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Tuition Fee Loan Full-time Undergraduate, tuition fee and living cost students

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2. Who can get this loan?

You don't need to work out if you're eligible - we'll do it for you

This page is intended for your information only. Make your application for student finance, we'll determine your eligibility and let you know.

The following can contribute to your eligibility for a Tuition Fee Loan as a full-time undergraduate tuition fee and living cost students.

Nationality and residency

You could get this funding if you're able to identify as one of the following:

A UK or Irish Citizen or someone with settled status in the UK

You must:

  • normally live in Northern Ireland
  • have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three years before the first day of your first academic year

An EU National

You must:

  • have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
  • normally live in Northern Ireland
  • have been living in UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, for the three years before the first day of your first academic year

EU Nationals with less than three years residency in UK & Islands may be eligible for tuition fee only funding

A UK National or family members of a UK National who has been living in the EEA or Switzerland

You must:

  • have normally lived in the EEA or Switzerland on or before 31 December 2020
  • have lived in the UK, Gibraltar, the EEA or Switzerland for the three years before the first day of your first academic year
  • be studying in Northern Ireland

An eligible exception residency type

Our eligible exception residency types can include refugees, those under humanitarian protection or their immediate family members.

Resident in another area of the UK but living in Northern Ireland while you study

You will not be classed as 'ordinarily resident' in Northern Ireland and will not be eligible for support from Student Finance NI. You should contact your home funding provider for further information on what support is available.

Age

There is no upper or lower age limit for this Tuition Fee Loan.

Course

To qualify for this loan your course must result in one of the following qualifications:

  • a first degree, for example, a BA, BSc or BEd
  • a Foundation Degree
  • a Certificate of Higher Education
  • a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
  • a Higher National Certificate (HNC)
  • a Higher National Diploma (HND)
  • a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
  • Initial Teacher Education (ITE)
  • Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) when undertaken at a provider in Northern Ireland

Your university or college will be able to confirm the course qualification.

Place of study

Both your course and place of study must be eligible for funding from us.

Your university or college can be private or public, however it must be a UK based university or college and you need to study at least 50% of your course in the UK

Your university or college will be able to confirm their eligibility for funding from us.

Previous study

You'll usually get this funding for your first higher education degree but exceptions can apply.

You could get limited funding if, for example:

  • you change course
  • you leave your course but decide to start again
  • you're 'topping up' a higher education qualification, for example you've finished an HNC, HND or Foundation Degree and now want to do an Honours degree
  • you already have a degree and you're starting a specified second degree, you can contact us for details of eligible courses

If you've previously studied a course at this qualification level you may not get funding, even if your previous course was self-funded.

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