The Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government is designed to support students who normally live in England, to contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study. It is provided by the UK government and you can choose whether to put this towards your tuition fees or living costs.

If you are a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland you can find further information below under Eligibility.

The maximum value of the loan for courses starting on or after 1 August 2024 is £12,471

The Master's Loan is not means-tested, so it doesn't matter what your household income is. In addition you will not repay the loan whilst you are studying – you start repaying your loan when your income is over a certain amount after you finish your course.

The loan is to contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study, and you can choose whether you put this towards your tuition fees or living costs. It is for all Master’s degrees across taught and research programmes.

Am I eligible?

Eligibility depends on three main factors:

  • Your course
  • Your age
  • Your nationality and residency status

Funding for postgraduate loans is different if you normally live in:

Find out more about eligibility on Gov.uk.

How do I apply?

You apply through Student Finance England, either online or by post.

You will only need to apply once, even if your Master’s is longer than one year.

Find out more about applying with Student Finance England