Yes, postgraduate master’s funding exists across the UK, but the amounts and rules change by nation.
You can borrow for a taught master’s in the UK. The size of the loan, who pays it out, and how repayments work and timings depend on where you normally live today. Below is a plain guide to what you can get in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, with links to the official pages you’ll use when you apply.
Master’s Funding At A Glance
Here’s a quick side-by-side on loans for taught master’s degrees in the 2025–26 year. Amounts are for the whole course unless noted. Figures are set by each nation and can change next year.
| Nation | What You Can Get | 2025–26 Amount |
|---|---|---|
| England | One combined loan paid to you for fees or living costs | Up to £12,858 |
| Wales | One combined loan paid to you for fees and living costs | Up to £19,255 |
| Scotland | Two parts: tuition fee loan paid to the university, plus a living-cost loan | Up to £7,000 fees + £6,900 living |
| Northern Ireland | Tuition fee loan only, paid to the university | Up to £6,500 |
For the full breakdown from the source, see the Master’s Loan amounts for England and the Wales postgraduate loan rates. Scotland’s figures come via SAAS, and Northern Ireland’s via nidirect.
Getting Student Funding For A Master’s: Who Qualifies
Eligibility is tied to your normal home address before study, not where your course sits. Moving to a new country within the UK just to study won’t switch you to that nation’s system. Age rules, course rules, and residency rules apply in each place.
England: Who Is Eligible
You can apply if you normally live in England, are under 60 on the first day of the first academic year, and study an eligible taught master’s. Courses can be full-time, part-time, or distance learning. The loan is a single pot you can split between tuition and day-to-day costs. If you study part-time, payments spread across years in equal shares.
Wales: Who Is Eligible
Residents of Wales can get a larger single loan for taught master’s study. Money is paid to you in three instalments each year. You choose how much to borrow up to the cap. The course can be full-time or part-time, and study in or outside Wales is fine if the course is eligible.
Scotland: Who Is Eligible
Scottish residents apply to SAAS. Support comes in two strands: a tuition fee loan paid direct to the university and a separate living-cost loan paid to you if you study full-time. Part-time learners can access fee support on eligible courses. Age caps do not usually apply.
Northern Ireland: Who Is Eligible
Residents of Northern Ireland can take a tuition fee loan for a taught master’s. The money goes straight to the university. There’s no living-cost loan from the government scheme, so you’ll need other funding for rent and bills.
What The Money Actually Covers
In England and Wales the loan is one pot. You decide how much to send to the university and how much to keep for rent, travel, and books. It won’t stretch far on high-fee courses, so plan a mix of sources: savings, part-time work, bursaries, or employer help. In Scotland the fee loan pays the bill at the university and the living-cost part lands in your bank account. In Northern Ireland the loan only meets tuition, so you cover living costs from other means.
Payment Timing
Payments usually arrive in three instalments once you register. For two-year courses, what you borrow is split across both years. If you ask for less upfront, you can top up within the cap.
Distance Learning And Cross-Border Study
Distance learners can apply in each nation as long as the course and provider are approved. If you live in one nation and study in another, you still apply to the scheme where you live.
Repayment Rules In Plain Language
Repayment is income-based. You pay a slice of what you earn over a set line. English and Welsh postgraduate loans have their own line and rate. Scottish and Northern Irish borrowers repay under their standard plans.
Who Repays What
- England and Wales (postgraduate plan): 6% of income over £21,000 a year. This is on top of any 9% due on an undergraduate plan.
- Scotland (Plan 4): 9% of income over the Plan 4 line.
- Northern Ireland (Plan 1): 9% of income over the Plan 1 line.
The government sets thresholds for each tax year. Payroll handles it if you’re an employee. Self-employed grads settle up through Self Assessment. Full details live on GOV.UK.
| System | Annual Threshold (2025/26) | Deduction Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate plan (England & Wales) | £21,000 | 6% over the threshold |
| Plan 4 (Scotland) | £32,745 | 9% over the threshold |
| Plan 1 (Northern Ireland) | £26,065 | 9% over the threshold |
You can check the live thresholds on the official sites when you file or start a job. Payroll software uses the same tables, so deductions trigger automatically once your pay crosses the line.
Repayment Examples You Can Copy
England Or Wales With A Postgrad Loan Only
You earn £25,000. The line is £21,000. That’s £4,000 above the line. Six percent of £4,000 is £240 a year, or £20 a month. If pay dips below the line, the deduction stops.
Scotland On Plan 4
You earn £35,000. The Plan 4 line is £32,745. That’s £2,255 above the line. Nine percent of £2,255 is about £203 a year, or £17 a month. If you also hold an English postgrad loan, HMRC would split the payroll deduction across plans as rules set out.
Northern Ireland On Plan 1
You earn £30,000. The Plan 1 line is £26,065. That’s £3,935 above the line. Nine percent of £3,935 is about £354 a year, or £29.50 a month.
How To Apply Without Stress
England
Apply online through GOV.UK for the Postgraduate Master’s Loan. Have your course offer, National Insurance number, and bank details ready. You choose how much to borrow up to the cap. Money lands in three parts during the year.
Wales
Apply through Student Finance Wales. The form asks for your course details and your ID. The loan goes to your bank account. You can study at a UK university that meets the rules.
Scotland
Apply at SAAS for the fee loan and, if full-time, the living-cost loan. SAAS pays fees to the university and pays living funds to you. If your course sits outside Scotland, check the course list meets SAAS rules before you apply.
Northern Ireland
Apply through Student Finance NI for the tuition loan. The university receives payment direct. If your fees are above the cap, you pay the rest from savings or other sources.
What If Fees Are Higher Than The Loan?
Plenty of courses cost more than the caps. England’s pot covers many courses yet not all. Wales gives more room, though some courses still sit above the limit. Scotland and Northern Ireland have fee-only caps or split support, so gaps can appear.
Ways To Close The Gap
- Ask the university about bursaries or alumni discounts for taught master’s entrants.
- Check if your employer funds study or offers paid time for projects tied to work.
- Look at charities or learned societies in your subject for small grants.
- Spread costs with part-time study or a January start date if your field allows it.
Extra Help If You Need Adjustments
Disabled Students’ Allowance can help with specialist equipment, non-medical support, and study-related costs. It does not need paying back. You apply through the same national body that handles your loan.
Checklist Before You Hit “Apply”
- Pin down your normal home nation. That sets your scheme.
- Confirm the course is eligible and how long it runs.
- Match fees to the loan cap and plan how you’ll fund any shortfall.
- Map deadlines so the first payment lands before rent falls due.
- Save copies of ID and evidence so you can respond fast to checks.
Quick Answers To Common Sticking Points
Can Part-Time Students Apply?
Yes. All four nations back part-time master’s study that meets their rules. Support spreads across the whole course, not per year in England and Wales.
What About A Second Master’s?
Funding is usually for one master’s only. If you already hold a qualification at the same or higher level, the loan is unlikely unless your course has a clear exception in your nation’s rules.
Does The Loan Affect Benefits?
In England the Department for Work and Pensions may count part of the money when they work out certain benefits. Check the GOV.UK page and speak to the relevant agency if this applies to you.
The Bottom Line
You can fund a taught master’s with government-backed loans in every part of the UK. The shape of the help differs, and the amount may not meet the full bill. Use the national caps as your base, layer in other support, and run the repayment sums with your likely salary. If the plan works on paper, you’re ready to press submit.
Before you sign, compare total course costs, rent, and travel with your loan and savings. If a gap remains, ask the university about flexible payment plans and fee installments; many departments can spread invoices to match cash flow.