Student fees and finance
Funding your undergraduate course is a key part of preparing for university life. At Coventry University, we provide clear guidance on tuition fees, student finance, scholarships, and payment options to help you plan with confidence.
Whether you're applying through Student Finance England, self-funding, or being sponsored, this page outlines everything you need to know to get started.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are the amount you pay to cover the cost of your education. This includes lectures, learning materials, access to facilities, student support services, and more. The exact amount you’ll pay depends on your course, how you study (full-time or part-time), and whether you’re a UK or international student.
For most full-time undergraduate students in the UK, the tuition fee is a yearly cost set by the government. If you're studying part-time, the price is worked out based on the number of modules or credits you take, making it a flexible option for those balancing study with work or family life.
If you're an international student, tuition fees are set by the university and vary depending on the course and subject area. These fees reflect the full cost of providing your education and include access to academic resources, facilities, and support services. You can find more information on our International fees and finance page.
Student finance in the UK
Once you know how much university will cost, the next step is understanding how you can pay for it, which is where student finance comes in. In the UK, student finance is a government system which helps students cover the cost of university, including tuition fees and day-to-day living expenses.
You apply through a student finance organisation based on where you normally live:
- England: Student Finance England (SFE)
- Wales: Student Finance Wales
- Northern Ireland: Student Finance Northern Ireland
- Scotland: Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
There are two main types of financial support available:
Tuition fee loan
This covers the full cost of your course fees and is paid directly to Coventry University on your behalf.
Maintenance loan
This is paid into your bank account in regular instalments and helps with everyday costs like rent, food, travel, and other living expenses.
The amount you can borrow for your maintenance loan depends on your household income, where you’ll be living while you study, and a few other factors. There’s no need to repay any of these loans until after you’ve finished your course and are earning over a certain income threshold.
As well as government support, Coventry University offers a range of scholarships and bursaries. This is money you don’t have to pay back, to help reduce the cost of studying and may be based on academic performance, personal circumstances, or financial need.
Self-funding your course
If you’re not using a student loan, you can self-fund your course by:
- Paying in full
- Using our three-instalment payment plan (for courses over 30 credits)
Sponsored students
If your tuition fees are being paid by a sponsor (e.g. employer), you must provide a sponsor letter before enrolment each academic year. The letter must:
- be on company letterhead
- include your name, student ID, course, and academic year
- state the amount payable in GBP
- include contact and invoicing details
- be signed, dated and stamped.
How to apply
Applying for student finance is a straightforward process, but it’s important to start early to make sure your funding is in place before your course begins. If you’re applying through Student Finance England, you can start your application online. You don’t need to have a confirmed place at university to apply, just use your first-choice course and update it later if needed.
The application involves creating an online account, filling in your personal and financial details, and providing any necessary evidence such as proof of identity. If you're applying for a maintenance loan, you’ll also need to give details about your household income so they can work out how much support you can get. After submitting your application, you can track its progress online, and you’ll be notified once it’s approved.
You must apply by the deadline to guarantee that your money is ready when your course starts. Even if you're unsure of your plans, it’s better to apply early and amend your application later.
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1
Check your eligibility
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2
Estimate your funding
Use the student finance calculator
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3
Create an SFE account and apply
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4
Submit required documents
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5
Track application progress
Additional support
We understand that not every student has the same circumstances. That’s why there is additional financial support available to help if you have children, a disability, or a lower household income.
If you’re a mature student returning to education, you’ll still get student finance in the same way as other undergraduates. You may also find it helpful to explore part-time or flexible study options if you're balancing work or family responsibilities.
If you have children, you may be able to claim extra support, including a Childcare Grant to help with nursery or childcare costs, and the Parents’ Learning Allowance, which provides extra funding to help with study-related costs.
If you care for an adult (for example, a partner or relative), you may be eligible for the Adult Dependants’ Grant. Students with disabilities or long-term health conditions can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), which can help with the cost of equipment, support workers, and other study needs.
If you’re from a low-income household, you might be entitled to additional bursaries or grants to help with general costs. Some courses that involve travel (for example, a year abroad or a placement) may also qualify for a travel grant to help with additional transport or accommodation costs.
Receiving payments
Once your student finance has been approved, the tuition fee loan will be paid directly to Coventry University, so you don’t need to worry about sorting that yourself. Your maintenance loan will be paid into your bank account in three instalments, one at the beginning of each term.
Make sure that you’ve registered for your course and provided accurate bank details so that your payment isn’t delayed. If your application is late or still being processed when the term starts, you may be able to receive an initial payment to help with immediate costs until the rest of your loan is finalised.
You can manage and monitor your payments through your online student finance account. Here you can check payment dates, update your details, and keep track of your funding status.
Repayment
You don’t start repaying your student loan until you’ve finished your course and you’re earning above a certain amount. For most students in England, you’ll repay 9% of what you earn over the threshold, not your whole income.
Repayments are taken automatically from your salary, so you don’t need to worry about sorting it yourself. If your income drops below the threshold, your repayments will stop until you’re earning enough again. After a set number of years, any remaining balance is written off, even if you haven’t repaid the full amount.
It’s important to remember that student loans don’t appear on your credit file and don’t affect your credit score. They’re more like a graduate contribution than a traditional debt.
Clearing and student finance
Clearing opens on 5 July. If you apply through Clearing and plan to use a UK student loan, don’t forget to update your student finance application. This is separate from updating your UCAS application.
Changing your student finance application is different from updating your UCAS application. To help you, we’ve written out the steps below.
If you're from England and studying full-time, you’ll need to do the following:
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1
Sign in
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2
Click ‘Undergraduate student finance applications’
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Select the application you want to change
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Under the heading ‘Manage your student finance’, click ‘View and manage your applications’
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Click ‘Change your application’ and then click again
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Click ‘University/college and course’
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Click ‘Submit’ once you’ve entered and confirmed your changes
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8
Student Finance England will re-assess your application.
If you’re from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man you’ll need to update your details through your local government or education authority:
If you're a part-time student or from the EU you'll need to complete a change of circumstance form.
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