Part-time Tuition Fee Loans in England
One way of financing your Open University studies is by taking out a Part-Time Tuition Fee Loan (also known as a student loan). This is by far the most popular way of financing Open University studies. Currently, more than 60% of our new students in England are paying their fees with a loan.
What is a Tuition Fee Loan?
The loan is:
- awarded by Student Finance England, and you must apply through them.
- available for undergraduate qualifications that are at a higher level than any qualifications you have already.*
- not means tested, so you'll be eligible to apply regardless of your income. There's no upper age limit, and you can apply whether you have a job or not.
If your application is successful, Student Finance England pays your course fees, and you pay them back later in affordable monthly instalments once you're earning over a certain amount (currently £21,000). The repayments will be linked to your income to ensure they’re affordable (for example, if you earn £25,000, you'll pay just £29 per month).
Please note you'll be charged interest on the loan from the day you take it out.
Even if you plan to study at full-time equivalent intensity with us, you can still apply for a Part-Time Tuition Fee Loan.
*You may be eligible for a loan for some qualifications, even if you already have a degree. Find out more about loans if you already have a degree.