As you get ready to apply to university, it’s important to understand the application process and your funding options.
The student finance system is changing. If your course begins on or after 1 January 2027 please refer to the information below about the changes to higher education funding, and the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).
General Advice
For courses beginning before 1 January 2027.
Once you decide to go to university, you can find out what student finance is available from Student Finance and begin your application.
The application process usually launches in February, but in some years it may open in March.
Students are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as the application process launches. You should also:
- ensure that all required evidence is submitted promptly
- regularly check your online portal for actions or tasks to complete
- keep a record of your login details, including passwords
Fee status
When you apply to universities, your fee status will be categorised as either Home or International. To be considered a Home student (UK), you usually need to meet all of the following requirements on the first day of your course:
- You’re settled in the UK – meaning there’s no immigration restriction on how long you can stay.
- You’ve lived in the UK for the last 3 years – this is called “ordinarily resident,” which means your main home has been in the UK and you’ve chosen to live there.
- You’re not in the UK just for education – your main reason for being here should not be to study full-time.
Fees for Home students can differ depending on whether you’re studying in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, so always check the specific university’s website for up-to-date fees.
If you don’t meet the Home student criteria, you’ll be considered an International student and you’ll pay higher international fees. These fees can vary by university and are listed on each university’s website. Make sure you’re financially prepared for tuition fees before committing to a course.
Find your fee status here.
Applying for Student Loans
UK students can apply for tuition fee loans and maintenance loans through Student Finance.
For more information, refer to the following organisations according to where you currently live:
- Student Finance England
- Student Awards Agency Scotland
- Student Finance Wales
- Student Finance Northern Ireland
If you’re from the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or other UK Islands, different rules may apply. Be sure to contact your island’s education office for specific details.
Please note: International students are not eligible for UK government financial support.
The Department for Education and Employment have advised that the official educational guidelines on financing a second undergraduate degree are that “previous attendance on a full-time higher education course at a publicly funded institution in the United Kingdom will usually mean that a student is not eligible for support for fees for another course. Previous attendance at a non-publicly funded institution will also usually debar them, if any support from public funds toward their fees was available to them.”
Currently, government regulations mean that UK students are entitled to claim a means tested Maintenance Loan to help with the costs associated with course related and living costs if studying Veterinary Medicine as a second degree provided they satisfy the eligibility criteria. This is applied for in the normal way via GOV.UK page on Student Finance
Scholarships and bursaries
Universities may also offer their own bursaries or scholarships. It is best to research what is available on the websites of the medical schools in which you are interested. Information on each schools scholarships and bursaries can be found in the VSC Admissions Guide.
Other means-tested government grants may be available for eligible UK students:
It can be difficult for international students to access financial support as this is often very limited. You should always check the fee levels at a university before accepting a place. You should check with your university if you are eligible for any bursaries. The British Council may be able to offer you funding and guidance can also be sought from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). Commonwealth citizens may be able to apply for grants from the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
New Higher Education funding and financial changes for 2027
The lifelong learning entitlement (LLE) will transform the post-18 student finance system to create a single funding system for residents in England (Student Finance England – SFE), from January 2027. It will replace:
- higher education (HE) student finance loans
- advanced learner loans for level 4, 5 and 6 qualifications
From around September 2026, learners will be able to apply for LLE funding for courses and modules starting from January 2027 onwards.
From its launch, the LLE loan (tuition fee) will be available for:
- full courses at level 4 to 6, such as degrees, technical qualifications, and designated distance-learning and online courses
- postgraduate level courses currently funded by the higher education student finance system, including:
- postgraduate initial teacher training
- postgraduate certificate or diploma in healthcare
- postgraduate certificates in education
- integrated master’s degrees
- foundation years (as long as these form part of an overall bachelor’s degree)
- modules of approved Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) at level 4 to 5
- modules from full level 6 qualifications (for example, degrees) that align to:
- priority skills needs
- the government’s modern industrial strategy
Under the LLE, eligible learners will be able to access:
- a tuition fee loan, with new learners able to access up to the full entitlement of £39,160 – equal to 4 years of study based on the maximum tuition fee for academic year 2026 to 2027
- a maintenance loan to cover living costs, for courses with in-person attendance
Financial help will also be available for:
- learners with disabilities
- support with childcare
- those needing travel grants
Learners will be able to see their loan balance through their own student finance account.
The LLE will be available to new learners and returning learners who have previously studied a course or module in higher education.
For returning learners, the amount they can borrow will be reduced depending on the funding they have previously received to support study.
LLE tuition loans will be available for people up to the age of 60 at the start of their course. The age limit is designed to offer the vast majority of the working population access to tuition loans, enabling them to:
- train, retrain and upskill
- make a significant contribution to the economy over a longer period of time
Learners who are aged 60 or over at the start of their course may still qualify for maintenance support, though not a tuition fee loan. This means funding is focussed on those most likely to repay their loans, as learners near or in retirement are likely to repay only a very small proportion of their loan.
Eligibility criteria for the LLE will track existing higher education student finance nationality and residency rules.
Learners who already have funding in place through the current HE student finance system for a course they started before 1 January 2027, will continue to get funding for that course through the current system.
Special Additional Entitlement
Learners will be able to access limited special additional entitlement for qualifications that could cost more than their standard entitlement in certain longer courses. This entitlement will come with usual maintenance support and repayment terms.
Learners will only be able to access special additional entitlement when they have a £0 LLE balance.
Learners will get up to 2 years of special additional entitlement if they are studying:
- veterinary surgery
- architecture
- bachelor’s degrees and integrated master’s degrees provided in Scotland
This can be used to fund both:
- the final year of their course
- a year of intercalation or repeat study
Download this PowerPoint for an overview of the Lifelong Learning System.
