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Whether you are planning to start your PhD or professional doctorate, or have already started, then you may be eligible to apply for a government-backed loan of up to £29,390 (2024/25 amount).

Doctoral loans are available for either full-time or part-time study for a duration of three to eight academic years.

To qualify for a doctoral loan, you must be:

  • a UK national ordinarily living in England
  • holding EU settled status or indefinite leave to remain, so there are no restrictions on how long you can stay 
  • under 60 on the first day of the first academic year of your course
  • applying for a doctoral qualification (i.e. a PhD, professional doctorate or DPhil)
  • not receiving funding from a UK research council.

Find out more and apply for a doctoral loan