Student finance

Going to university or college is one of the biggest investments anyone can make. Does your son or daughter know how much it is going to cost them and what help is available? The links below will help them find the information they need.

The cost of studying in the UK

Students usually have to pay for two things: tuition fees for their course and living costs, such as rent, food, books, transport and entertainment. Fees charged vary between courses, as well as between universities and colleges, so your son or daughter should check these before they apply. Course Search has specific details on fees, bursaries and financial support for each course, or they can contact the universities and colleges direct.

If your son or daughter is studying in Scotland and already lives there, they normally aren't required to pay tuition fees. They should check the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) website for further information.

International and EU students

If your son or daughter is planning to study in the United Kingdom and wants to attend a publicly funded university or college, their fee status (whether they pay full-cost fees or a subsidised fee rate) will be determined by the UK institution they plan to attend. See the fees page in the non-UK students' section for more information.

Student loans

The purpose of student loans from the Government are to help cover the costs of tuition fees, and basic living costs (rent, bills, food etc). Two types are available: tuition fee loans, and maintenance loans. Many other kinds of loan are available to students studying at university or college and the interest rate can vary considerably. However, the interest rate on a Government student loan only takes inflation into account, so the overall amount will, in real terms, be the same as the amount borrowed.

Both types of student loan are available to all students who meet the basic eligibility requirements. Find out more information from the relevant site below.

England: Student Finance England
Parents can find out more about their role on the Direct Gov website

Wales: Student Finance Wales

Scotland: Student Awards Agency for Scotland

Northern Ireland: Student Finance Northern Ireland

You can also follow Student Finance England at twitter.com/sf_england and facebook.com/SFEngland

Other help available

As well as student loans, other help is available, like grants and financial awards. These vary depending on your son or daughter's chosen university or college and their personal circumstances. For more information about any of the support available, go to the Directgov website, or contact student services at the university or college.

There is help for students with disabilities known as the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) - see the students with disabilities page on this site.

Take a look at our online bookstore - we have a specific section about student finance where you can learn more about what's available to students. Go to the UCAS bookstore to find out more.

If your son or daughter is applying for a nursing or midwifery course in Scotland, read the PDF about support in 2010/11

Managing money

Learning to manage your money at university or college requires planning. Your son or daughter will need to learn to budget and live within their means - this way they'll find it much easier to support themselves without leaving with a huge debt. Our Managing money section provides further tips and advice to help your son or daughter plan their finances.