Checking UK home fees and Student Finance eligibility
Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026
Читать на русскомThese are separate decisions
Home fee status is a tuition category assessed by the university under the relevant rules. Student Finance is eligibility for public funding, with separate checks on your circumstances and course. A university’s home fee decision does not guarantee a tuition or maintenance loan.
Start with the country: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different systems. Choose the relevant country in UKCISA’s fee-status guide ↗, then request your university’s assessment. Birthplace or a spouse’s nationality alone does not settle eligibility.
Check residence and status
For England, GOV.UK’s Student Finance guidance ↗ considers nationality or immigration category, ordinary residence, previous study and an eligible programme. One standard category includes a three-year residence condition, but other categories and exceptions exist. It cannot be applied automatically to everyone holding a visa.
Prepare a timeline of addresses and immigration status, including temporary travel, previous higher education and funding already used. A National Insurance number, employment or tax payments cannot replace the other requirements. For a complex history, request a written assessment and details of review procedures.
Check when the course starts
Most eligible courses starting from 1 January 2027 move to Lifelong Learning Entitlement funding ↗. It covers specified courses and modules, and entitlement and borrowing depend partly on previous study and the credits taken. Older undergraduate loan instructions therefore do not apply to every future intake.
Use the appropriate existing route for a course starting before that date. As checked in October 2026, GOV.UK says LLE applications open at the end of October; check the latest update before applying.
Budget before committing
Request a written fee assessment and the full charges by year. Establish separately whether tuition loans, maintenance support, bursaries or scholarships are available; they are different forms of assistance. A government loan normally has repayment conditions and is not free education. Avoid paying a deposit on the assumption that unconfirmed funding will arrive.