Student Financial Support
This is a guide to the financial support available for home and most EU students. A ‘home student’ is a person whose normal home is in the UK, and there are no immigration restrictions on their stay in the UK. Also the student needs to be ordinarily resident in the UK for the three years prior to starting the course. If you are unsure whether you can apply, go to Gov.uk or the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).
This support consists of various loans and grants. Initial applications can be made online. Full details are available on the Gov.uk website.
Tuition Fees Loan
Most ‘home' and EU undergraduate students can apply for this element. The loan is paid direct to UCL by Student Finance England. UCL offers a bursary to each student who receives a Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant. UCL provides a bursary that is larger than the minimum required by the Student Finance rules. The amount of the bursary varies depending upon your or your parent’s ‘residual income’.
Maintenance Loan
A loan is available to home undergraduate students, but a reduced amount is payable if you live with your parents. One quarter of the maximum loan depends upon your (or your parents’) income. The calculator on the Gov.uk website will help you calculate the amount of loan you can receive.
Maintenance Grant
Some home undergraduate students can apply for this grant. The amount depends upon your household’s residual income (total income less certain amounts). If your household residual income is more than a certain amount, then you will not be eligible for any Maintenance Grant.
Special Support Grant
If you are not eligible for a maintenance grant, but receive a means tested welfare benefit, you may be eligible for the Special Support Grant.
EU nationals
This note does not fully describe the position for EU nationals. A fuller explanation is available on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website.
Information on the UCL bursary policy is available on UCL Money.