Government loans and support

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On this page:

• Tuition fee loans
• Maintenance loans
• Paying back your loans
• Additional funding
• Students with a year abroad or a year in industry
• Additional information

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Tuition fee loans

You can check your tuition fees by using the University’s undergraduate fees lookup tool.

Undergraduate fees lookup

You can find out more information about tuition fees on our web page.

Undergraduate tuition fees

Eligible home fee-paying students can apply for a tuition fee loan from the UK government to cover the cost of their fees. For students from England, the agency is Student Finance England. 

Part-time students may be able to get a loan if their course has a ‘course intensity’ of 25% or more (‘course intensity’ means how long your course takes to complete each year compared to an equivalent full-time course); the majority of part-time undergraduate courses at the University of Sheffield are studied at 50% intensity.

The government website has a full list of eligibility criteria.

Gov.uk - Student finance for undergraduates - Eligibility

The tuition fee loan is not based on household income.

You will need to reapply for a tuition fee loan each year. Your fees may increase by a small amount each year in line with inflation. The government clarifies this each year. However, if there is an increase, you won’t be required to do anything. Your tuition fee loan will automatically increase to reflect any changes. For more information about how to apply for your loan, please refer to the government website.

Gov.uk - Student finance for undergraduates - How to apply

Each year you take out the loan, the government pays the money directly to the University in three instalments. The first instalment is paid after you register with us.

Funding is available if you’re studying to become a doctor or dentist and you’re studying a five or six-year undergraduate course (you can apply from year five).

NHS funding

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Maintenance loans

Eligible home fee-paying students can apply for a maintenance loan from the UK government to contribute towards their living costs. For students from England, the agency is Student Finance England. 

Part-time students may be able to get a loan if their course has a ‘course intensity’ of 25% or more (‘course intensity’ means how long your course takes to complete each year compared to an equivalent full-time course); the majority of part-time undergraduate courses at the University of Sheffield are studied at 50% intensity.

The government website has a full list of eligibility criteria.

Gov.uk - Student finance for undergraduates - Eligibility

The amount of maintenance loan that you receive will depend on your household income. 

• For most students under the age of 25, this generally means your parents’ income.
• If you’re 25 or over on the first day of your course or are under the age of 25 but do not financially depend on your parents (for example, you are a care leaver or an estranged student), then your household income will not include your parents’ income, though it may include your partner’s income. 

For more information about household income, please see the government website.

Gov.uk - Student finance for undergraduates - Household income

The amount you receive also depends on where you are going to University (whether this is in London or not) and whether you will be living at home or away from home. Students aged 60 or over on the first day of their course may receive reduced maintenance support. 

You can use the government’s student finance calculator to estimate what you could receive. 

Gov.uk - Student finance calculator

You will need to reapply for a maintenance loan each year. For more information about how to do this, please refer to the government website.

Gov.uk - Student finance for undergraduates - How to apply

Each year you take out the loan, the government pays the money directly to you in three instalments. The first instalment is paid after you register with us.

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Paying back your loans

When do I pay back my loans?

You won't make any repayments on your loans until the April after you have left university and you are earning above the repayment threshold. 

How do I pay back my loans?

Your tuition and maintenance loans are added together so you make one monthly payment. Your payments don't come out of your bank account; they are deducted from your salary automatically, in the same way that income tax is. If you're self-employed, you'll pay through HM Revenue and Customs.

How much will I pay?

Your monthly payments are calculated as 9% of whatever you earn above the repayment threshold set by the government, from the April after you finish your course. For students from England who start their studies from August 2023 onwards, the current repayment threshold is £25,000.

Your repayments are based on what you earn, not what you owe. If your wages drop, this is reflected in your repayments. For example, using the current repayment threshold for students from England who start their studies from August 2023 onwards, if you earn £30,000, you will repay 9% of the £5,000 you earn above the £25,000 threshold (£450.00 per year or £37.50 per month). Further details on repayments can be found on the government website.

Gov.uk - Repaying your student loan

After 40 years, anything you haven’t paid back is written off. 

What about interest?

You’re charged interest from the day your first student finance payment is made to you or to your university until your loan has been repaid in full or cancelled. Interest is added to your balance each month. 

The interest rate on loans for students starting their studies from August 2023 onwards will be based on the Retail Price Index (RPI). During some periods, an interest cap may be applied to ensure you’re not being charged a higher interest rate than the average found in the commercial market. 

Further information on interest rates can be found on the government website.

Gov.uk - Repaying your student loan

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Additional funding

If you are a student parent, carer, have adult dependants, or have a disability, then you may qualify for extra funding.

Support for student parents

Full-time home fee-paying students with children in registered or approved childcare may be eligible to apply for a Childcare Grant to help with these costs. 

Gov.uk - Childcare Grant

You may also be eligible for a Parent's Learning Allowance to help with course related costs. 

Gov.uk - Parents’ Learning Allowance

Both the grant and the allowance are based on your household income, are paid on top of your other student finance, and you do not have to pay the money back.

Apply as part of your main student finance application.

Support for students with adult dependants

Full-time home fee-paying students with an adult who depends on you financially may be eligible to apply for the Adult Dependants’ Grant.   

Gov.uk - Adult Dependants’ Grant

The grant is based on your household income, is paid on top of other student finance, and doesn’t have to be paid back.

Apply as part of your main student finance application.

Support for students with a disability

If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia, you can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).

This can be on its own or in addition to any student finance you get, though you must at least be eligible to receive student finance.

The type of support and how much you get depends on your individual needs - not your household income. For part-time students, your ‘course intensity’ can affect how much DSA you get (‘course intensity’ means how long your course takes to complete each year compared to an equivalent full-time course).

Gov.uk - Disabled Students’ Allowance

Full-time students can apply as part of their main student finance application. Part-time students will need to fill in a form. Find out more information on the government website.

Gov.uk - Disabled Students’ Allowance - How to apply

More information about the support available for disabled students at The University of Sheffield can be found on the Disability and Dyslexia Support Service (DDSS) web pages.

Disability and Dyslexia Support Service (DDSS)

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Students with a year abroad or a year in industry

If you are travelling abroad as part of your studies with us, you can find out more information on the Global Opportunities web pages about the support available.

Global Opportunities - Funding and finances

Students who are undertaking a year in industry can find out more information on our Careers and Employability Service web pages.

Careers and Employability Service - An introduction to placements and internships (student login required)

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Additional information

Guidance about additional funding and how to manage your money can be found on our web pages.

Living costs

Additional funding for undergraduate study

If you need to discuss your financial situation with someone, you can contact the Student Advice Centre in the Students' Union (both prospective students with an offer and current students). 

Student Advice Centre

They have also provided some useful money management information online, available to all.

Student Advice Centre - Money Management

If you are a prospective student and have any other general enquiries, you can find out more information about the different ways of contacting us on this web page.

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