Yes, student finance can fund a master’s through dedicated loans across the UK, with amounts and rules set by your home nation.
Thinking about a master’s and wondering how the bill gets covered? In the UK, public loans exist for postgraduate study. The offer and the numbers change by where you normally live, not where you study. Below you’ll see exactly what each nation provides, how repayment works, and when the money lands. You’ll also get quick checks to see if you’re likely to qualify, plus tips to stretch the package so the course stays affordable.
Student Finance Paying For A Master’s — Who Qualifies
Eligibility comes down to residence, course type, and past study. You apply to the funding body linked to your home nation. That team checks your status and confirms whether your course counts as an eligible taught or research master’s. The loans are designed as contributions toward fees and living costs, with different caps and structures across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Residence Rules In Plain Terms
You apply to the nation where you normally live, not where your university sits. If you move only to study, your “home” for funding stays the place you lived before the course. Residency rules also look at how long you’ve lived in the UK and your immigration status. If you have settled or pre-settled status, you may qualify; some categories of EU, EEA, Swiss, and other routes can qualify too. Each body sets the fine print, so always read the page for your nation before you start an application.
How Much Money You Can Get
Loan amounts are fixed each academic year. They rise at times with inflation uplifts. The loan is usually paid into your bank account in instalments once the course begins and your university confirms your attendance. If you study part-time, the payments spread across the full length of the course.
Postgraduate Loan Snapshot By Nation (2025/26)
Here’s a quick, broad view of the headline offers for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
| Home Nation | Max Loan (2025/26) | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| England | Up to £12,858 | Single pot paid to you; can go toward fees and living costs. |
| Wales | Up to £19,255 | Single loan paid to you across the year; use for fees and living costs. |
| Scotland | Up to £13,900 | Two parts: tuition fee loan (up to £7,000) + living-cost loan (up to £6,900). |
| Northern Ireland | Up to £6,500 | Tuition fee loan only; paid to the university for your fees. |
What Counts As An Eligible Master’s
Most taught MA/MSc/MBA and research MRes/MPhil courses at recognised providers qualify when they award a master’s as the final award. Integrated courses that include an undergraduate element usually fall under undergraduate rules instead. Courses delivered by distance learning can also be eligible if you meet residence and provider criteria. Always match the exact course title with the funding body’s guidance before you commit.
Age Limits And Previous Study
Postgraduate loan schemes are not tied to the typical undergraduate age limits, so mid-career applicants can apply. If you already hold a master’s or a qualification at an equivalent or higher level, you normally cannot use these loans again. If you started a master’s before and withdrew, some routes allow funding for a new start; you’ll need evidence and the scheme may cap repeats, so read the policy notes closely for your nation.
How Payment Works During The Course
Money is released after your university confirms you have enrolled. It reaches your bank account in instalments across the academic year. If your course runs part-time, the schedule spreads across the full duration. If your course length is unusual, the funding body will prorate the instalments. Keep your bank details and personal information current in your account portal to avoid delays.
Can The Loan Cover All Fees And Rent?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. In England, the cap can fall short of typical fee levels at research-intensive universities, which means you may need a top-up from savings, scholarships, employer help, or part-time work. Wales offers a larger cap that often gets closer to combined costs. Scotland splits support between fees and living costs, and the fee loan may not match premium course prices. Northern Ireland funds fees only, so you’ll plan separately for living costs. Several universities publish worked examples for part-time courses so you can see how payments split across years.
Extra Help If You Have A Disability
Disabled Students’ Allowance sits outside the loan caps and does not need to be repaid. It can fund specialist equipment, non-medical helpers, and study-related travel. You apply separately, and the assessment looks at study impact rather than household income.
Repayment Rules In Real Life
Postgraduate loans have their own repayment stream. Deductions only start once your earnings pass the set threshold. The repayment rate is a small slice of income above that line, taken automatically through payroll if you’re employed. If you’re self-employed, you pay through Self Assessment. If you have both an undergraduate plan and a postgraduate loan, both can be collected at the same time, each against its own threshold and rate.
Thresholds, Rates, And Start Dates
The postgraduate loan threshold sits at £21,000 a year for 2025/26, with a 6% deduction on earnings above that figure. Repayments start the April after the course ends, or the April four years after the start if the course is long and part-time. These rules apply across UK payroll and tax systems and run alongside any Plan 1, Plan 2, or Plan 4 deductions you may also have.
Interest And How Balances Change
Interest is charged from the day the first payment is made. Rates follow government policy for postgraduate lending and can change by year. The loan remains in your name until it is cleared or written off under the scheme’s time rules. Your online account shows the current balance and any deductions made through PAYE.
Applying Step By Step
First, confirm that your course is eligible and that you are applying to the correct nation based on where you normally live. Next, create or sign in to your student finance account and complete the online form. You’ll provide identity documents and course details. Your university then confirms your registration so instalments can start. You must tell the funding body if you change course, switch mode, or pause study, since that affects payment timing and loan totals.
Documents You’ll Need
- Proof of identity, such as a passport.
- National Insurance number.
- Course offer and start date.
- Bank account for payments.
Part-Time And Modular Study
Part-time study qualifies as long as the intensity and course aim meet the rules. Payments spread across the whole course. Some providers let you build a master’s in stages. Funding must align with the final master’s award, not a standalone module, so check with admissions before you enrol.
Smart Budgeting While You Study
Because the loan is a contribution, planning matters. Start with two numbers: total fees and realistic living costs for the city where you’ll study. If the cap falls short, stack other sources early. University scholarships, alumni awards, hardship funds, and professional body bursaries can help. Many employers sponsor part-time study when the course aligns with your role. A small savings buffer also reduces stress around the first rent cycle.
Timing Tips That Save Money
- Confirm your fee in writing and the instalment due dates.
- Ask your university if fee instalments can align with loan payment dates.
- Use a separate account to ring-fence tuition money so rent or bills don’t erode it.
- Book travel and housing early to lock lower rates in student areas.
Repayment At A Glance
| Item | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Start Of Repayment | April after the course ends (or 4 years after start for long part-time). | Repayment guidance |
| Earnings Threshold | £21,000 a year in 2025/26; deductions only above that line. | Thresholds & examples |
| Deduction Rate | 6% of income over the threshold; collected via PAYE or Self Assessment. | PAYE rules |
Key Differences Across The UK
The shape of support differs. England pays a single pot up to its cap, and you decide how to split it between fees and living costs. Wales pays a larger single pot that many students stretch across rent and fees. Scotland splits the package into fee and living-cost parts with set caps for each. Northern Ireland funds fees only, so day-to-day expenses need separate planning. These structures shape how you budget and whether you’ll need extra sources of cash.
Where To Check The Official Numbers
To confirm this year’s cap and any small uprates, use official pages. England publishes the annual “What you’ll get” section for the master’s loan with the latest caps. Wales posts the current postgraduate rates for each year, including payment patterns and dates. Both pages update through the cycle and are the best place to double-check figures before you submit forms. See the Master’s Loan rates for England and the Wales postgraduate loan rates.
Quick Scenarios
Full-Time One-Year Course In England
You receive the annual cap split across three instalments into your bank account. Fees at some providers can exceed the cap. You pay the difference directly to the university. You manage rent from the same pot or from savings, work, or scholarships.
Two-Year Part-Time Course In Wales
The larger Welsh cap helps with both fees and rent. Payments spread across both years. If your timetable allows part-time work, you can reduce borrowing in year two by taking a smaller drawdown when you re-confirm attendance.
Scottish Student On A Taught Course
Your fee loan goes to the university up to the cap; your living-cost loan lands in your account. If fees run higher than the cap, speak to admissions about instalments and internal bursaries. Keep your living-cost drawdown level realistic so you don’t run short mid-term.
Northern Ireland Resident Studying In Great Britain
Your tuition fee loan follows you to an eligible provider elsewhere in the UK. Living costs need another plan: savings, a side job, employer help, or a bursary from your university.
How To Keep Repayments Low After Graduation
Keep HMRC records tidy so you’re on the right loan types at work. Use your student finance online account to check balance updates. If your income dips below the line during a tax year, deductions should stop until you rise above it again. If you think you’ve been charged in error, you can request a refund from the Student Loans Company. Many graduates recover money this way when payroll settings lag behind status changes.
Checklist Before You Apply
- Confirm your home-nation route and read the current rates page.
- Match your exact course title and award to the eligibility rules.
- Map fees, rent, travel, and study costs across each term.
- Build a buffer for books, placements, and unexpected travel.
- Search for scholarships and university discounts early.
Bottom Line
Public loans can pay a large share of a master’s in every UK nation, with the largest cap in Wales, a split model in Scotland, a fee-only loan in Northern Ireland, and a single pot in England. The package won’t fit every fee level or rent market, so plan across savings, scholarships, and work to close gaps. Check the official rates for your start date, read the repayment rules, and you’ll head into postgraduate study with clear numbers and fewer surprises.