Finance information for parents and supporters

Tuition Fees

Your child will typically pay up to £9,250 per year in tuition fees as a UK university student, fees do not need to be paid upfront. Most students will take out a student loan and this is paid directly to universities by Student Finance England.

Maintenance loan

The second loan students can apply for is the maintenance loan. This is designed to help towards living expenses while at university, such as accommodation, food, and course materials. The amount they’re eligible to borrow depends on several factors, including where they will be studying and their household income.

Repayment

Importantly, this isn’t based on how much your child has borrowed, but instead on how much they earn. Currently, the earnings threshold - the amount you earn before you start paying anything back - is set at £26,575 per year, for English and Welsh undergraduate students, and £18,935 for Scottish and Northern Irish students. This is the point at which they’ll begin to pay back 9% of what they’re earning over the threshold.

Scholarships and bursaries

These are offered on the basis of academic ability, special circumstances or sporting talent. Each university will have its own set of scholarships and bursaries, so it’s worth checking individual sites. Please visit our Scholarships page for further information on what Liverpool Hope offers. 

What else you need to know

What does ‘means-tested’ student finance mean?

‘Means-tested’ means that your child’s loan will be calculated depending on their household income. This works on a sliding scale, meaning that students from lower income households will receive a higher maintenance loan. 

How do you provide evidence of your household income?

'Household income' refers to what you (and where relevant, your partner whom you live with) earn annually. This information is not shared with any other parties.

Will I be responsible for my child’s loan?

No - it is the responsibility of your child to pay back their student loan, once they earn over the repayment threshold. 

How do I support my child’s student finance application?

Once your child has submitted their application for student finance, within 24 hours you will receive an email prompting you to submit your household income details. 

If you don’t already have an account, you will need to create one. You will need to supply your National Insurance number and your personal income for the previous tax year. You should only give Student Finance England your details – if you live with a partner, they’ll ask for their details separately.

This will be checked against HMRC’s records. If the information does not match, you may be asked to provide further evidence. You should send Student Finance England copies of any financial documents they ask for – they’ll destroy these securely once they’ve checked them.

Further information and some useful videos can be be found on the Student Finance website or on the Student Finance pages of our website.