University of Birmingham - Student loans and Maintenance Grant

What you get

As a British undergraduate student at the University of Birmingham, you can borrow money from the UK government to cover both your tuition fees and your living costs. This is a loan that you will have to repay later, not a grant that you can keep. There are two components. The Tuition Fee Loan covers up to 100% of your tuition fees (approximately 12,200 euros, i.e. £9,535 for students in the 2025/26, which has been increased from 2026/27, which is increased to around £9,790). It is paid directly to the university. The Maintenance Loan is intended to cover rent, food, travel costs and other daily expenses. It is paid in instalments into your own bank account. For 2025/26, you can receive up to around 12,500 euros (£10,554) if you are living away from home outside London, or up to around 10,500 (£8,877) if you live at home.

The maintenance loan is partly means-tested, i.e. the amount depends on your income. An amount of approximately 44% to 47% is available to everyone, regardless of income. The remainder depends on your household income. If your income is below 25 and you are financially dependent, this refers to the income of your parents or legal guardians. If you are 25 years of age or older, or have no contact with your parents, your own income will be taken into account. You will only start repaying the loan once you have completed or discontinued your studies and are earning more than £25,000 per year, at a rate of 9% of your income in excess of this amount. Interest accrues from the day you take out the loan. Any outstanding balance after 40 years will be written off.

Who can apply

• Level: You are a student on an undergraduate programme and are generally working towards your first higher education qualification.
• Where you study: You are studying at the University of Birmingham or at another UK university.
• Field of study: All participants are suitable.
• Nationality: You must be from the UK. Irish nationals and those with ‘Settled Status’ or ‘Pre-Settled Status’ are also eligible to apply. Students from other EU countries and from non-EU countries are not eligible to apply.
• First degree only: As a rule, funding is only available for your first degree, even if you have self-funded a previous degree programme. In some departments, limited funding may be available for a second degree.

How to apply

You apply for funding online via the ‘Student Finance Service’ on gov.uk through the funding body responsible for your place of residence (England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland). To ensure you receive your first payment in time for the start of the term, you should submit your application by the end of May if you are a first-year student, and by the end of June if you are a continuing student. You must reapply each year.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a competitive scholarship. It is the standard state funding available to all eligible undergraduate students in the United Kingdom. If you meet the eligibility criteria regarding nationality and your first degree, you will receive this funding. The amount of your living costs loan depends on your household income and where you live, but the tuition fee loan is awarded to everyone who meets the criteria. Simply apply for the funding by the deadline and submit a new application each year.