More people are starting degrees in their sixties, whether to retrain, finish something they started years ago or simply to study a subject they love. The big question is money: can you get student finance at 60 or over? For UK home students in England the answer is yes, with limits. The rules are also about to change for courses starting from January 2027, so when you start matters as much as your age.
This guide covers the 2026/27 Tuition Fee Loan, the reduced Maintenance Loan for students aged 60 and over, extra grants, what changes under the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), and how repayment works later in life. Every figure links to GOV.UK. For the wider picture, see our student finance hub and university at 30, 40 or 50.
General information for UK home students in England, based on GOV.UK guidance checked on 7 October 2026. Figures are for the 2026 to 2027 academic year and can change. AF Education is not Student Finance England (SFE); your SFE assessment decides what you receive.
Important: AF Education gives free help to England-resident UK home students applying for funded degree courses. This service is not for international students.
Quick answer
- Courses starting before 1 January 2027: GOV.UK says there is no upper age limit for Tuition Fee Loans or grants. If you are 60 or over, you can get a limited Maintenance Loan of up to £4,582 in 2026/27 if you study full time (GOV.UK: eligibility; GOV.UK: new full-time students).
- Most courses starting on or after 1 January 2027 (LLE): you must be under 60 on the first day of your course to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. If you are 60 or above, you may be able to apply for an additional loan to help with living costs (GOV.UK: LLE eligibility).
Tuition Fee Loan at 60 or over (current system)
Under the current system, age does not stop you getting a Tuition Fee Loan. For a full-time course in 2026/27 the maximum is £9,790 a year, or £11,750 on an accelerated degree. The loan is paid straight to your university or college, so you do not pay tuition fees upfront (GOV.UK: new full-time students).
The usual eligibility rules still apply. Your course must qualify, your home must be in England, and you need three years’ residence in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man before the course starts. Previous higher education also counts against you: you will usually only get student finance for your first higher education qualification, even if you paid for earlier study yourself (GOV.UK: eligibility). Many people in their sixties studied decades ago, so check this early. Our guide to student finance for a second degree explains the previous-study rules.
Maintenance Loan if you are 60 or over (2026/27)
This is where age makes a difference. GOV.UK says you may get limited funding for Maintenance Loans if all of these apply:
- you are 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of your course
- you are studying full time
- your course started on or after 1 August 2016
The amount depends on your household income (GOV.UK: eligibility).
| Maintenance Loan maximum | 2025/26 | 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year | Up to £4,461 | Up to £4,582 |
| Living with parents (for comparison) | Up to £8,877 | Up to £9,118 |
| Living away from parents, outside London (for comparison) | Up to £10,544 | Up to £10,830 |
| Living away from parents, in London (for comparison) | Up to £13,762 | Up to £14,135 |
Source: GOV.UK: new full-time students.
Two points catch people out:
- Household income still counts. If you live with a partner, their income is included, and GOV.UK says household income always includes income from your own savings, investments or property (GOV.UK: household income). Our household income guide explains how this works.
- Online study usually means no Maintenance Loan. GOV.UK says distance-learning students can only apply for a Maintenance Loan if they cannot attend in person because of a disability. See online and blended degrees: student finance.
Grants and allowances have no upper age limit
GOV.UK says there is no upper age limit for grants (GOV.UK: eligibility). Extra help you may be able to apply for includes:
- Adult Dependants’ Grant, up to £3,545 in 2026/27, if an adult depends on you financially, such as a partner.
- Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), up to £27,783 in 2026/27, if you have a disability, a long-term health condition, a mental health condition or a learning difficulty. See our DSA guide.
- Bursaries and hardship funds from your university. GOV.UK names a mature student with existing financial commitments as one example of who might qualify for hardship funds (GOV.UK: extra money from your university).
Grant figures come from GOV.UK’s support with living and other costs: 2026 to 2027. Grants are means-tested, so the amount you get depends on your household income.
What changes from January 2027 (Lifelong Learning Entitlement)
Most courses starting on or after 1 January 2027 will be funded through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement. Under the LLE you can apply for Tuition Fee Loans up to a total of £39,160, about four years of full-time study or 480 credits. Previous government tuition funding is usually deducted from that total (GOV.UK: student finance from 1 January 2027).
The age rule is different. GOV.UK says that for LLE funding you must be under 60 on the first day of your course to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. If you are 60 or above, you may be able to apply for an additional loan to help cover living costs (GOV.UK: LLE eligibility).
Why your start date matters: if you are already 60 or will turn 60 soon, a course that starts before 1 January 2027 is funded under the current rules, which have no upper age limit for the Tuition Fee Loan. A course that starts on or after that date is usually funded through the LLE, which has the under-60 rule. Check the start date of each course you are considering and which system will fund it. Read our full Lifelong Learning Entitlement guide.
Repaying a student loan later in life
Repayments are based on what you earn, not on what you owe. If your income is below the repayment threshold, you repay nothing that month. For students on Plan 5 (courses starting from 1 August 2023), you repay 9% of income over £25,000 a year (GOV.UK: what you pay), and any balance left is written off 40 years after the April you were first due to repay (GOV.UK: when your loan is written off). Interest is charged from the day you take the loan out. Our student loan repayment guide has the details.
Pension income, savings income and the loan’s effect on means-tested benefits are personal matters. If they apply to you, ask Student Finance England or an independent adviser before you borrow. AF Education does not give financial advice.
Choosing a course that fits
Many students over 60 want a timetable that leaves room for family, part-time work or caring. Most courses AF Education supports need 1 to 2 campus days a week, usually about 2 to 4 hours a day. Online part-time options are also available, for example the BA (Hons) Business Management (Tourism) or BA (Hons) Criminology with Law at Arden University, though online study usually means no Maintenance Loan. Browse partner universities or read our page on university for mature students.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an age limit for student finance in England?
For courses funded under the current system, GOV.UK says there is no upper age limit for Tuition Fee Loans or grants. Maintenance Loans are limited if you are 60 or over. For most courses starting on or after 1 January 2027, you must be under 60 on the first day of your course to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan.
How much Maintenance Loan can I get at 60 or over?
Up to £4,582 in 2026/27, if you are 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of a full-time course. The amount depends on your household income.
Can I get a Maintenance Loan at 60 if I study part time or online?
GOV.UK links the 60-plus Maintenance Loan rule to full-time study. Distance-learning students can normally only get a Maintenance Loan if they cannot attend in person because of a disability. Check your own case with Student Finance England.
I turn 60 next year. Should I start before January 2027?
It depends on your plans. Courses starting before 1 January 2027 follow the current rules, which have no upper age limit for the Tuition Fee Loan. Under the LLE you must be under 60 on the first day of your course. AF Education can show you which start dates are available.
Will my partner’s income affect my student finance?
Yes, if you live with them. Students over 25 are independent of their parents, but GOV.UK says a partner’s income is included in household income if you live together.
Next steps
Age is not a barrier to a degree, but at 60-plus the start date, study mode and household income all affect what you can borrow. Check your eligibility, compare full-time and part-time options, and apply early.
Prefer to talk? Call AF Education on 020 7377 8844, email info@afeducation.co.uk or visit us at 47 Cavell Street, London E1 2BP (Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 18:00). Our help is free for UK home students.
