While the UK is a single country, student finance is a devolved matter. This means where you live (your "domicile") before going to university determines the rules of your student loan, regardless of where in the UK you choose to study.
At a Glance
| Country | Tuition Cap | Maintenance | Repayment Plan | Repayment Threshold | Write-off Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | £9,250 | Loans | Plan 5 | £25,000 | 40 years |
| Scotland | Free (SAAS) | Grants & Loans | Plan 4 | £31,395 | 30 years |
| Wales | £9,250 | Grants & Loans | Plan 3 / 5 | Varies | Varies |
| N. Ireland | £4,750 | Grants & Loans | Plan 1 | £24,990 | 25 years |
Student Finance England (SFE)
English students are now placed on Plan 5 loans (for courses starting from 2023 onwards).
- Tuition Fees: Up to £9,250 per year.
- Maintenance: Entirely loan-based, heavily dependent on household income.
- Repayment: You repay 9% of income earned above £25,000 a year.
- Write-off: The debt is cleared after 40 years, meaning most graduates will be making payments for the entirety of their working careers.
Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
Scottish students staying in Scotland for university get the best financial deal in the UK.
- Tuition Fees: "Free" (funded by the Scottish Government) for your first undergraduate degree if you study in Scotland. If you cross the border into England, Wales, or NI, you must take out a loan for up to £9,250.
- Maintenance: A mix of bursaries (which do not need to be repaid) and loans, depending on household income.
- Repayment (Plan 4): You repay 9% of income earned above £31,395 a year.
- Write-off: The debt is cleared after 30 years.
Student Finance Wales (SFW)
The Welsh system is highly regarded for its cost-of-living support.
- Tuition Fees: Up to £9,250 per year.
- Maintenance: Welsh students receive the same overall amount of maintenance support regardless of household income. The difference is the *ratio* of grant (free money) to loan. Lower-income students receive almost entirely non-repayable grants.
- Repayment: Generally aligned with the English repayment plans based on the year of entry.
Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI)
Northern Ireland caps tuition fees significantly for local students.
- Tuition Fees: Capped at £4,750 per year if an NI student stays in Northern Ireland. If they study in the rest of the UK, they take an SFE-style loan for up to £9,250.
- Maintenance: A mix of grants and loans depending on household income.
- Repayment (Plan 1): You repay 9% of income earned above £24,990 a year.
- Write-off: The debt is cleared after 25 years.
General Rule: Your funding rules travel with you, but the fees change. If you are Scottish and go to an English uni, you pay £9,250 using SAAS loans. If you are English and go to a Scottish uni, you pay £9,250 using SFE loans.