UK students commencing a postgraduate Master’s programme in the 2026/27 academic year may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan (PGL). Funding is administered by the relevant student finance body, depending on a student’s normal place of residence:
Eligible (SFE) students may receive:
EU students may also be eligible for postgraduate funding depending on their residency status and immigration arrangements. Eligibility criteria can vary, and students are advised to seek guidance from the relevant funding authority.
For further information and to check eligibility, students should visit the website of the appropriate student finance body, such as Student Finance England, or the equivalent agency for their home nation.
To be eligible, you must meet all of the following conditions:
The course you are studying must lead to the award of a Master’s qualification. Courses may be undertaken on campus or by distance learning.
You may study:
Eligibility criteria for full‑time and part‑time study can vary between funding bodies. Students ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, or the EU are advised to check directly with the relevant funding authority (SAAS, SFW, or SFNI) to confirm course eligibility. Additional general guidance is also available via the Student Room website.
Your course must also meet the following requirements:
The following part‑time programmes are eligible only when studied over two years:
Please note: this list is not exhaustive.
You will only start repaying your postgraduate loan once your annual income exceeds £21,000.
Repayments will begin from the earliest of the following:
Once repayments begin:
Interest is charged from the date the loan is paid to you, and voluntary repayments can be made at any time without penalty.
If you live or work outside the UK, you remain responsible for repaying your loan and must contact the Student Loans Company to agree a suitable repayment arrangement.
Important: Repayment terms, thresholds, and arrangements may differ for other funding bodies, such as SAAS (Scotland), SFW (Wales), or SFNI (Northern Ireland). Students are strongly advised to check directly with their relevant funding authority for details specific to their loan.
The application process for the 2025/26 academic year is still open, and the quickest way to apply is online. Student Finance England (SFE)
Funding arrangements for postgraduate loans vary depending on where you normally live in the UK. If you are ordinarily resident outside England, you should contact the relevant funding body for further information:
If you have any questions, you can also contact us at pg.loans@durham.ac.uk.
Durham University makes every effort to ensure that the information published or contained on its website is accurate. However, the University cannot guarantee the information may not be altered owing to circumstances beyond the University’s reasonable control. Such circumstances include (but are not limited to) change in Government policy, or change of law. Any changes will be incorporated into the University’s website. Any person wishing to obtain confirmation of any particular item should contact the University via pg.loans@durham.ac.uk .
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