Paying for Higher Education – what support is available
Studying a university-level course can have several financial implications for you as an individual. As well as the cost of tuition fees, you also need to support yourself whilst studying.
The Welfare Team can advise on the various options for financial support available whilst studying. This includes details of Student Finance loans and College-funded discretionary support.
Paying for your course – Tuition Fees
With the rising cost of going to university, it can make sense to stay local to study for a university-level qualification.
Tuition fees are charged by universities and colleges to cover key elements of your course and academic life, as well as core services related to students’ wellbeing and experience whilst studying.
A Tuition Fee Loan will cover the cost of tuition fees and will be paid directly to your university or College. The Tuition Fee Loan must be repaid once you finished your course and your income is over the threshold for your repayment plan.
You can apply for help with your tuition fees from the government by visiting www.gov.uk/studentfinance.
If you are not entitled to a tuition fee loan, you will be required to pay your tuition either in full or by direct debit instalments.
Fees – Full-time learners
Our tuition fees for UK and home fee status learners studying full-time university-level courses in 2022-2023 are £6,165* per year. This is substantially cheaper than many universities who are charging up to £9,250 per year. Tuition fees for courses run with our partnership universities were also £6,165 for the same academic year.
(*tuition fees for blended learning and accelerated degrees vary. Please check the individual course tuition fees for exact tuition fees.)
Fees – Part-time learners
Our tuition fees for UK and home fee status learners studying part-time university-level courses in 2022/2023 range from £1,900 to £4,625 per year, dependent on the number of module credits taught each year.
Loans
You can apply for help with your fees from the government by visiting gov.uk/studentfinance. This could take the form of a Tuition Fee Loan, Maintenance Loan or Maintenance Grant.
A Tuition Fee Loan will cover the cost of your up-front fees and will be paid to your university or College. The Loan must be repaid once you finished your course and are earning £27,295 a year or more. Both full and part-time learners can apply.
EU Students
You may be able to get a Tuition Fee Loan and help with living costs if you’re from an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
You may be eligible for help with your living costs if both the following apply:
- you’ve lived in the UK for more than 3 years before the first day of the first academic year of your course
- you have settled status
EU Students – Student Finance from August 2023
If you’re starting a course on or after 1 August 2023, you usually must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get student finance.
If you’re coming to the UK from 1 January 2023, you may need to apply for a visa to study here.
Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.
Maintenance loan for living costs
You have to give details of your household income and your course start date.
The loan is paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term. You have to pay the loan back.
You can use the student finance calculator to estimate how much Maintenance Loan you’ll get – it will also tell you if you’re eligible for extra grants or allowances.
You can find out more about Student Finance here.
Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)
The government is changing the way it funds post 18 education. There will be a single system to help pay for college and university.
To start with, for the 2025/26 academic year, the LLE will only be for higher education.
- Full and part time courses from level 4 (eg HNC) to level 6 (eg bachelors degree), as well as technical qualifications.
- Modules from higher technical qualifications at levels 4 and 5.
You will be able to apply for a LLE loan for tuition fees, as well as a maintenance loan.
By 2027/28 everyone will receive loans through the LLE for post 18 education.
Find out more at gov.uk
For further advice contact student welfare – email welfare@leicestercollege.ac.uk or call 0116 2242240