Doctoral loans

If you’re starting a doctoral degree, you could get a postgraduate doctoral loan to help with course fees and living costs.

It is not based on your income or your family’s, and it’s paid directly to you.

You only need to apply once, and if approved you will be paid in three instalments each year. 

You must apply for your doctoral degree before you can apply for the loan.

Like other student loans, you’ll need to repay what you borrow - but only when you start earning above a certain amount set by the government.

If your income is above the threshold, your repayments start will start:

• in April after your programme ends
• or in April four years after your programme began

How much you get

The value of the loan depends on when your programme starts:

• £29,390 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2024
• £28,673 if your course started between 1 August 2023 and 31 July 2024
• £27,892 if your course started between 1 August 2022 and 31 July 2023

Details are on the government website.

Check if you qualify

Whether you are eligible for a doctoral loan depends on your:

• course
• age
• nationality or residency status

Your course

The course you are studying must be at one of these levels:

• 3 year full-time PhDs and professional doctorates
• 5 year part-time professional doctorates
• 6 year part-time PhDs and professional doctorates

If you are studying a MPhil, Masters by research or MRes course, you’ll need to apply for a postgraduate loan instead.

Your course can be:

• full-time or part-time
• taught or research-based, or a combination of both
• on campus
• distance learning, if you live in England when you start your course and meet other criteria

Other eligibility rules

The government sets the eligibility rules about age and nationality or residency status - and the rules can change. 

Check your eligibility on the government website.