Postgraduate doctoral loan

About the project

Students living in England and Wales can apply for a postgraduate doctoral loan. This can help with your programme fees and living costs while studying for a postgraduate research degree.

How much you can borrow

The postgraduate doctoral loan is not means-tested.

It varies depending on when your programme starts and the year of study in which you choose to apply.

For students starting in 2025/26, the loan amount you can apply for can be:

For students starting in 2026/27, the loan amount you can apply for can be:

• up to £30,301 if you normally live in England
• up to £29,130 if you normally live in Wales.
• up to £31,122, if you normally live in England (subject to government approval)
• up to £29, 705 , if you normally live in Wales.

Budgeting

The loan will be divided equally across each year of your programme. Your programme length is the maximum period of study based on the type of research programme and on the mode of attendance. Visit section 4.7 of the regulations and code of practice.

It will be paid into your bank account in three instalments each academic year.

The loan length you apply for should match your programme length on your offer letter.

Programmes can be full or part-time and last between three and eight years in length. If your programme is extended beyond eight years, you may become ineligible for funding.

You will stop receiving your loan if you withdraw from your studies or transfer to an ineligible programme. You will still have to repay what you have borrowed.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

If you are a UK national, or have settled status, living in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you are not eligible for the postgraduate doctoral loan.

How to apply

You can apply for your loan during any year of your programme. The latest you can apply is nine months after the start of the last academic year of your programme.

Apply online at:

• Student Finance England
• Student Finance Wales .

European Union

If you or a family member are an EU national, you may be eligible for a doctoral loan if you meet certain requirements. A list of the eligibility criteria for EU students is on the GOV.UK website.

If you completed your undergraduate degree in England or outside the UK, apply through Student Finance England . If you studied in Wales, apply through Student Finance Wales .

Further details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Repayment

You'll only repay your student loan when your income is over the threshold for your repayment plan.

How much you repay depends upon the student loan payment plan you are on. These terms will be monitored and are subject to review. For the most recent information, see the Student Loan Repayment website.

Funding enquiries or money worries

Email: money-advice@bristol.ac.uk

Research areas