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What is a Long Courses Loan

If youre studying a full-time undergraduate course that lasts longer than 30 weeks and 3 days in an academic year, you could get extra money included as part of your Maintenance Loan to help towards your living costs. This is called a Long Courses Loan and its based on your household income.

Who can get it

To qualify for a Long Courses Loan, you must:

• be studying on a full-time undergraduate course that lasts longer than 30 weeks and 3 days in an academic year
• be getting a Maintenance Loan thats based on your household income.

Well automatically award the additional amount of funding based on the course details provided by your university or college. Your entitlement will include the Long Courses Loan as part of your income assessed living costs support.

How much can you get

The amount of Long Courses Loan you can get depends on your household income and where youre living during the academic year.

You can get a fixed amount of support per extra week, or part of a week for any course which lasts longer than 30 weeks and 3 days, for up to 45 weeks of study each academic year.

If youre studying for 45 weeks or more in an academic year, you may qualify for a maximum of 22 weeks Long Courses Loan support.

For information on current rates please see table:

How its repaid

The Long Courses Loan, plus any interest, has to be paid back but not until youve finished or left your course and your income is over the repayment threshold. However, if youve been overpaid Long Courses Loan, youll be expected to repay it before youve finished or left your course.