Postgraduate loans in Northern Ireland

In 2023/24, postgraduate loans of up to £6,500 are available towards tuition fees for Northern Ireland-resident students undertaking Masters study in the UK

How much can I borrow?

Northern Irish postgraduate loans are available from Student Finance NI to help you cover the cost of tuition fees. The maximum amount available in 2023/24 is £6,500. This support isn't means-tested, so the amount you receive is not based on your financial background.

However, if tuition fees for your course are lower than £6,500, you won't be able to borrow the full amount - only enough to cover your fees. If your fees are higher than the maximum, you'll need to find other sources of postgraduate funding to pay the difference.

For more information, see Student Finance NI - Postgraduate NI students.

Am I eligible for a Northern Irish postgraduate loan?

You must:

• be a UK or Irish national or have settled status
• normally live in Northern Ireland
• have lived in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three years prior to the first day of the first academic year of your course.

There's no upper or lower age limit for Northern Irish postgraduate loans.

You can apply even if you already hold a postgraduate qualification, but not if you've previously received a postgraduate loan from Student Finance NI.

If you're a European Union (EU) national, you're eligible if you:

• live in Northern Ireland on the first day of your course
• have lived in the UK, Gibraltar, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the last three years
• have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• study your postgraduate course at a Northern Irish university.

You may also be able to get a loan if you're a refugee (or a relative of one), have been granted discretionary leave to remain in the UK, are an EEA or Swiss migrant worker, a child of a Swiss national or the child of a Turkish worker.

Is my course eligible?

Taught and research Masters courses, postgraduate diplomas (PGDip) and certificates (PGCert) studied at a UK university are eligible for loans. You can study full time, part time or via distance learning.

You can't get a Northern Irish postgraduate loan for courses lasting for more than three years. Loans are also not available for postgraduate Doctoral degrees, Masters degrees that are part of a Doctoral degree and postgraduate courses eligible for undergraduate support.

How do I apply?

Apply for a Northern Irish postgraduate loan by logging in or creating an account at Student Finance NI - Login. As well as completing the online form, you'll have to send them any evidence requested (such as proof of identity) and sign a declaration.

A paper application form is available for anyone who can't apply online.

You'll need your university and course details and your National Insurance number. You can make your application before your place at university is confirmed - if you change your course, you can update the details later.

It's possible to apply once you've started your course, up to nine months after the first day of the academic year. If your course lasts for more than one year, you have to submit an application for each year separately.

How will I receive my loan?

The loan will be paid directly to your university on your behalf once your attendance is confirmed and you'll receive it in three instalments spread evenly throughout the academic year.

If you borrow the full £6,500, the university will receive:

• all the money in one year if it's a one-year course
• £3,250 each academic year if it's a two-year course.

When do I start repaying my loan?

You'll start repaying your loan in the April after you've finished or left your course, as long as your income is at least £22,015 per year (for academic year 2023/24), £1,834 per month or £423 per week (before tax and other deductions). Bear in mind that this income threshold changes each year. Your repayments will be 9% of your income above the threshold.

Northern Irish postgraduate loans are combined with undergraduate student loans for repayment purposes, so you'll make a single monthly or weekly payment of 9% of your income above the threshold, not two separate payments.

If you leave your course early and your loan has already been paid to your university, you'll have to repay the amount that has been overpaid regardless of your income.

Interest will be charged on your postgraduate loan from the day the first instalment is paid to the university.

Find out more

• Search for postgraduate courses in NI.
• Learn about Masters degrees.
• Read the full guide at Student Finance NI - Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan.