What's available

You could get a loan to help with your course costs. How much you get does not depend on your household income.

You can borrow up to:

• £29,705 if your course starts between 1 August 2026 and 31 July 2027
• £29,130 if your course starts between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2026

We’ll pay your money into your bank account in 3 instalments, usually at the start of each term. Your money will be divided equally across each year of your course.

For example, if you were getting £29,705 and were studying for 5 years, you’d get £5,941 each year paid in 3 instalments.

You only need to apply for your Postgraduate Doctoral Loan once, even if your course lasts for more than one year. If you apply for your loan after your first year, you may not receive the maximum amount. Funding for a single academic year is capped at £14,850 for eligible students starting a course on or after 1 August 2026.

If you applied for your funding in year one of a five year course, you’d receive the maximum:

If you applied for your funding in year four of a five year course, you’d receive the maximum:

If you applied for your funding in year five, you’d not receive the maximum as the support for a single academic year is capped:

Your final instalments in each academic year will usually be slightly higher than your other instalments.

You have to pay back any loan you borrow, including interest once you’ve finished or left your course.