I am looking at doing master's course in the UK. It is an Msc course that is eligible for a postgraduate loan. I do not know how much the loan is. How much funding is available for a postgraduate student?

You can get up to:

Master's Loan

Overview

A Postgraduate Master’s Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master’s course.

Funding for postgraduate loans is different if:

you normally live in Scotland

you normally live in Wales

you normally live in Northern Ireland.

Moving somewhere to study does not count as normally living there.

You can also get extra support if you have a disability.

When you can apply

You’ll be able to apply for funding for the 2021 to 2022 academic year from summer 2021. Applications are not yet open - this guide will be updated as soon as they are.

When you repay your loan

You’ll have to start repaying your loan when your income is over a certain amount (the ‘threshold’ amount).

You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment.

What you'll get

You can get up to:

£11,570 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2021

£11,222 if your course started between 1 August 2020 and 31 July 2021

£10,906 if your course started between 1 August 2019 and 31 July 2020

The amount you’ll get is not based on your income or your family’s.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may take account of the loan when working out any benefits you receive.

The loan is paid directly to you. You can use it for your course fees and living costs.

If your course lasts for more than a year, the loan will be divided equally across each year of your course.

When you’re paid

You get the first payment after your course start date, once your university or college confirms that you’ve registered.

The loan will be paid in 3 instalments of 33%, 33% and 34% each year. After your application has been approved, you’ll be sent a letter with your payment dates. You can also check them in your online account.

If you change university or college

Your new university or college has to confirm the change with Student Finance England before you receive any more payments.

Eligibility

Whether you qualify depends on:

your course

your age

your nationality or residency status

You will not be able to get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if:

you’re already getting payments from Student Finance England for another course that you’re studying

you’ve received a loan or grant for a master’s course before - unless you got a Disabled Students’ Allowance or you left your course for a serious personal reason like illness or bereavement

you already have a master’s degree, or a qualification that’s equivalent or higher

you’re behind in repayments for any previous loans from the Student Loans Company

You’ll still be eligible if you have a PGCE or a postgraduate diploma or certificate.

You will not get extra money if you repeat a year of your course.

Your course

It must:

be a full, standalone master’s course (not a top-up course)

be worth at least 180 credits - check the course provider’s website if you’re not sure

have started on or after 1 August 2016

Your course must be provided by an eligible university or college in the UK (including the Open University). Check with the university or college that your course is registered.

Your course can be taught or research-based.

It can be:

full-time, lasting 1 or 2 academic years

part-time, lasting 2 to 4 academic years - no more than twice the length of the equivalent full-time course

part-time for up to 3 years, where no equivalent full-time course exists

Examples of postgraduate master’s qualifications include:

MSc (master of science)

MA (master of arts)

MPhil (master of philosophy)

MRes (master of research)

LLM (master of law)

MLitt (master of letters)

MFA (master of fine art)

MEd (master of education)

MBA (master of business administration)

You cannot get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan for a postgraduate certificate or diploma.

Distance learning

To qualify for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan for distance learning, you’ll need to be living in England on the first day of the first academic year of your course. You’ll also need to live in:

England for the whole of your course, if you’re an EU national

the UK for the whole of your course, if you’re not an EU national

This usually does not apply if you’re:

serving in the armed forces

a spouse or civil partner of a serving member of the armed forces

a dependent parent living with a serving member of the armed forces

Integrated courses

You will not be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if your course is:

integrated with an undergraduate degree - apply for undergraduate funding instead

integrated with a doctoral degree - apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan instead

Intercalated year

You might be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if you’re taking a year out of an undergraduate course to study for a master’s.

This will generally mean you’re not entitled to undergraduate funding anymore because you’ll hold a higher level qualification.

You are still eligible for undergraduate funding if your course leads to a qualification in:

architecture

dentistry

medicine

social work

undergraduate Initial Teacher Training

veterinary science

Master of architecture

If you plan to study for a master of architecture (MArch Part 2) qualification full-time, apply for undergraduate funding support. Your course must be accredited by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) to be eligible.

You can only apply for the Postgraduate Master’s Loan to support your MArch course if one of the following applies:

you’re taking a part-time course

you’re not eligible for undergraduate funding support

the course does not lead to an accredited qualification as an architect

Healthcare and social work

You cannot get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if you:

are eligible for an NHS bursary

get a Social Work Bursary - unless you only get a Placement Travel Allowance

This also applies for health and social work bursaries in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

You also cannot get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if you’re starting a postgraduate pre-registration healthcare course on or after 1 August 2018. You may be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan instead.

Your age

You must be under 60 on the first day of the first academic year of your course.

The academic year is a period of 12 months starting on:

1 September, if your course starts between 1 August and 31 December

1 January, if your course starts between 1 January and 31 March

1 April, if your course starts between 1 April and 30 June

1 July, if your course starts between 1 July and 31 July

Your nationality or residency status

You can apply for the Postgraduate Master’s Loan if all of the following are true:

you’re a UK or Irish national or have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme or indefinite leave to remain so there are no restrictions on how long you can stay

you normally live in England

you’ve been living in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Ireland for 3 continuous years before the first day of your course, apart from temporary absences such as going on holiday

You may also be eligible if you’re a UK national (or family member of a UK national) who either:

returned to the UK on or after 1 January 2018 and by 31 December 2020 after living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

was living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein on 31 December 2020 and has been living in the UK, the EU, Gibraltar, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein for the past 3 years

If you’re an EU national or a family member of an EU national

You may be eligible if you’re an EU national, or a family member of an EU national, and all the following apply:

you have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

you’ve normally lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein for the past 3 years (this is also known as being ‘ordinarily resident’)

you’ll be studying at a university or college in England

You could also be eligible if you’re:

the child of a Swiss national and you and your parent have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

a migrant worker from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status, or a family member of a migrant worker where both have pre-settled status

a resident of Gibraltar who is a UK or EU national, or their family member

Student finance for EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein nationals from August 2021

If you’re starting a course on or after 1 August 2021, you must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get student finance.

You need to have started living in the UK before 31 December 2020 to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. If you’re coming to the UK from 1 January 2021, you may need to apply for a visa to study in the UK.

Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme. They can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if they wish to, for example, to apply on behalf of a child.

If you have a different residency status

You may also be eligible if your residency status is one of the following:

refugee (including family members)

humanitarian protection (including family members)

child of a Turkish worker who has permission to stay in the UK - you and your Turkish worker parent must have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020

a stateless person (including family members)

an unaccompanied child granted ‘Section 67 leave’ under the Dubs Amendment

a child who is under the protection of someone granted ‘Section 67 leave’, who is also allowed to stay in the UK for the same period of time as the person responsible for them (known as ‘leave in line’)

granted ‘Calais leave’ to remain

a child of someone granted ‘Calais leave’ to remain, who is also allowed to stay in the UK for the same period of time as their parent (known as ‘leave in line’)

you’ve been given settled status but not under the EU Settlement Scheme

you’ve been given indefinite leave to remain because you’ve been the victim of domestic violence

you’ve been granted indefinite leave to remain as a bereaved partner

you’re the family member of a person of Northern Ireland and you have pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

If you’re a non-UK national and have lived in the UK for a certain number of years

You could also be eligible if you’re not a UK national and are either:

under 18 and have lived in the UK for at least 7 years

18 or over and have lived in the UK for at least 20 years (or at least half of your life)

You must have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 3 continuous years before the first day of your course.

How to apply

You can apply now for courses that start or started in the following academic years:

2020 to 2021

2019 to 2020

2018 to 2019

You can apply in summer 2021 for courses that start in the academic year 2021 to 2022. Applications are not yet open - this guide will be updated as soon as they are.

Check whether you’re eligible before you apply.

You only need to apply once for the Postgraduate Master’s Loan, even if your course is longer than one year. Student Finance England will write to you in the summer to tell you how much you’ll get in the next academic year.

You’ll not be eligible for an Adult Dependants’ Grant, a Childcare Grant or Parents’ Learning Allowance from Student Finance England if you’re studying a master’s course.

Apply online

If you’ve taken out a loan with Student Finance England before, use your account to apply.

If you do not already have one, set up an account.

Apply by post

If you cannot apply online, apply by post - the address is on the form.

Read the student finance privacy notice to find out how the information you provide will be used.

Courses that start in the 2020 to 2021 academic year

Courses that started in the 2019 to 2020 academic year

Courses that started before 1 August 2019

Contact Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan Team if you cannot apply online.

When to apply by

The deadline for applying depends on when you start your course.

If you started on or after 1 August 2017

You need to apply within 9 months of the first day of the last academic year of the course.

The academic year

The academic year is a period of 12 months.

The first day of your academic year depends when your course starts.

Course start date between | First day of academic year

1 August and 31 December | 1 September

1 January and 31 March | 1 January

1 April and 30 June | 1 April

1 July and 31 July | 1 July

Proof of identity

Include valid UK passport details in your application. Use the ‘UK passport details’ form if you need to send the details after your application. Do not send the passport itself.

If you do not have a UK passport (or it has expired), send your original birth or adoption certificate to Student Finance England.

Include your name and address. You should also include your customer reference number if you have one. This is an 11-digit number. You can find it on letters or emails you’ve had from Student Finance England.

If you’re an EU national, send your passport or national identity card.

Supporting information

You should use the evidence return form for extra information to support your application, for example evidence of your residency status.

You may also be asked to complete the UK employment status form.

Change an application

Use your online account to change your personal details, for example bank or contact details. Contact Student Finance England directly if you do not have an account.

Change the amount you’ve asked for

Use the loan request form to change the amount you’ve applied for - you cannot do this online.

If your course starts in the 2020 to 2021 academic year:

If your course started in the 2019 to 2020 academic year:

If your course started before the 2018 to 2019 academic year, contact Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan Team.

Other changes

Use the change of circumstances form if you need to change any other details, for example your university or course. You cannot do this online.

Taking a break or withdrawing from your course

Tell Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan Team and your institution straight away if you need to withdraw from your course. It may affect your future payments and eligibility for funding.

Extra help

You may qualify for other funding, for example grants from charities or trusts.

Student Finance England also has more information about other kinds of student finance.

You will not be eligible for an Adult Dependants’ Grant, a Childcare Grant or Parents’ Learning Allowance from Student Finance England if you’re studying a master’s course.

Disabled students

If you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty (for example dyslexia) you can apply for:

Disabled Students’ Allowance

extra help if you’re experiencing financial hardship

You may also qualify for disability related benefits.

Further information

You can learn more about the Postgraduate Master’s Loan on the Student Room website.

Contact Student Finance England if you have further questions.

Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan team

£11,570 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2021

Master's Loan

Overview

A Postgraduate Master’s Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master’s course.

Funding for postgraduate loans is different if:

you normally live in Scotland

you normally live in Wales

you normally live in Northern Ireland.

Moving somewhere to study does not count as normally living there.

You can also get extra support if you have a disability.

When you can apply

You’ll be able to apply for funding for the 2021 to 2022 academic year from summer 2021. Applications are not yet open - this guide will be updated as soon as they are.

When you repay your loan

You’ll have to start repaying your loan when your income is over a certain amount (the ‘threshold’ amount).

You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment.

What you'll get

You can get up to:

£11,222 if your course started between 1 August 2020 and 31 July 2021

£10,906 if your course started between 1 August 2019 and 31 July 2020

The amount you’ll get is not based on your income or your family’s.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may take account of the loan when working out any benefits you receive.

The loan is paid directly to you. You can use it for your course fees and living costs.

If your course lasts for more than a year, the loan will be divided equally across each year of your course.

When you’re paid

You get the first payment after your course start date, once your university or college confirms that you’ve registered.

If you change university or college

Your new university or college has to confirm the change with Student Finance England before you receive any more payments.

Eligibility

Whether you qualify depends on:

your course

your age

your nationality or residency status

You will not be able to get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if:

you’re already getting payments from Student Finance England for another course that you’re studying

you already have a master’s degree, or a qualification that’s equivalent or higher

you’re behind in repayments for any previous loans from the Student Loans Company

You’ll still be eligible if you have a PGCE or a postgraduate diploma or certificate.

You will not get extra money if you repeat a year of your course.

Your course

It must:

be a full, standalone master’s course (not a top-up course)

be worth at least 180 credits - check the course provider’s website if you’re not sure

have started on or after 1 August 2016

Your course can be taught or research-based.

It can be:

full-time, lasting 1 or 2 academic years

part-time, lasting 2 to 4 academic years - no more than twice the length of the equivalent full-time course

part-time for up to 3 years, where no equivalent full-time course exists

Examples of postgraduate master’s qualifications include:

MSc (master of science)

MA (master of arts)

MPhil (master of philosophy)

MRes (master of research)

LLM (master of law)

MLitt (master of letters)

MFA (master of fine art)

MEd (master of education)

MBA (master of business administration)

You cannot get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan for a postgraduate certificate or diploma.

Distance learning

England for the whole of your course, if you’re an EU national

the UK for the whole of your course, if you’re not an EU national

This usually does not apply if you’re:

serving in the armed forces

a spouse or civil partner of a serving member of the armed forces

a dependent parent living with a serving member of the armed forces

Integrated courses

You will not be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if your course is:

integrated with an undergraduate degree - apply for undergraduate funding instead

integrated with a doctoral degree - apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan instead

Intercalated year

You might be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if you’re taking a year out of an undergraduate course to study for a master’s.

This will generally mean you’re not entitled to undergraduate funding anymore because you’ll hold a higher level qualification.

You are still eligible for undergraduate funding if your course leads to a qualification in:

architecture

dentistry

medicine

social work

undergraduate Initial Teacher Training

veterinary science

Master of architecture

You can only apply for the Postgraduate Master’s Loan to support your MArch course if one of the following applies:

you’re taking a part-time course

you’re not eligible for undergraduate funding support

the course does not lead to an accredited qualification as an architect

Healthcare and social work

You cannot get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if you:

are eligible for an NHS bursary

get a Social Work Bursary - unless you only get a Placement Travel Allowance

This also applies for health and social work bursaries in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Your age

You must be under 60 on the first day of the first academic year of your course.

The academic year is a period of 12 months starting on:

1 September, if your course starts between 1 August and 31 December

1 January, if your course starts between 1 January and 31 March

1 April, if your course starts between 1 April and 30 June

1 July, if your course starts between 1 July and 31 July

Your nationality or residency status

You can apply for the Postgraduate Master’s Loan if all of the following are true:

you normally live in England

You may also be eligible if you’re a UK national (or family member of a UK national) who either:

returned to the UK on or after 1 January 2018 and by 31 December 2020 after living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you’re an EU national or a family member of an EU national

You may be eligible if you’re an EU national, or a family member of an EU national, and all the following apply:

you have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

you’ve normally lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein for the past 3 years (this is also known as being ‘ordinarily resident’)

you’ll be studying at a university or college in England

You could also be eligible if you’re:

the child of a Swiss national and you and your parent have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

a migrant worker from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status, or a family member of a migrant worker where both have pre-settled status

a resident of Gibraltar who is a UK or EU national, or their family member

Student finance for EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein nationals from August 2021

If you’re starting a course on or after 1 August 2021, you must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get student finance.

If you have a different residency status

You may also be eligible if your residency status is one of the following:

refugee (including family members)

humanitarian protection (including family members)

child of a Turkish worker who has permission to stay in the UK - you and your Turkish worker parent must have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020

a stateless person (including family members)

an unaccompanied child granted ‘Section 67 leave’ under the Dubs Amendment

granted ‘Calais leave’ to remain

a child of someone granted ‘Calais leave’ to remain, who is also allowed to stay in the UK for the same period of time as their parent (known as ‘leave in line’)

you’ve been given settled status but not under the EU Settlement Scheme

you’ve been given indefinite leave to remain because you’ve been the victim of domestic violence

you’ve been granted indefinite leave to remain as a bereaved partner

you’re the family member of a person of Northern Ireland and you have pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

If you’re a non-UK national and have lived in the UK for a certain number of years

You could also be eligible if you’re not a UK national and are either:

under 18 and have lived in the UK for at least 7 years

18 or over and have lived in the UK for at least 20 years (or at least half of your life)

You must have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 3 continuous years before the first day of your course.

How to apply

You can apply now for courses that start or started in the following academic years:

2020 to 2021

2019 to 2020

2018 to 2019

You can apply in summer 2021 for courses that start in the academic year 2021 to 2022. Applications are not yet open - this guide will be updated as soon as they are.

Check whether you’re eligible before you apply.

You’ll not be eligible for an Adult Dependants’ Grant, a Childcare Grant or Parents’ Learning Allowance from Student Finance England if you’re studying a master’s course.

Apply online

If you’ve taken out a loan with Student Finance England before, use your account to apply.

If you do not already have one, set up an account.

Apply by post

If you cannot apply online, apply by post - the address is on the form.

Read the student finance privacy notice to find out how the information you provide will be used.

Courses that start in the 2020 to 2021 academic year

Courses that started in the 2019 to 2020 academic year

Courses that started before 1 August 2019

Contact Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan Team if you cannot apply online.

When to apply by

The deadline for applying depends on when you start your course.

If you started on or after 1 August 2017

You need to apply within 9 months of the first day of the last academic year of the course.

The academic year

The academic year is a period of 12 months.

The first day of your academic year depends when your course starts.

Course start date between | First day of academic year

1 August and 31 December | 1 September

1 January and 31 March | 1 January

1 April and 30 June | 1 April

1 July and 31 July | 1 July

Proof of identity

If you do not have a UK passport (or it has expired), send your original birth or adoption certificate to Student Finance England.

If you’re an EU national, send your passport or national identity card.

Supporting information

You should use the evidence return form for extra information to support your application, for example evidence of your residency status.

You may also be asked to complete the UK employment status form.

Change an application

Use your online account to change your personal details, for example bank or contact details. Contact Student Finance England directly if you do not have an account.

Change the amount you’ve asked for

Use the loan request form to change the amount you’ve applied for - you cannot do this online.

If your course starts in the 2020 to 2021 academic year:

If your course started in the 2019 to 2020 academic year:

If your course started before the 2018 to 2019 academic year, contact Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan Team.

Other changes

Use the change of circumstances form if you need to change any other details, for example your university or course. You cannot do this online.

Taking a break or withdrawing from your course

Extra help

You may qualify for other funding, for example grants from charities or trusts.

Student Finance England also has more information about other kinds of student finance.

You will not be eligible for an Adult Dependants’ Grant, a Childcare Grant or Parents’ Learning Allowance from Student Finance England if you’re studying a master’s course.

Disabled students

If you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty (for example dyslexia) you can apply for:

Disabled Students’ Allowance

extra help if you’re experiencing financial hardship

You may also qualify for disability related benefits.

Further information

You can learn more about the Postgraduate Master’s Loan on the Student Room website.

Contact Student Finance England if you have further questions.

Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan team

£11,222 if your course started between 1 August 2020 and 31 July 2021

Master's Loan

Overview

A Postgraduate Master’s Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master’s course.

Funding for postgraduate loans is different if:

you normally live in Scotland

you normally live in Wales

you normally live in Northern Ireland.

Moving somewhere to study does not count as normally living there.

You can also get extra support if you have a disability.

When you can apply

You’ll be able to apply for funding for the 2021 to 2022 academic year from summer 2021. Applications are not yet open - this guide will be updated as soon as they are.

When you repay your loan

You’ll have to start repaying your loan when your income is over a certain amount (the ‘threshold’ amount).

You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment.

What you'll get

You can get up to:

£11,570 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2021

£10,906 if your course started between 1 August 2019 and 31 July 2020

The amount you’ll get is not based on your income or your family’s.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may take account of the loan when working out any benefits you receive.

The loan is paid directly to you. You can use it for your course fees and living costs.

If your course lasts for more than a year, the loan will be divided equally across each year of your course.

When you’re paid

You get the first payment after your course start date, once your university or college confirms that you’ve registered.

If you change university or college

Your new university or college has to confirm the change with Student Finance England before you receive any more payments.

Eligibility

Whether you qualify depends on:

your course

your age

your nationality or residency status

You will not be able to get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if:

you’re already getting payments from Student Finance England for another course that you’re studying

you already have a master’s degree, or a qualification that’s equivalent or higher

you’re behind in repayments for any previous loans from the Student Loans Company

You’ll still be eligible if you have a PGCE or a postgraduate diploma or certificate.

You will not get extra money if you repeat a year of your course.

Your course

It must:

be a full, standalone master’s course (not a top-up course)

be worth at least 180 credits - check the course provider’s website if you’re not sure

have started on or after 1 August 2016

Your course can be taught or research-based.

It can be:

full-time, lasting 1 or 2 academic years

part-time, lasting 2 to 4 academic years - no more than twice the length of the equivalent full-time course

part-time for up to 3 years, where no equivalent full-time course exists

Examples of postgraduate master’s qualifications include:

MSc (master of science)

MA (master of arts)

MPhil (master of philosophy)

MRes (master of research)

LLM (master of law)

MLitt (master of letters)

MFA (master of fine art)

MEd (master of education)

MBA (master of business administration)

You cannot get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan for a postgraduate certificate or diploma.

Distance learning

England for the whole of your course, if you’re an EU national

the UK for the whole of your course, if you’re not an EU national

This usually does not apply if you’re:

serving in the armed forces

a spouse or civil partner of a serving member of the armed forces

a dependent parent living with a serving member of the armed forces

Integrated courses

You will not be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if your course is:

integrated with an undergraduate degree - apply for undergraduate funding instead

integrated with a doctoral degree - apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan instead

Intercalated year

You might be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if you’re taking a year out of an undergraduate course to study for a master’s.

This will generally mean you’re not entitled to undergraduate funding anymore because you’ll hold a higher level qualification.

You are still eligible for undergraduate funding if your course leads to a qualification in:

architecture

dentistry

medicine

social work

undergraduate Initial Teacher Training

veterinary science

Master of architecture

You can only apply for the Postgraduate Master’s Loan to support your MArch course if one of the following applies:

you’re taking a part-time course

you’re not eligible for undergraduate funding support

the course does not lead to an accredited qualification as an architect

Healthcare and social work

You cannot get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if you:

are eligible for an NHS bursary

get a Social Work Bursary - unless you only get a Placement Travel Allowance

This also applies for health and social work bursaries in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Your age

You must be under 60 on the first day of the first academic year of your course.

The academic year is a period of 12 months starting on:

1 September, if your course starts between 1 August and 31 December

1 January, if your course starts between 1 January and 31 March

1 April, if your course starts between 1 April and 30 June

1 July, if your course starts between 1 July and 31 July

Your nationality or residency status

You can apply for the Postgraduate Master’s Loan if all of the following are true:

you normally live in England

You may also be eligible if you’re a UK national (or family member of a UK national) who either:

returned to the UK on or after 1 January 2018 and by 31 December 2020 after living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you’re an EU national or a family member of an EU national

You may be eligible if you’re an EU national, or a family member of an EU national, and all the following apply:

you have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

you’ve normally lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein for the past 3 years (this is also known as being ‘ordinarily resident’)

you’ll be studying at a university or college in England

You could also be eligible if you’re:

the child of a Swiss national and you and your parent have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

a migrant worker from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status, or a family member of a migrant worker where both have pre-settled status

a resident of Gibraltar who is a UK or EU national, or their family member

Student finance for EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein nationals from August 2021

If you’re starting a course on or after 1 August 2021, you must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get student finance.

If you have a different residency status

You may also be eligible if your residency status is one of the following:

refugee (including family members)

humanitarian protection (including family members)

child of a Turkish worker who has permission to stay in the UK - you and your Turkish worker parent must have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020

a stateless person (including family members)

an unaccompanied child granted ‘Section 67 leave’ under the Dubs Amendment

granted ‘Calais leave’ to remain

a child of someone granted ‘Calais leave’ to remain, who is also allowed to stay in the UK for the same period of time as their parent (known as ‘leave in line’)

you’ve been given settled status but not under the EU Settlement Scheme

you’ve been given indefinite leave to remain because you’ve been the victim of domestic violence

you’ve been granted indefinite leave to remain as a bereaved partner

you’re the family member of a person of Northern Ireland and you have pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

If you’re a non-UK national and have lived in the UK for a certain number of years

You could also be eligible if you’re not a UK national and are either:

under 18 and have lived in the UK for at least 7 years

18 or over and have lived in the UK for at least 20 years (or at least half of your life)

You must have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 3 continuous years before the first day of your course.

How to apply

You can apply now for courses that start or started in the following academic years:

2020 to 2021

2019 to 2020

2018 to 2019

You can apply in summer 2021 for courses that start in the academic year 2021 to 2022. Applications are not yet open - this guide will be updated as soon as they are.

Check whether you’re eligible before you apply.

You’ll not be eligible for an Adult Dependants’ Grant, a Childcare Grant or Parents’ Learning Allowance from Student Finance England if you’re studying a master’s course.

Apply online

If you’ve taken out a loan with Student Finance England before, use your account to apply.

If you do not already have one, set up an account.

Apply by post

If you cannot apply online, apply by post - the address is on the form.

Read the student finance privacy notice to find out how the information you provide will be used.

Courses that start in the 2020 to 2021 academic year

Courses that started in the 2019 to 2020 academic year

Courses that started before 1 August 2019

Contact Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan Team if you cannot apply online.

When to apply by

The deadline for applying depends on when you start your course.

If you started on or after 1 August 2017

You need to apply within 9 months of the first day of the last academic year of the course.

The academic year

The academic year is a period of 12 months.

The first day of your academic year depends when your course starts.

Course start date between | First day of academic year

1 August and 31 December | 1 September

1 January and 31 March | 1 January

1 April and 30 June | 1 April

1 July and 31 July | 1 July

Proof of identity

If you do not have a UK passport (or it has expired), send your original birth or adoption certificate to Student Finance England.

If you’re an EU national, send your passport or national identity card.

Supporting information

You should use the evidence return form for extra information to support your application, for example evidence of your residency status.

You may also be asked to complete the UK employment status form.

Change an application

Use your online account to change your personal details, for example bank or contact details. Contact Student Finance England directly if you do not have an account.

Change the amount you’ve asked for

Use the loan request form to change the amount you’ve applied for - you cannot do this online.

If your course starts in the 2020 to 2021 academic year:

If your course started in the 2019 to 2020 academic year:

If your course started before the 2018 to 2019 academic year, contact Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan Team.

Other changes

Use the change of circumstances form if you need to change any other details, for example your university or course. You cannot do this online.

Taking a break or withdrawing from your course

Extra help

You may qualify for other funding, for example grants from charities or trusts.

Student Finance England also has more information about other kinds of student finance.

You will not be eligible for an Adult Dependants’ Grant, a Childcare Grant or Parents’ Learning Allowance from Student Finance England if you’re studying a master’s course.

Disabled students

If you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty (for example dyslexia) you can apply for:

Disabled Students’ Allowance

extra help if you’re experiencing financial hardship

You may also qualify for disability related benefits.

Further information

You can learn more about the Postgraduate Master’s Loan on the Student Room website.

Contact Student Finance England if you have further questions.

Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan team

£10,906 if your course started between 1 August 2019 and 31 July 2020

Master's Loan

Overview

A Postgraduate Master’s Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master’s course.

Funding for postgraduate loans is different if:

you normally live in Scotland

you normally live in Wales

you normally live in Northern Ireland.

Moving somewhere to study does not count as normally living there.

You can also get extra support if you have a disability.

When you can apply

You’ll be able to apply for funding for the 2021 to 2022 academic year from summer 2021. Applications are not yet open - this guide will be updated as soon as they are.

When you repay your loan

You’ll have to start repaying your loan when your income is over a certain amount (the ‘threshold’ amount).

You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment.

What you'll get

You can get up to:

£11,570 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2021

£11,222 if your course started between 1 August 2020 and 31 July 2021

The amount you’ll get is not based on your income or your family’s.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may take account of the loan when working out any benefits you receive.

The loan is paid directly to you. You can use it for your course fees and living costs.

If your course lasts for more than a year, the loan will be divided equally across each year of your course.

When you’re paid

You get the first payment after your course start date, once your university or college confirms that you’ve registered.

If you change university or college

Your new university or college has to confirm the change with Student Finance England before you receive any more payments.

Eligibility

Whether you qualify depends on:

your course

your age

your nationality or residency status

You will not be able to get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if:

you’re already getting payments from Student Finance England for another course that you’re studying

you already have a master’s degree, or a qualification that’s equivalent or higher

you’re behind in repayments for any previous loans from the Student Loans Company

You’ll still be eligible if you have a PGCE or a postgraduate diploma or certificate.

You will not get extra money if you repeat a year of your course.

Your course

It must:

be a full, standalone master’s course (not a top-up course)

be worth at least 180 credits - check the course provider’s website if you’re not sure

have started on or after 1 August 2016

Your course can be taught or research-based.

It can be:

full-time, lasting 1 or 2 academic years

part-time, lasting 2 to 4 academic years - no more than twice the length of the equivalent full-time course

part-time for up to 3 years, where no equivalent full-time course exists

Examples of postgraduate master’s qualifications include:

MSc (master of science)

MA (master of arts)

MPhil (master of philosophy)

MRes (master of research)

LLM (master of law)

MLitt (master of letters)

MFA (master of fine art)

MEd (master of education)

MBA (master of business administration)

You cannot get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan for a postgraduate certificate or diploma.

Distance learning

England for the whole of your course, if you’re an EU national

the UK for the whole of your course, if you’re not an EU national

This usually does not apply if you’re:

serving in the armed forces

a spouse or civil partner of a serving member of the armed forces

a dependent parent living with a serving member of the armed forces

Integrated courses

You will not be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if your course is:

integrated with an undergraduate degree - apply for undergraduate funding instead

integrated with a doctoral degree - apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan instead

Intercalated year

You might be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if you’re taking a year out of an undergraduate course to study for a master’s.

This will generally mean you’re not entitled to undergraduate funding anymore because you’ll hold a higher level qualification.

You are still eligible for undergraduate funding if your course leads to a qualification in:

architecture

dentistry

medicine

social work

undergraduate Initial Teacher Training

veterinary science

Master of architecture

You can only apply for the Postgraduate Master’s Loan to support your MArch course if one of the following applies:

you’re taking a part-time course

you’re not eligible for undergraduate funding support

the course does not lead to an accredited qualification as an architect

Healthcare and social work

You cannot get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan if you:

are eligible for an NHS bursary

get a Social Work Bursary - unless you only get a Placement Travel Allowance

This also applies for health and social work bursaries in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Your age

You must be under 60 on the first day of the first academic year of your course.

The academic year is a period of 12 months starting on:

1 September, if your course starts between 1 August and 31 December

1 January, if your course starts between 1 January and 31 March

1 April, if your course starts between 1 April and 30 June

1 July, if your course starts between 1 July and 31 July

Your nationality or residency status

You can apply for the Postgraduate Master’s Loan if all of the following are true:

you normally live in England

You may also be eligible if you’re a UK national (or family member of a UK national) who either:

returned to the UK on or after 1 January 2018 and by 31 December 2020 after living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you’re an EU national or a family member of an EU national

You may be eligible if you’re an EU national, or a family member of an EU national, and all the following apply:

you have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

you’ve normally lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein for the past 3 years (this is also known as being ‘ordinarily resident’)

you’ll be studying at a university or college in England

You could also be eligible if you’re:

the child of a Swiss national and you and your parent have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

a migrant worker from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein with pre-settled status, or a family member of a migrant worker where both have pre-settled status

a resident of Gibraltar who is a UK or EU national, or their family member

Student finance for EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein nationals from August 2021

If you’re starting a course on or after 1 August 2021, you must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get student finance.

If you have a different residency status

You may also be eligible if your residency status is one of the following:

refugee (including family members)

humanitarian protection (including family members)

child of a Turkish worker who has permission to stay in the UK - you and your Turkish worker parent must have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020

a stateless person (including family members)

an unaccompanied child granted ‘Section 67 leave’ under the Dubs Amendment

granted ‘Calais leave’ to remain

a child of someone granted ‘Calais leave’ to remain, who is also allowed to stay in the UK for the same period of time as their parent (known as ‘leave in line’)

you’ve been given settled status but not under the EU Settlement Scheme

you’ve been given indefinite leave to remain because you’ve been the victim of domestic violence

you’ve been granted indefinite leave to remain as a bereaved partner

you’re the family member of a person of Northern Ireland and you have pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

If you’re a non-UK national and have lived in the UK for a certain number of years

You could also be eligible if you’re not a UK national and are either:

under 18 and have lived in the UK for at least 7 years

18 or over and have lived in the UK for at least 20 years (or at least half of your life)

You must have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 3 continuous years before the first day of your course.

How to apply

You can apply now for courses that start or started in the following academic years:

2020 to 2021

2019 to 2020

2018 to 2019

You can apply in summer 2021 for courses that start in the academic year 2021 to 2022. Applications are not yet open - this guide will be updated as soon as they are.

Check whether you’re eligible before you apply.

You’ll not be eligible for an Adult Dependants’ Grant, a Childcare Grant or Parents’ Learning Allowance from Student Finance England if you’re studying a master’s course.

Apply online

If you’ve taken out a loan with Student Finance England before, use your account to apply.

If you do not already have one, set up an account.

Apply by post

If you cannot apply online, apply by post - the address is on the form.

Read the student finance privacy notice to find out how the information you provide will be used.

Courses that start in the 2020 to 2021 academic year

Courses that started in the 2019 to 2020 academic year

Courses that started before 1 August 2019

Contact Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan Team if you cannot apply online.

When to apply by

The deadline for applying depends on when you start your course.

If you started on or after 1 August 2017

You need to apply within 9 months of the first day of the last academic year of the course.

The academic year

The academic year is a period of 12 months.

The first day of your academic year depends when your course starts.

Course start date between | First day of academic year

1 August and 31 December | 1 September

1 January and 31 March | 1 January

1 April and 30 June | 1 April

1 July and 31 July | 1 July

Proof of identity

If you do not have a UK passport (or it has expired), send your original birth or adoption certificate to Student Finance England.

If you’re an EU national, send your passport or national identity card.

Supporting information

You should use the evidence return form for extra information to support your application, for example evidence of your residency status.

You may also be asked to complete the UK employment status form.

Change an application

Use your online account to change your personal details, for example bank or contact details. Contact Student Finance England directly if you do not have an account.

Change the amount you’ve asked for

Use the loan request form to change the amount you’ve applied for - you cannot do this online.

If your course starts in the 2020 to 2021 academic year:

If your course started in the 2019 to 2020 academic year:

If your course started before the 2018 to 2019 academic year, contact Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan Team.

Other changes

Use the change of circumstances form if you need to change any other details, for example your university or course. You cannot do this online.

Taking a break or withdrawing from your course

Extra help

You may qualify for other funding, for example grants from charities or trusts.

Student Finance England also has more information about other kinds of student finance.

You will not be eligible for an Adult Dependants’ Grant, a Childcare Grant or Parents’ Learning Allowance from Student Finance England if you’re studying a master’s course.

Disabled students

If you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty (for example dyslexia) you can apply for:

Disabled Students’ Allowance

extra help if you’re experiencing financial hardship

You may also qualify for disability related benefits.

Further information

You can learn more about the Postgraduate Master’s Loan on the Student Room website.

Contact Student Finance England if you have further questions.

Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan team


John here. i wasn't very good at reading at school but now I'm older I think I'm in a better place in my life and want to learn. I am working part time. Where can I get information on courses and funding?

Use the National Careers Service course search to find further education (FE) courses by course name, provider or subject.

Further education courses and funding

Overview

Further education (FE) includes any study after secondary education that’s not part of higher education (that is, not taken as part of an undergraduate or graduate degree).

Courses range from basic English and maths to Higher National Diplomas (HNDs).

FE also includes 3 types of technical and applied qualifications for 16 to 19-year-olds:

level 3 tech levels to specialise in a specific technical job

level 2 technical certificates help get employment or progress to another tech level

applied general qualifications to continue general education at advanced level through applied learning

Funding

Many courses in reading, writing and basic maths are free, and you may not have to pay for tuition if you’re under 24 and studying for your first qualification equivalent to GCSE or A level.

Find out about financial support, for example for your course or day-to-day living costs.

Find a course

You can also take courses through the internet or email (known as ‘distance learning’).

Comparing FE colleges

You can compare survey data from employers and learners about FE colleges.

Advice

You can get free advice from the National Careers Service if you need help choosing a course.

If you're 16 or 17

If you’re aged 16 or 17 you can study a further education (FE) course:

full-time at school or college

while at work

If you’re coming towards the end of a school or college course, you’re guaranteed a place on an FE course the following autumn if you’re under 18 years old.

Contact your school or local council to find out what’s on offer.

Advice

Get advice to help you decide on the right course from a National Careers Service adviser.

Financial help

You may be able to get help with the costs of:

your course

day-to-day living costs

childcare

Depending on your circumstances and the subject you’re studying, you may qualify for:

Learner Support

Residential Support Scheme

Care to Learn

Dance and Drama Awards

16 to 19 Bursary Fund

a loan to help with the costs of a college or training course if you’re 19 or older - called an Advanced Learning Loan

Funding for essential skills

In most cases you will not have to pay for level 1 and 2 English and maths courses. You might be able to take other courses for free.

Funding if you’re on benefits

You can get free training if you’re unemployed and:

claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance

in an Employment and Support Allowance work-related activity group

required to do training as part of your Universal Credit claim

Your Jobcentre work coach will tell you what training you can do.

If you’re claiming other benefits or cannot get free training through your job centre, you may be able to get funding from colleges and training providers.

Funding from a charitable trust

Use the Family Action grant search to check if you can get help from a charitable trust.

Advice

Find out more about courses and what financial help you can get through the National Careers Service.

Further education courses and funding

Overview

level 3 tech levels to specialise in a specific technical job

Funding

Find a course

Comparing FE colleges

Advice

If you're 16 or 17

full-time at school or college

while at work

Contact your school or local council to find out what’s on offer.

Advice

Financial help

You may be able to get help with the costs of:

your course

day-to-day living costs

childcare

Learner Support

Residential Support Scheme

Care to Learn

Dance and Drama Awards

16 to 19 Bursary Fund

Funding for essential skills

Funding if you’re on benefits

You can get free training if you’re unemployed and:

claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance

required to do training as part of your Universal Credit claim

Your Jobcentre work coach will tell you what training you can do.

Funding from a charitable trust

Advice

Further education courses and funding

Overview

level 3 tech levels to specialise in a specific technical job

Funding

Find a course

Comparing FE colleges

Advice

If you're 16 or 17

full-time at school or college

while at work

Contact your school or local council to find out what’s on offer.

Advice

Financial help

You may be able to get help with the costs of:

your course

day-to-day living costs

childcare

Learner Support

Residential Support Scheme

Care to Learn

Dance and Drama Awards

16 to 19 Bursary Fund

Funding for essential skills

Funding if you’re on benefits

You can get free training if you’re unemployed and:

claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance

required to do training as part of your Universal Credit claim

Your Jobcentre work coach will tell you what training you can do.

Funding from a charitable trust

Advice


I left school last year at 16 and unemployed. I know I need to get some skills and my maths and English are very bad. I don't like going out but have a computer and an internet connection. Will I have to pay for a basic maths and english course?

Many courses in reading, writing and basic maths are free, and you may not have to pay for tuition if you’re under 24 and studying for your first qualification equivalent to GCSE or A level.

Further education courses and funding

Overview

Further education (FE) includes any study after secondary education that’s not part of higher education (that is, not taken as part of an undergraduate or graduate degree).

Courses range from basic English and maths to Higher National Diplomas (HNDs).

FE also includes 3 types of technical and applied qualifications for 16 to 19-year-olds:

level 3 tech levels to specialise in a specific technical job

level 2 technical certificates help get employment or progress to another tech level

applied general qualifications to continue general education at advanced level through applied learning

Funding

Find out about financial support, for example for your course or day-to-day living costs.

Find a course

Use the National Careers Service course search to find further education (FE) courses by course name, provider or subject.

You can also take courses through the internet or email (known as ‘distance learning’).

Comparing FE colleges

You can compare survey data from employers and learners about FE colleges.

Advice

You can get free advice from the National Careers Service if you need help choosing a course.

If you're 16 or 17

If you’re aged 16 or 17 you can study a further education (FE) course:

full-time at school or college

while at work

If you’re coming towards the end of a school or college course, you’re guaranteed a place on an FE course the following autumn if you’re under 18 years old.

Contact your school or local council to find out what’s on offer.

Advice

Get advice to help you decide on the right course from a National Careers Service adviser.

Financial help

You may be able to get help with the costs of:

your course

day-to-day living costs

childcare

Depending on your circumstances and the subject you’re studying, you may qualify for:

Learner Support

Residential Support Scheme

Care to Learn

Dance and Drama Awards

16 to 19 Bursary Fund

a loan to help with the costs of a college or training course if you’re 19 or older - called an Advanced Learning Loan

Funding for essential skills

In most cases you will not have to pay for level 1 and 2 English and maths courses. You might be able to take other courses for free.

Funding if you’re on benefits

You can get free training if you’re unemployed and:

claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance

in an Employment and Support Allowance work-related activity group

required to do training as part of your Universal Credit claim

Your Jobcentre work coach will tell you what training you can do.

If you’re claiming other benefits or cannot get free training through your job centre, you may be able to get funding from colleges and training providers.

Funding from a charitable trust

Use the Family Action grant search to check if you can get help from a charitable trust.

Advice

Find out more about courses and what financial help you can get through the National Careers Service.

Funding for essential skills

Further education courses and funding

Overview

level 3 tech levels to specialise in a specific technical job

Funding

Find a course

Comparing FE colleges

Advice

If you're 16 or 17

full-time at school or college

while at work

Contact your school or local council to find out what’s on offer.

Advice

Financial help

You may be able to get help with the costs of:

your course

day-to-day living costs

childcare

Learner Support

Residential Support Scheme

Care to Learn

Dance and Drama Awards

16 to 19 Bursary Fund

Funding for essential skills

Funding if you’re on benefits

You can get free training if you’re unemployed and:

claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance

required to do training as part of your Universal Credit claim

Your Jobcentre work coach will tell you what training you can do.

Funding from a charitable trust

Advice

Further education courses and funding

Overview

level 3 tech levels to specialise in a specific technical job

Funding

Find a course

Comparing FE colleges

Advice

If you're 16 or 17

full-time at school or college

while at work

Contact your school or local council to find out what’s on offer.

Advice

Financial help

You may be able to get help with the costs of:

your course

day-to-day living costs

childcare

Learner Support

Residential Support Scheme

Care to Learn

Dance and Drama Awards

16 to 19 Bursary Fund

Funding for essential skills

Funding if you’re on benefits

You can get free training if you’re unemployed and:

claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance

required to do training as part of your Universal Credit claim

Your Jobcentre work coach will tell you what training you can do.

Funding from a charitable trust

Advice


My work colleague is an approved driving instructor and has been convicted of rape and physical assault . This case has destroyed his reputation. Can he be struck out of the ADI register?

Your approved driving instructor (ADI) registration can be suspended if the ADI registrar thinks you pose a significant threat to public safety.

Driving instructor suspension: your rights

Overview

The ADI registrar can suspend you if they’re considering:

taking you off the ADI register

removing your trainee driving instructor licence

refusing to extend your registration or trainee licence

You cannot get paid for giving driving lessons if you’re suspended.

Claiming compensation

You can claim compensation if you’ve been suspended but are not then taken off the register.

There are different rules for your ADI registration in Northern Ireland.

When you can be suspended

For example, if you:

have been convicted of a sexual or violent offence

are giving dangerous instruction that’s a major risk to the safety of your pupils and other road users

Telling you if you’re suspended

You’ll get a letter from the ADI registrar to tell you that your registration is suspended.

This will usually be at that same time that the registrar writes to tell you that they’re considering taking you off the register.

Challenging your suspension

You can use a judicial review to challenge the way in which the ADI registrar made the decision to suspend you.

The review only looks at whether the right procedures have been followed, rather than the decision itself. You can download the judicial review claim form and guidance notes.

You still have the right to appeal against the ADI registrar’s decision to remove you if you end up being taken off the register.

Compensation if you stay on the register

You can get compensation if your approved driving instructor (ADI) registration was suspended, but you were not taken off the ADI register.

This includes cases where:

you win an appeal against the decision to take you off the register

the registrar considers taking you off the register, but then ends the suspension and lets you stay on the register

the registrar has not made a decision about taking you off the register within 75 days

What you can claim

You can claim compensation for income and non-income losses as a result of being suspended.

You can also claim for the cost of preparing your compensation application.

Income losses

‘Income losses’ are what you’d have got from giving driving lessons during the time you were suspended.

Non-income losses

‘Non-income losses’ are other losses you:

can give a monetary value to

incurred (within reason) while you were suspended

Examples of non-income losses include:

any reasonable costs you needed to pay to prepare your compensation application

the interest on a loan you had to take out as a result of the suspension

the value of any damage that the suspension caused to your driving school business if you run one

How to claim compensation

Download the application form and send it, with evidence to support your claim, to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

When to claim

You must send your claim within 2 years of whichever of these dates is later:

the date your suspension ended

the date you were told you’d won your appeal against the approved driving instructor (ADI) registrar

You can claim outside of the 2 years in special situations.

Who can make the claim

You, as the ADI who was suspended, must sign the declaration with the application form.

You’re only allowed to sign the declaration on behalf of someone in limited situations, for example where the ADI has died and you’re allowed to represent them.

Evidence to support your claim

You should send documents that prove the basis of your claim, for example showing why you’ve based your claim for income losses on a certain hourly rate.

You’ll need to consider which documents will help DVSA decide that you’ve sent a valid claim, for example bank statements, payslips or a loan agreement.

Working out your losses

You’ll need to work out your income and non-income losses to send your claim.

Work out your income losses

You’ll need to work how much you’d have reasonably expected to earn during the time you were suspended.

This should be based on your income for a period that you can directly compare with, for example the same period the previous year.

You should base your claim on the period that best compares to the time you were suspended if you cannot directly compare with a previous year.

If your claim is for a different amount to what’s shown in the previous period, you should explain why, for example a major change in how many pupils you taught in the weeks just before you were suspended.

Work out your non-income losses

Your claim will need to make clear:

how the non-income losses were incurred

why they are reasonable costs

how you have worked them out

You’ll need to send documents that clearly support your claim.

You can claim for the value of any damage that the suspension caused to your driving school business if you run one.

You can claim for the interest paid on a loan that you took out because your income stopped from being suspended.

Help working out your non-income losses

You can claim for the cost of preparing your compensation application. This can include the cost of getting expert help to work out how much your non-income losses are.

You’ll need to prove that the cost was reasonable, for example by showing that you did not pay a higher fee than usually applies.

The decision on your compensation claim

You’ll get a letter from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) within 28 days to either:

tell you you’re being paid the amount you claimed for or a different amount

ask for more information to prove your claim

ask permission to go to a third party to prove your claim

tell you the claim has not been allowed

When you’ll get your payment

You’ll get the payment within 45 days of DVSA telling you that you’re going to be paid.

You must give any new information you find that’s relevant to your claim within 6 years of getting your compensation. You must do this within 1 month of finding it.

Interim payments

You can get an interim payment:

if you’re in special situations, for example significant financial hardship

for part of the claim if it can be easily and quickly checked

If more information is needed

You must send any extra information DVSA needs within 28 days. This can be extended in special situations.

You must sign a statement to say the information is true to the best of your knowledge when you send it.

Not giving more information

You should tell DVSA in writing if you cannot give the extra information, and the reason why. DVSA will do whatever it can to process the claim if this happens.

Your claim can be delayed if the extra information is not available, or you do not give it.

The part of the claim that needs the extra information can be rejected.

After you’re asked for more information

DVSA will write to you within 28 days of either:

getting the extra information

the deadline for giving the extra information running out

The letter from DVSA will either:

tell you the claim has not been allowed

Appeal against the decision

You can appeal to the transport tribunal if you disagree with:

the decision that you cannot get compensation

the amount of compensation you’re going to get

You must appeal within 28 days of DVSA telling you its decision.

Decisions the tribunal can make

The tribunal can:

refuse your appeal

allow your appeal

give its own decision on how much you get

refer your case back to DVSA to reconsider

When the amount of compensation can change

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) can tell you that that it’s considering changing how much compensation you got. It can do this for up to 6 years after your original application.

DVSA can do this when:

it finds new information

it believes that the information you gave was wrong

it looks like the original amount you got was given by mistake

If you think the amount was correct

You have 28 days to tell DVSA if you think that the compensation that you were given was correct. This time limit may be extended in special situations.

If the amount changes

You’ll need to repay the difference if the new amount is less than you originally got. DVSA will tell you how to do this.

DVSA will pay you the difference if the new amount is more than you originally got. You’ll get it within 45 days.

If you disagree with the new amount

You can appeal to the transport tribunal if you disagree with DVSA’s decision on the new amount.

You should make your appeal within 28 days of being told the new amount.

Decisions the tribunal can make

The tribunal can:

refuse your appeal

allow your appeal

The ADI registrar can suspend you if they’re considering:

Overview

taking you off the ADI register

removing your trainee driving instructor licence

refusing to extend your registration or trainee licence

You cannot get paid for giving driving lessons if you’re suspended.

Claiming compensation

You can claim compensation if you’ve been suspended but are not then taken off the register.

There are different rules for your ADI registration in Northern Ireland.

When you can be suspended

For example, if you:

have been convicted of a sexual or violent offence

are giving dangerous instruction that’s a major risk to the safety of your pupils and other road users

Telling you if you’re suspended

You’ll get a letter from the ADI registrar to tell you that your registration is suspended.

This will usually be at that same time that the registrar writes to tell you that they’re considering taking you off the register.

Challenging your suspension

You can use a judicial review to challenge the way in which the ADI registrar made the decision to suspend you.

You still have the right to appeal against the ADI registrar’s decision to remove you if you end up being taken off the register.

Compensation if you stay on the register

This includes cases where:

you win an appeal against the decision to take you off the register

the registrar considers taking you off the register, but then ends the suspension and lets you stay on the register

the registrar has not made a decision about taking you off the register within 75 days

What you can claim

You can claim compensation for income and non-income losses as a result of being suspended.

You can also claim for the cost of preparing your compensation application.

Income losses

‘Income losses’ are what you’d have got from giving driving lessons during the time you were suspended.

Non-income losses

‘Non-income losses’ are other losses you:

can give a monetary value to

incurred (within reason) while you were suspended

Examples of non-income losses include:

any reasonable costs you needed to pay to prepare your compensation application

the interest on a loan you had to take out as a result of the suspension

the value of any damage that the suspension caused to your driving school business if you run one

How to claim compensation

Download the application form and send it, with evidence to support your claim, to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

When to claim

You must send your claim within 2 years of whichever of these dates is later:

the date your suspension ended

the date you were told you’d won your appeal against the approved driving instructor (ADI) registrar

You can claim outside of the 2 years in special situations.

Who can make the claim

You, as the ADI who was suspended, must sign the declaration with the application form.

Evidence to support your claim

Working out your losses

You’ll need to work out your income and non-income losses to send your claim.

Work out your income losses

You’ll need to work how much you’d have reasonably expected to earn during the time you were suspended.

This should be based on your income for a period that you can directly compare with, for example the same period the previous year.

Work out your non-income losses

Your claim will need to make clear:

how the non-income losses were incurred

why they are reasonable costs

how you have worked them out

You’ll need to send documents that clearly support your claim.

You can claim for the value of any damage that the suspension caused to your driving school business if you run one.

You can claim for the interest paid on a loan that you took out because your income stopped from being suspended.

Help working out your non-income losses

You’ll need to prove that the cost was reasonable, for example by showing that you did not pay a higher fee than usually applies.

The decision on your compensation claim

You’ll get a letter from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) within 28 days to either:

tell you you’re being paid the amount you claimed for or a different amount

ask for more information to prove your claim

ask permission to go to a third party to prove your claim

tell you the claim has not been allowed

When you’ll get your payment

You’ll get the payment within 45 days of DVSA telling you that you’re going to be paid.

Interim payments

You can get an interim payment:

if you’re in special situations, for example significant financial hardship

for part of the claim if it can be easily and quickly checked

If more information is needed

You must send any extra information DVSA needs within 28 days. This can be extended in special situations.

You must sign a statement to say the information is true to the best of your knowledge when you send it.

Not giving more information

Your claim can be delayed if the extra information is not available, or you do not give it.

The part of the claim that needs the extra information can be rejected.

After you’re asked for more information

DVSA will write to you within 28 days of either:

getting the extra information

the deadline for giving the extra information running out

The letter from DVSA will either:

tell you the claim has not been allowed

Appeal against the decision

You can appeal to the transport tribunal if you disagree with:

the decision that you cannot get compensation

the amount of compensation you’re going to get

You must appeal within 28 days of DVSA telling you its decision.

Decisions the tribunal can make

The tribunal can:

refuse your appeal

allow your appeal

give its own decision on how much you get

refer your case back to DVSA to reconsider

When the amount of compensation can change

DVSA can do this when:

it finds new information

it believes that the information you gave was wrong

it looks like the original amount you got was given by mistake

If you think the amount was correct

If the amount changes

You’ll need to repay the difference if the new amount is less than you originally got. DVSA will tell you how to do this.

DVSA will pay you the difference if the new amount is more than you originally got. You’ll get it within 45 days.

If you disagree with the new amount

You can appeal to the transport tribunal if you disagree with DVSA’s decision on the new amount.

You should make your appeal within 28 days of being told the new amount.

Decisions the tribunal can make

The tribunal can:

refuse your appeal

allow your appeal

taking you off the ADI register

Overview

The ADI registrar can suspend you if they’re considering:

taking you off the ADI register

removing your trainee driving instructor licence

refusing to extend your registration or trainee licence

You cannot get paid for giving driving lessons if you’re suspended.

Claiming compensation

You can claim compensation if you’ve been suspended but are not then taken off the register.

There are different rules for your ADI registration in Northern Ireland.

When you can be suspended

For example, if you:

have been convicted of a sexual or violent offence

are giving dangerous instruction that’s a major risk to the safety of your pupils and other road users

Telling you if you’re suspended

You’ll get a letter from the ADI registrar to tell you that your registration is suspended.

This will usually be at that same time that the registrar writes to tell you that they’re considering taking you off the register.

Challenging your suspension

You can use a judicial review to challenge the way in which the ADI registrar made the decision to suspend you.

You still have the right to appeal against the ADI registrar’s decision to remove you if you end up being taken off the register.

Compensation if you stay on the register

This includes cases where:

you win an appeal against the decision to take you off the register

the registrar considers taking you off the register, but then ends the suspension and lets you stay on the register

the registrar has not made a decision about taking you off the register within 75 days

What you can claim

You can claim compensation for income and non-income losses as a result of being suspended.

You can also claim for the cost of preparing your compensation application.

Income losses

‘Income losses’ are what you’d have got from giving driving lessons during the time you were suspended.

Non-income losses

‘Non-income losses’ are other losses you:

can give a monetary value to

incurred (within reason) while you were suspended

Examples of non-income losses include:

any reasonable costs you needed to pay to prepare your compensation application

the interest on a loan you had to take out as a result of the suspension

the value of any damage that the suspension caused to your driving school business if you run one

How to claim compensation

Download the application form and send it, with evidence to support your claim, to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

When to claim

You must send your claim within 2 years of whichever of these dates is later:

the date your suspension ended

the date you were told you’d won your appeal against the approved driving instructor (ADI) registrar

You can claim outside of the 2 years in special situations.

Who can make the claim

You, as the ADI who was suspended, must sign the declaration with the application form.

Evidence to support your claim

Working out your losses

You’ll need to work out your income and non-income losses to send your claim.

Work out your income losses

You’ll need to work how much you’d have reasonably expected to earn during the time you were suspended.

This should be based on your income for a period that you can directly compare with, for example the same period the previous year.

Work out your non-income losses

Your claim will need to make clear:

how the non-income losses were incurred

why they are reasonable costs

how you have worked them out

You’ll need to send documents that clearly support your claim.

You can claim for the value of any damage that the suspension caused to your driving school business if you run one.

You can claim for the interest paid on a loan that you took out because your income stopped from being suspended.

Help working out your non-income losses

You’ll need to prove that the cost was reasonable, for example by showing that you did not pay a higher fee than usually applies.

The decision on your compensation claim

You’ll get a letter from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) within 28 days to either:

tell you you’re being paid the amount you claimed for or a different amount

ask for more information to prove your claim

ask permission to go to a third party to prove your claim

tell you the claim has not been allowed

When you’ll get your payment

You’ll get the payment within 45 days of DVSA telling you that you’re going to be paid.

Interim payments

You can get an interim payment:

if you’re in special situations, for example significant financial hardship

for part of the claim if it can be easily and quickly checked

If more information is needed

You must send any extra information DVSA needs within 28 days. This can be extended in special situations.

You must sign a statement to say the information is true to the best of your knowledge when you send it.

Not giving more information

Your claim can be delayed if the extra information is not available, or you do not give it.

The part of the claim that needs the extra information can be rejected.

After you’re asked for more information

DVSA will write to you within 28 days of either:

getting the extra information

the deadline for giving the extra information running out

The letter from DVSA will either:

tell you the claim has not been allowed

Appeal against the decision

You can appeal to the transport tribunal if you disagree with:

the decision that you cannot get compensation

the amount of compensation you’re going to get

You must appeal within 28 days of DVSA telling you its decision.

Decisions the tribunal can make

The tribunal can:

refuse your appeal

allow your appeal

give its own decision on how much you get

refer your case back to DVSA to reconsider

When the amount of compensation can change

DVSA can do this when:

it finds new information

it believes that the information you gave was wrong

it looks like the original amount you got was given by mistake

If you think the amount was correct

If the amount changes

You’ll need to repay the difference if the new amount is less than you originally got. DVSA will tell you how to do this.

DVSA will pay you the difference if the new amount is more than you originally got. You’ll get it within 45 days.

If you disagree with the new amount

You can appeal to the transport tribunal if you disagree with DVSA’s decision on the new amount.

You should make your appeal within 28 days of being told the new amount.

Decisions the tribunal can make

The tribunal can:

refuse your appeal

allow your appeal

For example, if you:

Overview

The ADI registrar can suspend you if they’re considering:

taking you off the ADI register

removing your trainee driving instructor licence

refusing to extend your registration or trainee licence

You cannot get paid for giving driving lessons if you’re suspended.

Claiming compensation

You can claim compensation if you’ve been suspended but are not then taken off the register.

There are different rules for your ADI registration in Northern Ireland.

When you can be suspended

For example, if you:

have been convicted of a sexual or violent offence

are giving dangerous instruction that’s a major risk to the safety of your pupils and other road users

Telling you if you’re suspended

You’ll get a letter from the ADI registrar to tell you that your registration is suspended.

This will usually be at that same time that the registrar writes to tell you that they’re considering taking you off the register.

Challenging your suspension

You can use a judicial review to challenge the way in which the ADI registrar made the decision to suspend you.

You still have the right to appeal against the ADI registrar’s decision to remove you if you end up being taken off the register.

Compensation if you stay on the register

This includes cases where:

you win an appeal against the decision to take you off the register

the registrar considers taking you off the register, but then ends the suspension and lets you stay on the register

the registrar has not made a decision about taking you off the register within 75 days

What you can claim

You can claim compensation for income and non-income losses as a result of being suspended.

You can also claim for the cost of preparing your compensation application.

Income losses

‘Income losses’ are what you’d have got from giving driving lessons during the time you were suspended.

Non-income losses

‘Non-income losses’ are other losses you:

can give a monetary value to

incurred (within reason) while you were suspended

Examples of non-income losses include:

any reasonable costs you needed to pay to prepare your compensation application

the interest on a loan you had to take out as a result of the suspension

the value of any damage that the suspension caused to your driving school business if you run one

How to claim compensation

Download the application form and send it, with evidence to support your claim, to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

When to claim

You must send your claim within 2 years of whichever of these dates is later:

the date your suspension ended

the date you were told you’d won your appeal against the approved driving instructor (ADI) registrar

You can claim outside of the 2 years in special situations.

Who can make the claim

You, as the ADI who was suspended, must sign the declaration with the application form.

Evidence to support your claim

Working out your losses

You’ll need to work out your income and non-income losses to send your claim.

Work out your income losses

You’ll need to work how much you’d have reasonably expected to earn during the time you were suspended.

This should be based on your income for a period that you can directly compare with, for example the same period the previous year.

Work out your non-income losses

Your claim will need to make clear:

how the non-income losses were incurred

why they are reasonable costs

how you have worked them out

You’ll need to send documents that clearly support your claim.

You can claim for the value of any damage that the suspension caused to your driving school business if you run one.

You can claim for the interest paid on a loan that you took out because your income stopped from being suspended.

Help working out your non-income losses

You’ll need to prove that the cost was reasonable, for example by showing that you did not pay a higher fee than usually applies.

The decision on your compensation claim

You’ll get a letter from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) within 28 days to either:

tell you you’re being paid the amount you claimed for or a different amount

ask for more information to prove your claim

ask permission to go to a third party to prove your claim

tell you the claim has not been allowed

When you’ll get your payment

You’ll get the payment within 45 days of DVSA telling you that you’re going to be paid.

Interim payments

You can get an interim payment:

if you’re in special situations, for example significant financial hardship

for part of the claim if it can be easily and quickly checked

If more information is needed

You must send any extra information DVSA needs within 28 days. This can be extended in special situations.

You must sign a statement to say the information is true to the best of your knowledge when you send it.

Not giving more information

Your claim can be delayed if the extra information is not available, or you do not give it.

The part of the claim that needs the extra information can be rejected.

After you’re asked for more information

DVSA will write to you within 28 days of either:

getting the extra information

the deadline for giving the extra information running out

The letter from DVSA will either:

tell you the claim has not been allowed

Appeal against the decision

You can appeal to the transport tribunal if you disagree with:

the decision that you cannot get compensation

the amount of compensation you’re going to get

You must appeal within 28 days of DVSA telling you its decision.

Decisions the tribunal can make

The tribunal can:

refuse your appeal

allow your appeal

give its own decision on how much you get

refer your case back to DVSA to reconsider

When the amount of compensation can change

DVSA can do this when:

it finds new information

it believes that the information you gave was wrong

it looks like the original amount you got was given by mistake

If you think the amount was correct

If the amount changes

You’ll need to repay the difference if the new amount is less than you originally got. DVSA will tell you how to do this.

DVSA will pay you the difference if the new amount is more than you originally got. You’ll get it within 45 days.

If you disagree with the new amount

You can appeal to the transport tribunal if you disagree with DVSA’s decision on the new amount.

You should make your appeal within 28 days of being told the new amount.

Decisions the tribunal can make

The tribunal can:

refuse your appeal

allow your appeal

have been convicted of a sexual or violent offence

Overview

The ADI registrar can suspend you if they’re considering:

taking you off the ADI register

removing your trainee driving instructor licence

refusing to extend your registration or trainee licence

You cannot get paid for giving driving lessons if you’re suspended.

Claiming compensation

You can claim compensation if you’ve been suspended but are not then taken off the register.

There are different rules for your ADI registration in Northern Ireland.

When you can be suspended

For example, if you:

are giving dangerous instruction that’s a major risk to the safety of your pupils and other road users

Telling you if you’re suspended

You’ll get a letter from the ADI registrar to tell you that your registration is suspended.

This will usually be at that same time that the registrar writes to tell you that they’re considering taking you off the register.

Challenging your suspension

You can use a judicial review to challenge the way in which the ADI registrar made the decision to suspend you.

You still have the right to appeal against the ADI registrar’s decision to remove you if you end up being taken off the register.

Compensation if you stay on the register

You can get compensation if your approved driving instructor (ADI) registration was suspended, but you were not taken off the ADI register.

This includes cases where:

you win an appeal against the decision to take you off the register

the registrar considers taking you off the register, but then ends the suspension and lets you stay on the register

the registrar has not made a decision about taking you off the register within 75 days

What you can claim

You can claim compensation for income and non-income losses as a result of being suspended.

You can also claim for the cost of preparing your compensation application.

Income losses

‘Income losses’ are what you’d have got from giving driving lessons during the time you were suspended.

Non-income losses

‘Non-income losses’ are other losses you:

can give a monetary value to

incurred (within reason) while you were suspended

Examples of non-income losses include:

any reasonable costs you needed to pay to prepare your compensation application

the interest on a loan you had to take out as a result of the suspension

the value of any damage that the suspension caused to your driving school business if you run one

How to claim compensation

Download the application form and send it, with evidence to support your claim, to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

When to claim

You must send your claim within 2 years of whichever of these dates is later:

the date your suspension ended

the date you were told you’d won your appeal against the approved driving instructor (ADI) registrar

You can claim outside of the 2 years in special situations.

Who can make the claim

You, as the ADI who was suspended, must sign the declaration with the application form.

Evidence to support your claim

Working out your losses

You’ll need to work out your income and non-income losses to send your claim.

Work out your income losses

You’ll need to work how much you’d have reasonably expected to earn during the time you were suspended.

This should be based on your income for a period that you can directly compare with, for example the same period the previous year.

Work out your non-income losses

Your claim will need to make clear:

how the non-income losses were incurred

why they are reasonable costs

how you have worked them out

You’ll need to send documents that clearly support your claim.

You can claim for the value of any damage that the suspension caused to your driving school business if you run one.

You can claim for the interest paid on a loan that you took out because your income stopped from being suspended.

Help working out your non-income losses

You’ll need to prove that the cost was reasonable, for example by showing that you did not pay a higher fee than usually applies.

The decision on your compensation claim

You’ll get a letter from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) within 28 days to either:

tell you you’re being paid the amount you claimed for or a different amount

ask for more information to prove your claim

ask permission to go to a third party to prove your claim

tell you the claim has not been allowed

When you’ll get your payment

You’ll get the payment within 45 days of DVSA telling you that you’re going to be paid.

Interim payments

You can get an interim payment:

if you’re in special situations, for example significant financial hardship

for part of the claim if it can be easily and quickly checked

If more information is needed

You must send any extra information DVSA needs within 28 days. This can be extended in special situations.

You must sign a statement to say the information is true to the best of your knowledge when you send it.

Not giving more information

Your claim can be delayed if the extra information is not available, or you do not give it.

The part of the claim that needs the extra information can be rejected.

After you’re asked for more information

DVSA will write to you within 28 days of either:

getting the extra information

the deadline for giving the extra information running out

The letter from DVSA will either:

tell you the claim has not been allowed

Appeal against the decision

You can appeal to the transport tribunal if you disagree with:

the decision that you cannot get compensation

the amount of compensation you’re going to get

You must appeal within 28 days of DVSA telling you its decision.

Decisions the tribunal can make

The tribunal can:

refuse your appeal

allow your appeal

give its own decision on how much you get

refer your case back to DVSA to reconsider

When the amount of compensation can change

DVSA can do this when:

it finds new information

it believes that the information you gave was wrong

it looks like the original amount you got was given by mistake

If you think the amount was correct

If the amount changes

You’ll need to repay the difference if the new amount is less than you originally got. DVSA will tell you how to do this.

DVSA will pay you the difference if the new amount is more than you originally got. You’ll get it within 45 days.

If you disagree with the new amount

You can appeal to the transport tribunal if you disagree with DVSA’s decision on the new amount.

You should make your appeal within 28 days of being told the new amount.

Decisions the tribunal can make

The tribunal can:

refuse your appeal

allow your appeal