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UK Masters Degree Loans – Country Comparisons
There are different postgraduate Masters degree loans available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Learn how each loan works, what you're eligible for and how to apply. You can also jump to a quick comparison of the different options. If you're looking for a PhD, read our guide to UK doctoral loans.

You can get a £12,167 postgraduate student loan for a Masters degree in any subject. Read our simple guide, covering eligibility, applications and FAQS.
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You can get a Scottish postgraduate loan of up to £11,500 for a Masters degree or PGDip from SAAS. Our guide explains how this funding works and provides a detailed list of student FAQs.
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You can get Welsh postgraduate funding of up to £18,7700 towards a Masters degree. Our guide explains how this funding works and provides a detailed list of student FAQs.
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You can get a Northern Irish postgraduate loan of up to £5,500 for a Masters, PGCert or PGDip from Student Finance NI. Our guide explains how this funding works and provides a detailed list of student FAQs.
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Our guide explains how the different UK postgraduate student loan repayments work, with salary examples, FAQs and a handy postgrad loan repayment calculator.
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Various lenders offer private students loans for postgraduate study. Our guide explains how they work and highlights the important ways they differ from government student loans.
Read moreThe UK's four postgraduate loan options have plenty in common, but there are some differences between the individual schemes.
Here's a quick comparison of the key details:
England | Northern Ireland | Wales | Scotland | |
Value | £12,167 | £5,500 | £18,770* | £11,500** |
Level | Full Masters | Up to Masters | Full Masters | Up to Masters |
Courses | Taught & Research | Taught & Research | Taught & Research | Taught & Research |
Length | Up to 4 years | Up to 3 years | Up to 4 years | Up to 4 years |
*Wales offers Masters students a grant of between £1,000 and £6,885, based on household income. A postgraduate loan is then available to top this up to £18,770. | ||||
**Scotland offers two separate postgraduate loans for tuition fees and living costs. Their eligibility criteria differ slightly. |