Fees and loans

Fortunately, there is plenty of advice and guidance covering university fees and student loans, as well as bursaries and grants, so here we are just going to share a brief overview.

Tuition fees and maintenance loans

You will be charged tuition fees by your university but if you are a home student (ie from the UK) you are not expected to have this money yourself and most students will apply for a loan to cover these costs. For more information about tuition fees and how to apply for a loan you should refer to Student Finance England (SFE)

Students residing in England will also apply to SFE for their maintenance loan. The amount you are entitled to will depend on where you will be studying and living (you are still eligible to receive a loan if living at home) and your household income. There are a range of factors that are taken into account and you should visit SFE for full eligibility details. You can also find a number of helpful videos on the SFE YouTube Channel.

Students from Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales should consult their local organisation for information on the support available:

• Student Finance Wales
• Student Awards Agency Scotland
• Student Finance Northern Ireland

Students from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands should check their local arrangements for the most up to date information.

Non-UK students

If you are an International or EU student, you should check your fee status and eligibility so you know exactly how much your tuition fees will be and any funding you may be entitled to.

What is your maintenance loan for?

Your maintenance loan is designed to cover your living costs which will include:

• Accommodation
• Transport
• Food shopping
• Interests and hobbies
• Clothing
• Takeaways, eating out
• Mobile phone
• Toiletries and other essentials
• Textbooks
• Gas, electricity and water bills (usually included if you live in student accommodation)
• Internet (often included if you live in student accommodation)
• Additional expenses (treats, birthday presents, savings for trips away etc)

This list is not exhaustive so it is a great idea to make your own list and add an estimate of your weekly or monthly cost for each item to help you budget.

Don’t panic if you don’t think your loan will cover all of your expenditure; there is another step in this course that looks at opportunities for part-time work alongside your studies.

Bursaries, grants and scholarships

There is a whole range of additional funding you might be eligible for and you should do your research to ensure you know what is out there. This can vary significantly from one university to the next and many will have subject-specific support available as well as support based on household income. To find out more about Bursaries and Scholarships at York have a look at our Student Finance webpages.