Am I eligible for Student Finance?

For courses starting from 1 January 2027, you can usually get Student Finance England if your home is in England, you are a UK or Irish national or have settled status, you have lived in the UK for the 3 years before your course starts, you are under 60, and your course is an eligible one such as a degree with a foundation year. There is no household income limit for the Tuition Fee Loan.

Want help with the form itself? Get free help with your Student Finance England application, or request a free call from an adviser ↓

The quick eligibility checklist

For courses starting on or after 1 January 2027, Student Finance England uses the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement rules. It looks at five things:

1. Your status: you are a UK or Irish national, have settled status, or have another eligible residency status.
2. Where you live: your home is in England, and you have lived in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for the 3 years before the first day of the month your course starts (holidays do not count against you).
3. Your course: it is an eligible course at a university or college registered with the Office for Students.
4. Previous study: you still have some Tuition Fee Loan entitlement left. Your entitlement has a lifetime limit, and past funding is taken off.
5. Your age: you are under 60 on the first day of your course.

The official source is Student Finance eligibility for courses starting on or after 1 January 2027 on gov.uk.

Is there a Student Finance eligibility checker?

Yes, for the status part. Gov.uk has an official tool that checks what you can apply for based on your nationality and where you live. It tells you whether you could get a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan, or a Tuition Fee Loan only. It cannot tell you whether your application will succeed, because your course, previous study and age also count. Gov.uk also has a Student Finance calculator to estimate amounts. If you would rather a person went through it with you, we can do that free.

Residency and immigration status

• UK nationals, Irish citizens and people with settled status (including indefinite leave to remain and EU settled status) can usually get both a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan, if they meet the 3-year residence rule.
• Pre-settled status: you may only be able to get a Tuition Fee Loan, not a Maintenance Loan.
• Other statuses: some people with a valid residency status, and people who have lived in the UK for a long time (for adults, at least 20 years or half their life), can also qualify.

If your situation is not straightforward, use the gov.uk checker above or ask us to talk it through before you apply.

Eligible courses

Most courses from level 4 to 6 qualify, as long as the university or college is registered with the Office for Students. That includes:

• bachelor's degrees (BA, BSc), including a foundation year that forms part of the degree
• foundation degrees and Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs)
• some postgraduate courses, such as a PGCE

You normally need to be studying between 30 and 180 credits a year. A full-time year of a degree is usually 120 credits. Not sure you can get on a course without A levels? See can you go to university without A levels.

Previous study

Under the new rules, your Tuition Fee Loan entitlement has a lifetime limit set by government. Any government funding you have had for tuition fees before is taken off that total. The good news: you can now be eligible even if you have studied before, including for a second undergraduate degree, as long as you have entitlement left. Read how many years of Student Finance you can get for more.

Age

For courses starting on or after 1 January 2027, you must be under 60 on the first day of your course to get a Tuition Fee Loan. If you are 60 or over, you may be able to get a loan to help with living costs. More in our guide to the Student Finance age limit.

Household income

There is no income limit for the Tuition Fee Loan. For the Maintenance Loan you can give your household income details, or choose not to and still apply for the Tuition Fee Loan and the minimum Maintenance Loan. If you are 25 or over, you are usually assessed on your own income (and a partner's, if you live with them), not your parents'. See the household income threshold explained and independent student status.

What you need to apply

Have these ready before you apply online:

• your UK passport details, or other identity documents if you do not have one
• evidence of your status, if you are not a UK or Irish national (for example a share code)
• your National Insurance number
• your bank account details
• your university or college and course name
• household income details, if you choose an income-assessed Maintenance Loan

Student Finance England may ask for extra evidence. We help you understand what they are asking for and how to respond.

When to apply for a January 2027 start

Apply as soon as you have chosen your course. Applications for courses starting from 1 January 2027 open at the end of October 2026, and you need to create a new account for LLE funding even if you already have a Student Finance account. Since September 2026, once you create that account, you can get an estimate of your Tuition Fee Loan, including any loan you have left if you have studied before (gov.uk). For courses starting between 1 January and 31 July 2027 you must apply by 30 September 2027, or by your course end date if sooner (gov.uk). If you are unsure which form applies, see the PN1 form explained. Your first Maintenance Loan payment arrives once your university confirms you have registered on your course.

Courses that started before 1 January 2027

If your course started before 1 January 2027, the older rules apply. Those are on the gov.uk who qualifies page.

How Dream Wise can help

We help adults living in England choose a course, apply to university and prepare their Student Finance England application. Our guidance is free to students. Student Finance England makes all decisions on eligibility and amounts. See how our Student Finance application help works.

Quick answers

Next step: get free help with your Student Finance England application, or check if you're eligible for Student Finance.

This article is general information only, not financial or legal advice, and is not affiliated with Student Finance England, UCAS, any university or government body. Rules, amounts and processes can change. Always confirm current details at gov.uk and with the relevant provider. © 2026 Dream Wise Education Ltd.