Student finance information for mature students
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-14)

You can apply for student finance as a mature student. Find out what funding is available and how to apply.

What’s available?

You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees and a Maintenance Loan for living costs. We also offer extra support if you have children or an adult who depends on you financially, or you have a disability, a long-term health condition, mental health condition, or specific learning difficulty.

What happens if you apply near the start of your course?

Apply for student finance as soon as you can

It’s important to apply for student finance as soon as possible. The quicker you apply, the sooner we can assess your application and pay you.

To make sure you have some funding in place near the start of your course we’ll award you a minimum amount (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-living-costs-while-studying-at-university-or-college#what-you-could-get-as-a-minimum-in-the-2023-to-2024-academic-year) of funding first. You don’t need to call us, this is normal.

You’ll get more money if you’re entitled to it once we’ve processed your household income details. This will take 4 weeks.

Applying for funding based on household income

If you’re over 25, you’ll be considered an independent student.

You can also be considered independent if you’re under 25 and:
- care for a child
- have supported yourself financially for 3 years before your course starts
- you’re a care leaver (https://www.ucas.com/student-finance-england/other-funding-full-time-students#careleavers) or you’re estranged (https://www.ucas.com/finance/student-finance-england/finance-independent-students#estranged) from your parents
- you have been married or in a civil partnership at any time before the start of your course
How much funding you’ll get as an independent student depends on your own circumstances and household income.

If you’re married, in a civil partnership or living with a partner, we’ll ask for details of your partner’s income as part of the application process.

The rules are different if you’re under 25. Find out more about how household income (https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance/household-income) affects your funding.

Cost of living

The current cost of living pressures might be a cause of stress, anxiety, or financial strain. Use our cost of living guide (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-student-finance-support) to make sure you’re getting the maximum student finance support you’re entitled to and to find any extra support you may need during your studies.

Your living costs will differ depending on where and what you’re studying. It’s also important to consider lifestyle and financial commitments. Find out what living cost funding is available (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-living-costs-while-studying-at-university-or-college#what-you-could-get-as-a-maximum)

Applying for extra help

There’s extra help available if you’re a student with children or dependent adults, or if you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or learning difficulty.

Students with children or dependent adults can apply for:
- Childcare Grant (https://www.gov.uk/childcare-grant)
- Parents’ Learning Allowance (https://www.gov.uk/parents-learning-allowance)
- Adult Dependants’ Grant (https://www.gov.uk/adult-dependants-grant)
- Disabled Students’ Allowance (https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa)
If you’re eligible for extra financial help, this will be awarded once we’ve assessed the household income part of your application. So, it might not be in place until after the start of your course.

These applications can take a bit longer to process, which means by applying late you might need to self-fund things like childcare at the start of your course. Once your application has been approved, any extra funding will be backdated.