(2013 entry)
Government support for students living in England
Financial support is available to eligible students from England to help with living costs:
- loans and grants are available to help with costs such as food, accommodation and travel, depending on personal circumstances and household income
- a loan of up to £5,500 will be available if you live away from home and study at Sussex
- a loan of up to £4,375 will be available if you live with your parents
- if your household income is up to £25,000, you will be entitled to a full grant of £3,354, which you do not have to pay back
- if your household income is between £25,000 and £42,611, you will be entitled to a grant of between £3,354 and £50, which you do not have to pay back.
- extra financial help if you have a disability or children or adults depending on you.
You do not have to pay back grants, scholarships or bursaries.
As a full-time student, you will have to pay back any loans plus interest once you leave university and start earning more than £21,000 a year. Part-time students who earn over £21,000 a year have to start paying back their loans after three years even if they have not left university yet.
Normally students begin applying for funding in the spring of the year they wish to start their studies. For more details of the financial support available from the UK Government and the repayment of loans, visit Student finance.
Support for other EU students
If you normally live in Scotland, contact the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, which provides financial support and advice to eligible Scottish students in Higher Education. Visit Student Awards Agency for Scotland.
If you normally live in Northern Ireland or Wales, you will receive financial support from the Northern Ireland Executive or Welsh Assembly (as appropriate).
For detailed information about support available, visit Student Finance NI if you live in Northern Ireland, and Student Finance Wales if you live in Wales.
EU students from outside the UK who meet certain eligibility criteria will have access to a loan to cover the cost of their tuition. They will generally not be entitled to support for their living costs. To find out whether you may qualify for a tuition fee loan or additional help, visit Student finance.