Student Loans

For most students studying a full-time undergraduate course, your main support for living costs will be through a low interest student loan, which is partly income-assessed.

To be eligible for a loan, you must:

• be studying on a full-time undergraduate course that qualifies for a loan, and
• meet UK residence eligibility conditions (for details visit www.saas.gov.uk).

Applying for a Student Loan 

Students normally resident in Scotland 

You can apply online or contact the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for an application form by phone on 0845 111 1711. You should apply at the same time as you apply for support with your tuition fees and any grants you may be entitled to. You can apply as soon as you receive either a conditional or un-conditional offer of a place. Please allow at least 4 weeks for your application to be processed. 

Students normally resident in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Information about funding for English students is available at Directgov, for Northern Irish students at Student Finance NI, and for Welsh students at Student Finance Wales.

International and EU students 

Unless you have been living in the UK for 3 full years before the start of your first course of study, you will not be entitled to a Student Loan. If you are not sure of your residency status you can confirm your situation with the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, tel: 0845 111 1711 or email SAAS_4@scotland.gov.uk

Personal Loans

If you cannot get assistance from SAAS you may be able to apply for a Career Development Loan (CDL). CDLs are managed in partnership with a number of high street banks and can support a wide range of vocational courses. A CDL can support any type of full-time, part-time or distance-learning course as long as it:

• is related to a job (not necessarily to a current job)
• lasts no more than 2 years plus up to 1 year’s practical experience that is part of the course, where relevant; and
• is not supported financially by a student award at a publicly funded higher education institution.

You can borrow from £300 to £8,000 and use the loan to cover up to 80% of your course fees plus all your related expenses – including books, childcare, travel expenses and any costs associated with disability.

If you have been out of work for 3 months or longer at the time of application, you can apply for a CDL to cover 100% of your course fees. You will not have to make any repayments while you are training and for up to one month afterwards (or up to 17 months if you are unemployed when repayments are due to start). During this time, the government will pay the interest on the loan for you. At the end of this period, you become responsible for the loan repayments and any further interest.

For more information or to obtain a Career Development Loan pack contact the CDL information line: Freephone 0800 585 505.