Postgraduate doctoral loans for home students

Key facts

Available to home or international students?

Home

Study level

Research Degree; Postgraduate

Award value

£29,930 in 2024-25 (total for length of course)

Number of awards

All applicants who meet the criteria

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Terms and Conditions

Overview

The loan amount for students applying in 2024-25 to Student Finance England is up to £29,390. Students applying to Student Finance Wales in 2024-25 are eligible for a loan of up to £28,655. The loan will be divided equally across each year of your course and is paid in three instalments in each year of the course.

Students must be registered on the Doctoral Degree and not on a Masters award to qualify, and students are encouraged to apply from Year 1 as it cannot be backdated.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria

It must be a full, standalone doctoral course, not a top-up course
You must have started your course on or after 1 August 2018
It must last between three and eight academic years
It must be at a UK university (with research degree awarding powers)
It can a full-time or part-time course
It can be a taught or research-based course (or a combination of both)
It can be a distance learning course, as long as you live in the UK while studying
It can also be an integrated master's degree (a master's and PhD combined). However, you won't be able to apply for a separate Postgraduate Master's Loan.
Students in receipt of Research Council funding cannot apply

Find out more about full eligibility

This funding is available to students studying on the following courses:

Postgraduate doctoral loans for home students

Key facts

Available to home or international students?

Study level

Award value

Number of awards

Overview

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria

Research Degree

Postgraduate

Application process

Terms and conditions