Postgraduate Master's Loan for academic year 2018 to 2019
If you started a full-time or part-time postgraduate Master's course (taught or research based) between 1 August 2018 and 31 July 2019, you can apply for a Postgraduate Master's Loan of up to £13,000.
This can be used as a contribution towards your course and living costs.
If you're starting a full-time or part-time postgraduate Master's course (taught or research based) from 1 August 2019 onwards, you can apply for postgraduate Master's finance.
What's available
The Postgraduate Master's Loan will be paid directly to you as a contribution towards your course and living costs. The maximum you can borrow depends on when you start the first year of your course. If your course starts:
- on or after 1 August 2018 – you can borrow up to £13,000
If you're studying for 2, 3 or 4 academic years, the loan will be divided equally across each year of your course. For example, if you're starting a course after 1 August 2018, the maximum amount paid to you per year is:
| Course length | Maximum Postgraduate Master's Loan available per year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | |
| 1 academic year | loan -£13,000 | |||
| 2 academic years | loan - £6,500 | loan - £6,500 | ||
| 3 academic years | loan - £4,333 | loan -£4,333 | loan -£5,334 | |
| 4 academic years | loan - £3,250 | loan - £3,250 | loan- £3,250 | loan - £3,250 |
A Postgraduate Master's Loan isn't based on your household income.
The Department for Work and Pensions may take account of the Postgraduate Master's Loan when working out any benefits you receive.
Getting paid
You will get the first payment when you start your course, and your university confirms that you've registered.
Payments will be made in three instalments of 33%, 33% and 34% for each academic year.
How and when to apply
You can apply for a Postgraduate Master's Loan for academic year 2018 to 2019 now.
How to apply
The quickest way to apply for a Postgraduate Master's Loan is online by logging into your account.
You don't need a confirmed place at university or college. If you change your course, you can update your course details later.
There are two simple steps to applying for your Postgraduate Master's Loan online:
- Log into your student finance account and submit your application.
- Provide us with any necessary evidence. We can't process your application until we have all the evidence we need.
To complete your application, you will need:
- a valid UK passport (if you have one),
- your course and university or college details,
- your bank details, and
- your National Insurance number.
You only have to apply for your Postgraduate Master's Loan once, unlike an undergraduate course where you need to apply every year. You won't have to re-apply if your course is longer than one year.
We welcome correspondence and calls in Welsh. This won't lead to a delay in our response.
When to apply
You need to apply within 9 months of the first day of the last academic year of your course.
The first day of the academic year is as follows:
1 September, where the course begins on or after 1 August and before 1 January;
1 January, where the course begins on or after 1 January and before 1 April;
1 April, where the course begins on or after 1 April and before 1 July;
1 July, where the course begins on or after 1 July and before 1 August.
Evidence
If you submit your application without all the information we need we'll write to you to remind you to provide this as soon as possible. We won't make any payments to you until we have all the information and evidence we need.
Guides
We've produced a guide that explains all about the Postgraduate Master's Loan as well as the terms and conditions of repayment. It's very important that you read this guide carefully before applying for student finance.
Application forms
If you can't apply online, you should send in a paper application.
Courses that start on or after 1 August 2018
Use the following application and notes:
- Postgraduate Master's Loan application form (Download PDF 305KB, opens in a new tab)
- Postgraduate Master's Loan notes (Download PDF 185KB, opens in a new tab)
If your course starts before August 2019 you will need to apply for a Postgraduate Master's Loan.
Proof of identity
You can confirm your identity by providing your valid passport number on your application. If you haven't included your passport details in your application you'll need to send in a 'UK Passport details form'. Don't send your passport to us.
If you don't have a valid UK passport (or it has expired) you can send your original birth or adoption certificate using the 'Postgraduate Birth or adoption certificate form'.
If you're an EU national, send your original passport or national identity card.
Supporting information
You should use the 'Postgraduate Document return form' when providing extra information to support your application.
If you are an EEA/Swiss migrant worker 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 your contact details.
Change the amount you've asked for
Use the 'Postgraduate Loan request form' to change the amount you've applied for - you can't do this online.
Other changes
Use the 'Postgraduate Change of circumstances form' if you need to change any other details, for example your university or college, or your course. You can't do this online.
Taking a break or permanently leaving your course?
Tell your university or college as soon as possible if you decide to withdraw from your course. It may affect your future payments and eligibility for funding. We've produced a guide with more information about this.