Doctoral Loan
If you're studying a postgraduate doctorate course, you can apply for a loan worth up to £30,301 from Student Finance England. All of the criteria and application guidance are provided by GOV.UK but here are some key details:
Eligibility
Your course:
- must be a standalone doctoral course, not a top up from a lower level qualification
- must be full-time lasting at least 3 years or a part-time course lasting up to 8 years.
You can't get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan if:
- you’ve received or will receive Research Council funding (for example, technē and other studentships, stipends, scholarships and tuition fee support)
- you’ve received a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan before - unless you left your course due to illness, bereavement or another serious personal reason. Contact the Student Advice Service for detailed advice about how to prove this to Student Finance England
- you already have a doctoral degree, or a qualification that’s equivalent or higher
- you’re receiving a doctorate by publication.
Nationality, residency and immigration status
You can get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan if all the following apply:
- You’re a UK national or Irish citizen or have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme or indefinite leave to remain so there are no restrictions on how long you can stay in the UK.
- You normally live in England.
- You’ve been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man during the 3 years immediately before the first day of the first academic year of your course.*
*The first day of the first academic year of the course is 1 September for courses in September or 1 January for courses starting in January.
There are many other ways you can be eligible for the loan so please check the eligibility criteria carefully. You can also contact the Student Advice Service for guidance if you're unsure.
Apply
- Apply online.
- You can apply for a loan in any year of your course but you might not get the maximum loan amount if you apply after your first year. You must apply within 9 month of the first day of the last academic year of your course.
You must repay your Postgraduate Doctoral Loan at the same time as any other student loans you have. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get your first payment.
The Student Loans Company provide detailed information about interest rates and repaying your loan.
Paying your tuition fees
Students on research degree courses must:
- pay each year’s tuition fee before they enrol onto that year of the course, or
- set up an instalment plan
Find out more about how your instalment plan will work and contact your college Fee Manager if you have any questions.
If you change mode of student from full-time to part-time or vice versa, your Doctoral Loan payments will be affected. If this then affects your tuition fee payment, please contact your Fee Manager.
Repayment
Detailed information about interest and repaying your loan can be found on the Student Loan Repayment website.