UK University Total Cost Calculator

The maximum annual tuition fee is £9,535 (2025/26, increasing from £9,250). A 3-year degree costs up to £28,605 in fees plus maintenance loans of £30,000-£40,000, giving total debt of £58,000-£68,000 at graduation.

On average, graduates earn £10,000-£12,000/year more than non-graduates over a lifetime. However, for lower-earning career paths, the degree premium may not justify the debt. It depends heavily on career and earning trajectory.

Maximum Maintenance Loan varies by household income and where you study. Living away from home, studying in London: up to £13,762. Living away from home, studying outside London: up to £10,227.

You repay 9% of earnings above the threshold (£25,000 Plan 5, £27,295 Plan 2). If you never earn above the threshold, you never repay. After the write-off period (30 or 40 years), any remaining balance is cancelled.

Most Plan 2 and Plan 5 graduates will not repay in full due to the write-off period. The highest-earning graduates (medicine, law, finance) will. Average earners often repay less than they borrowed.

Higher Apprenticeships (Degree Apprenticeships): earn while studying, no tuition fee debt. T Levels: technical qualifications worth UCAS points. Foundation Degrees: 2-year vocational qualifications. Immediate employment with training.

Degree apprenticeships are full university degrees (typically 4 years) offered jointly by employers and universities. Fees are paid by employer and government — zero student debt. You earn an apprentice salary throughout.

Yes. Students from lower-income households (under £25,000) receive the maximum maintenance loan. Higher household incomes receive less. Students with household income over £62,215 receive minimum maintenance loan.

Usually no, if you expect your loan to be written off. But if you project to repay in full within the write-off period, overpayments reduce total interest paid. Calculate your trajectory before overpaying.

You still owe any loan taken during study. Repayments follow the same rules — you begin repaying once you earn above the threshold. However, you may have less debt than a full-course graduate.

Student loan repayments are treated as a monthly commitment, reducing your disposable income. Lenders typically deduct the monthly repayment from your income when calculating mortgage affordability.

Nursing, midwifery, and allied health profession students may receive non-repayable grants and support from the NHS Learning Support Fund in addition to or instead of some student loans.