Postgraduate Loans (PGL) (England)

About the project

The UK government offers a postgraduate loan scheme for those that meet their nationality and residency criteria who have most recently been resident in England.

Postgraduate Loans (PGL) are available for full-time and part-time postgraduate Masters degree study. They are a contribution towards your cost of study and it is at your discretion to use the loan towards fees or living costs. They are non-means tested and will be paid directly to you in three instalments each academic year.

Students from England

The UK Government will provide a loan of up to £13,206 for postgraduate Masters study commencing study in session 2026-2027. You have to be studying an eligible taught or research Masters degree programme.

Award | Method of Study | Duration | Loan- students starting 2026-2027

Masters -Taught and Research | Full-time | 1 year | Up to £13,206

Masters -Taught and Research | Full-time | 2 years | Up to £13,206 over 2 years

Masters -Taught and Research | Part-time | 2 years | Up to £13,206 over 2 years

Masters -Taught and Research | Part-time | 3 years only if no 1yr f/t prog offered | Up to £13,206 over 3 years

Masters -Taught and Research | Part-time intermittent (ICL) | 2-6 years | Not available

PG Diploma | Any | Any | Not available

PG Certificate | Any | Any | Not available

Eligibility

• you must be a UK national (or have settled status ) and been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for three years on the first day of the first academic year of your degree programme;
• you must be 'ordinarily resident' in England (temporary absence from your home address, such as for education or travelling, will not prevent you from being eligible to apply for a PGL);
• you must be aged under 60 on the first day of the first academic year of your degree programme.
• Please visit Master's Loan: Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for further information on nationality and residency criteria

Applying

Applications are open from July 2026, you can apply online at Student Finance England

You only apply once, even if your programme is longer than one year.

There is no minimum loan request amount.

You can amend the amount of loan requested up to 9 months from the start date of the final academic year but you cannot request less than has been paid.

Payment

Payments will be released after you have registered on your degree programme and the University has confirmed your attendance to the Student Loan Company (SLC) at the start of the academic session.

Payments will be made in instalments across the duration of the course, including years two and three.

No payments will be released until you have given the SLC your valid National Insurance Number (NINO).

Repayment

You do not have to start making repayments until after you have completed or left your programme and your income is over the threshold amount for your repayment plan.

If you have any other loans from the SLC for your undergraduate studies, you will also repay these loans at the same time.

Further information on Student Finance England Masters Loan

This article was published on 2024-07-29

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