Long Courses Loan
If a student's course lasts longer than 30 weeks and 3 days in an academic year they might be able to get a Long Courses Loan to help towards their living costs.
The Long Courses Loan is part of the Maintenance Loan. To be eligible, the student must be able to get the part of the Maintenance Loan that depends on their household income. We'll assess whether they can get the Long Courses Loan when they apply for their Maintenance Loan.
The Long Courses Loan, plus any interest, has to be paid back but not until the student has finished or left their course and their income is over the repayment threshold.
How much can they get?
Students get a fixed amount per extra week, or part of a week, for up to 45 weeks of study. Students studying for 45 weeks or more are assessed for the full 52 weeks. How much a student can get depends on their household income and where they're living while studying.
The following table shows the maximum weekly amount of Long Courses Loan available.
|
Student's living arrangements |
Maximum amount for each extra week - 2023/24 academic year |
Maximum amount for each extra week - 2024/25 academic year |
|
Living with parents |
£71 |
£73 |
|
Studying in London and not living with parents |
£138 |
£141 |
|
Studying outside London and not living with parents |
£107 |
£110 |
|
Living and studying abroad |
£148 |
£152 |
It's important students let us know if there are any changes to their living arrangements as it will affect their student finance. This is so we can make sure they get the right amount of student finance. Students can make these changes in their online account.
Care Leavers
Students who have been in the care of their local authority since the age of 16 may be able to apply for student finance as a care leaver.
Estranged students
Students can apply as an estranged student if:
- they haven't had any contact with either of their biological/adoptive parents for 12 months or more; or
- their relationship with their biological/adoptive parents has broken down within the last 12 months and they don't expect this to change in the near future
If they apply as an estranged student they won't need to send their parents' financial information. We'll only need the students financial information to work out how much they can get.
A student may also be assessed as estranged if they later stop contact with their parents or meet any of the estrangement criteria later in the academic year. Each estrangement application is looked at on a case by case basis.
If a student thinks they may be estranged then they can read the Stand Alone student finance guide at standalone.org.uk/guides/student-guide
As part of their application we'll ask if any of the above apply to the student and ask them to send evidence to prove their circumstances.
How it's calculated
If the student's household income is £39,796 or less, they'll get the maximum amount of Long Courses Loan.
If their household income is more than £39,796, the amount they get will be reduced by £1 for every £8.73 over £39,796.
This is paid at the same time as the Maintenance Loan in 3 instalments throughout the year.
