# Can international students get a UK student loan?

> Generally no — most international students aren't eligible for UK government loans; use scholarships, sponsorship or home-country loans.

Most international students are not eligible for UK government tuition or maintenance loans, which are generally reserved for UK nationals and people with settled or certain residence status. Instead, international students fund study through family savings, scholarships (such as Chevening or university awards), government or employer sponsorship, or education loans from banks in their home country. Eligibility rules for UK funding are specific and change, so check your status, and remember a UK loan does not count for the visa unless it meets UKVI's rules.

## Quick facts
- **UK govt loan?:** Generally not for international students
- **Eligible:** UK nationals / settled or certain residence
- **Alternatives:** Scholarships, sponsorship, home-country loans
- **Visa note:** Loans must meet UKVI rules to count

## Key takeaways
- Most international students cannot access UK government student loans.
- UK loans are generally for UK nationals and those with settled/eligible residence status.
- Fund study via savings, scholarships, sponsorship or home-country education loans.
- A loan only counts for the visa if it meets UKVI's financial-evidence rules.

## Who can get UK student finance
UK government student loans for tuition and living costs are generally restricted to UK nationals and people with settled status or certain residence categories — most international students on a Student visa do not qualify. The detailed eligibility rules consider your nationality, immigration status and length of UK residence, and they change, so check your specific status if you think you might qualify (for example, some long-resident or refugee categories do).

## How international students fund study
Without UK government loans, international students typically combine family savings, scholarships (such as Chevening, Commonwealth or university awards), government or employer sponsorship, and education loans from banks or lenders in their home country. If you use a loan as visa financial evidence, it must come from an accepted provider and meet UKVI's rules. Study UK Now maps every funding source relevant to your profile and makes sure any loan is documented correctly for the visa.

## Frequently asked questions
### Can international students get a UK student loan?
Generally no — UK government student loans are mostly limited to UK nationals and those with settled or certain residence status, so most international students do not qualify. Instead, fund study through savings, scholarships, sponsorship or a home-country education loan. Check your specific status, as some long-resident categories may be eligible.

### What are the alternatives to a UK student loan for international students?
Alternatives include scholarships (Chevening, Commonwealth, university and country-specific awards), government or employer sponsorship, family savings, and education loans from lenders in your home country. Each has its own documentation rules for the visa. Study UK Now identifies the funding sources you are most competitive for and helps you apply.

## Sources
- [GOV.UK — Student finance eligibility](https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies) — GOV.UK

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