Fees and funding
For more detailed information visit the undergraduate fees and funding section or download our Money Matters booklet (PDF).
How can the tuition fees be covered?
Tuition fee loan
As long as your son or daughter has not studied at degree level previously, and they are from the UK or EU then they can apply to the Government for a loan to cover the cost of the tuition fees. This loan is only repayable once your offspring has completed the course and is earning at least £21,000.
The loan is paid directly to the university. Taking it enables students to study without struggling to try and cover the cost of tuition at the same time.
Find out more about our tuition fees or visit the course pages of the course your son or daughter has applied for to find out about the tuition fees.
How can the living costs be covered?
Maintenance loan and maintenance grant
Living costs such as accommodation, food, travel, bills and course costs can be covered through a government loan, an income-assessed grant and potentially a scholarship. The maximum grant available in 2013/14 is £3,354 if your household income is £25,000 or less. Your son/daughter can still receive a partial grant if your income goes up to £40,000.
Find out more about living costs or visit the course pages of the course your son or daughter has applied for to find out about living costs.
How do the loan repayments work?
Both the tuition fee and maintenance loans are added together and become repayable from the April after course completion, and graduates are earning more than £21,000 (repayments are made on 9% of earnings above this figure).
Repayments are made via HMRC, and so the money is taken back in the same way that tax is paid. The repayment amounts are based upon earnings, and not upon the amount borrowed (so a student who takes both a tuition fee and a maintenance loan will repay the same as a student who takes a maintenance loan only).
A guide to repayments based on earnings:
| Level of income | Monthly repayment |
|---|---|
| £21,000 | £0 |
| £25,000 | £30 |
| £30,000 | £67.50 |
| £35,000 | £105.00 |
| £40,000 | £142.50 |
Repayments are made for a maximum of 30 years and any outstanding amounts after this time will be cancelled.
Interest on the loans
Interest is charged on the loans from the moment that they are taken until they are fully repaid. The rate of interest charged whilst studying until April 2016 is at the rate of inflation plus 3%. Once earning, interest depends upon earnings level.
A guide to interest-based on earnings:
| Income level | Rate of interest |
|---|---|
| Less than £21,000 | Rate of inflation |
| Between £21,000 and £41,000 | Rate of inflation plus a percentage which will increase as income increases |
| More than £41,000 | Rate of inflation plus 3% |
Applying for funding
Tuition fee loan, maintenance loan and maintenance grant
Applications are made online via a centralised Government organisation called Student Finance, who are part of the Student Loans company.
They are divided into national sectors covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland is governed by a separate agency).
Applications can usually be submitted in the March prior to course commencement in the following September. Students are advised to submit applications by the end of May before the start of the course to guarantee start of term payments, although applications may still be submitted until the May after course commencement.
Please note: applications need to be submitted annually.
If you wish for your son or daughter to be assessed for the maximum package of financial support you will need to confirm your joint earnings if you are married for the previous tax year (April 2011/12 for 2013/14 applications) or just your own earnings if you are single. Stepparents' income also has to be declared.
Online application contacts
Find out more about National Scholarship Programme and Kingston Scholarship Scheme.
Funding advice
Money advisers within the Student Life group at the University provide advice and information on all aspects of student funding, including loans, grants, bursaries, scholarships and welfare benefits. Money advisers can also provide money management and debt avoidance advice. The Student Funds team within Student Life administer and distribute government and university hardship funds to students experiencing financial difficulties. Contact the funding and money advice team on 020 8417 7312.
How do I find out how much tuition fees are?
Visit the course pages of the course your son or daughter has applied for to find out about the tuition fees. Once you have found the course you need, select the 'Fees and funding' item from the menu on the left-hand side where the fee levels will be displayed.
Alternatively you can contact the Debt Recovery Team on 020 8328 7005.
Is my son or daughter able to pay the tuition fee by instalment?
If you do not, or cannot, take the tuition fee loan then students may pay fees via an instalment plan. Overseas students are required to pay at least 50% of tuition fees before or at enrolment.
Who do I contact if I wish to pay my son or daughter's fees?
You may pay your son or daughter's fees (for tuition or accommodation) by contacting the University's Financial Operations Debt Recovery team. Find out more.
What happens if my son or daughter leaves the course or needs to take a break from their studies?
Your son or daughter will need to provide their faculty with written notice of their decision. Depending on when in the academic year that they do this, they may still be liable for all of their tuition fees or a percentage. Dates and details for undergraduate study are availlable on the withdrawal dates page or our Money Matters booklet (PDF).
However, if your son or daughter has exceptional reasons for taking a break in study and provide evidence of this to their faculty this will be taken into consideration.
