate courses.

If your course starts after August 2021, you must have a pre-settled or settled status under the EU settlement scheme to be eligible for home fees and Student Finance support.

Most EU students coming to the UK after 1 January 2021 must apply for a student visa and won’t be eligible for home fees and student finance funding – more on this in our guide for EU students in the UK after Brexit.

If you hold a pre-settled or settled status and want to apply for a university course, keep reading to learn more about Student Finance loans for EU Students.

EU students can apply for student loans from Student Finance England (SFE) to cover the cost of an undergraduate, postgraduate, Initial Teacher Training, or postgraduate doctoral course.

Also, Maintenance loans are available to help with living costs such as travel, accommodation and books.

To qualify for Student Finance, make sure that:

• Your course is provided by a recognised University or College in the United Kingdom.
• You’re studying towards your first degree or higher education course, even if your previous degree has been self-funded or funded through sponsorship.

There may be exceptions in some cases. If you’re unsure about your course eligibility, we recommend contacting Student Finance England or speaking directly with the university.

If you’re a student from the EU, EEA and Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status, you are considered a ‘Home Student’. For this reason, you will pay ‘Home Fees’, which are cheaper than university fees for international students.

Also, you will be entitled to apply for the Tuition Fee Loan by Student Finance, which will cover the full cost of your course each academic year.

Tuition Fee Loans are meant to cover the full cost of your studies. Full-time EU students in England can receive up to £9,790 of Tuition Fee Loan per academic year, depending on the price of the course.

Student Finance will pay the full tuition fee for the entire academic year as listed below:

• Full-time student: up to £9,790
• Part-time student: up to £7,335
• Students on an accelerated degree course: up to £11,750

Student Finance will pay the full tuition fee for the entire academic year as listed below:

• Full-time student: up to £9,530
• Part-time student: up to £7,145
• Students on an accelerated degree course: up to £11,440

Student Finance pays the Tuition fee directly to your university each academic year. Student Finance will pay the funds in three instalments every year, as in the example below.

(Payments are calculated on a Tuition fee of £9,530)

You may be eligible for Student Finance depending on your course, previous studies, nationality and residency status.

In general, the following categories are eligible for Student Finance:

• EU national or a relative of one who has been living in the EU for the last 3 years before the course start date and has settled or pre-settled status.
• Citizens from EEA and Switzerland, or a relative of one, who has been living in the EEA in the last 3 years before the course start date and has a settled or pre-settled status.
• EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals living in the EEA in the last 3 years before the course start date and working in the UK or starting a new job from the course start date.
• UK national or individual with settled status who has lived in the UK for at least 36 months before the start of the academic year.
• A child of a Swiss national or a child of a Turkish worker.
• Refugee or a relative of one.
• People who have been granted Humanitarian protection or a relative of one.
• People who have been recognised as stateless persons.
• People who have been granted ‘leave to remain’ or a child of someone who has been awarded ‘leave to remain’ (under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016).

EU students applying for the Tuition Fee Loan may also be eligible for additional Student Finance support, such as the Maintenance Loan.

The Maintenance Loan is intended to cover living costs, such as rent and food, during your studies. This loan is paid directly to your bank account in three different instalments throughout the year.

The total amount of Maintenance Loan depends mainly on personal circumstances, with students receiving up to a maximum of £14,135 per year.

Maintenance loans are available mainly for:

• Students in undergraduate courses, Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses or Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE).
• UK and EU nationals who have lived in the UK for 5 years before the start of their course.
• EEA migrant workers.