Schools and learning

Financial Support

You will have two main types of expense while at university or college.

Tuition fees,which help to meet the cost of providing your course, and your own living expenses.

Assistance with tuition fees depends upon the cost of your course. Help with your living costs depends on your income and that of your household.

The type of financial support available includes:

• Maintenance loans and grants to assist with living costs (depending on the level of household income)
• Non Means tested tuition fee loan (for students who started their course after September 2006)
• Disabled Students' allowance provides help if you have a disability
• Help for students who have children or other dependants

You may also be able to apply for a bursary from your place of study. Contact your college or university for details.

The system of student support is complex. For a fuller account of how the system works please click the Student Finance link on the right of this page.This will take you to the Directgov website, which provides more in depth information.