Funding for UK nationals and those with a Migrant Worker status.
Overview
| Type of funding | Loan |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | £10,609 maximum (This is a contribution towards the costs of study, in other words, it will be at your own discretion how you use the loan) |
| Level of study | Postgraduate |
| Nationality | Primarily UK |
| How to apply | For information on eligibility and how to apply, please refer to the gov.uk site on Master's Loans |
The PGL is available to UK Nationals (and individuals with settled status in the UK) who have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for three years on the first day of the first academic year of their programme.
They must have been most recently resident in England, and must not have moved there from elsewhere in the UK and Islands solely for the purpose of attending the programme. Temporary absences from the home address, such as for education or travelling, will not prevent an applicant being eligible for PGL.
You are permitted to transfer between Master’s programmes and retain your Postgraduate Loan (PGL).
Repeat years of study will not be funded, unless you can prove compelling personal reasons (as defined in the SFE regulations) for repeating an academic year.
Further funding is not available where you do not complete your studies in the specified programme length. However, you can suspend and resume your programme. No loan disbursements will be made during suspension periods.
Withdrawals from programmes will be reported to the SLC immediately, and no payments will be made when you are no longer in study.
Students with outstanding student loan arrears or students who have been previously declared ‘unfit’ for student support (e.g. due to attempted fraud) are also not eligible.
Students currently in receipt of welfare benefits/ pension
The Department for Business Innovation & Skills and the Department of Work & Pensions are currently in discussion regarding students eligible for both benefits and the PGL, to determine how the loan will impact on their financial status. Further detail will follow once we know them.
For further information, please see the Funding for postgraduate study section on GOV.UK
How your SFE funding is disbursed
The PGL will be disbursed in three equal instalments per academic year, directly to your nominated bank account, on the following dates:
- Instalment 1 – Once attendance on your programme is confirmed by the University
- Instalment 2 – Four months after the programme start month (Last Wednesday of month)
- Instalment 3 – Seven months after the programme start month
How to apply
You can apply online via the Master's Loan section of gov.uk
We do recommend that you apply for your Master’s programme prior to the launch of the new PGL application system.
All students in receipt of Student Finance are required to bring their Entitlement letters to the new students registration from week commencing 26 September 2022, depending on the course.
For the purposes of maintenance payments for new students, please note that we are required by UK regulations to confirm student registration to student finance only after we meet with students in person. As a result, your maintenance funding will be sent to you between the 1st day of studies commencing, up to 5 working days after this date. This will be paid directly into your bank account.
Registration for Student Finance will be confirmed for students with fully approved entitlement only. So if you haven’t received your entitlement letter yet (in post or online), please check with Student Finance.