Student loans and grants in the United Kingdom

Student loans and grants in the United Kingdom are financial instruments offered to students to fund their study. The loans in use today are income contingent, meaning that the repayment amounts vary depending on the income of the borrower. They are also written off after a set period, depending on the type of loan.

Student loans were first introduced in 1990, and a single system was in effect across the entire country until 2012. Tuition fees were greatly increased that year amid public opposition to the decision, and the loan system has seen repeated attempts at reform since. These reforms were not always applied in the devolved regions, which has had the effect of stratifying the system and adding significant complexity. There are currently five different student loan "plans" available for students studying today, depending on location and the type of course, with a large variation in cost, terms, and structure. In general, the newer systems are less generous than the older systems.

Loans are primarily provided by the government through the Student Loans Company (SLC) in England and Wales, and the organisation is partnered with Student Finance NI and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland which cover those areas. Most undergraduate university students resident in the United Kingdom are eligible for student loans, and some students on teacher training courses may also apply for loans. Student loans also became available from the 2016/17 academic year to postgraduate students who study a taught Masters, research or Doctoral course.