Higher education student support
The Department is responsible for higher education student finance policy in Northern Ireland, including the drafting of annual legislation which underpins the award of student finance to Northern Ireland students, regardless of where they are studying.
Student support is delivered to Northern Ireland students by the Student Loans Company and the Education Authority under the banner Student Finance NI.
Student Tuition Fees
The level of undergraduate tuition fee for students from Northern Ireland studying here is set by the Department. For undergraduate students studying outside of Northern Ireland, fees will vary between courses as well as between universities.
Indicative tuition fees for the most recent academic year.
Undergraduate Student Support
Further information regarding the various types of funding available (and the relevant eligibility criteria) for Northern Ireland undergraduate students is available on the nidirect website.
Detailed information, including how to apply for undergraduate student support.
Postgraduate Taught Student Support
Further information regarding the funding available (and the relevant eligibility criteria) for Northern Ireland postgraduate taught (Masters) students is available on the nidirect website.
Detailed information, including how to apply for the Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan.
Postgraduate Researcher Scheme
The Department sponsors both part- time and full- time postgraduate studentships at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and Ulster University (UU) for research for approved postgraduate courses leading to higher degrees (Masters and PhDs).
There are three types of studentships:
- Research studentship for PhD study
- Collaborative Studentships including Co-operative Awards is Science and Technology (CAST) for PhD study
- Taught studentships for MRes study (if available)
The eligibility criteria and terms and conditions of this scheme.
Further information on postgraduate schemes.
Applying for Student support
To check if you are eligible for student support, please contact Student Finance NI. They can advise about making an application or checking the status of an application.
Find further information about the key stages of the student finance journey, from before you apply to making your last repayment.
Higher Education Support Funds
The Department provides additional support funds to eligible students through the higher education institutions in Northern Ireland. These funds are to be used to provide financial help to students whose access to higher education might be inhibited by financial considerations, or who, for whatever reason, including physical or other disabilities, face financial difficulties in meeting their living costs.
Conditions of Higher Education Support.
Disabled Students' Allowance
The Disabled Students' Allowance offers support towards the additional course related costs that you may have as a result of a disability, mental health condition or a specific learning difficulty. Entitlement is not based on household income, and eligible full-time, part-time, and postgraduate students can apply. The support provided will be tailored to meet your own individual needs, and will generally take the form of one-to-one Non-medical Help; Specialist Equipment; and support towards the cost of travel between your university or college and term-time address.
Further information is available at:
Full-time undergraduate Disabled Students' Allowance for NI students
Part-time undergraduate Disabled Students' Allowance for tuition fee and living cost students
Postgraduate Disabled Students' Allowance for NI students
Publications
Guides have been published by Student Finance NI which cover most aspects of student finance, these can be accessed through the following links below:
Student support and payment
- Financial support for full-time students in Higher Education
- Financial support for part-time students in Higher Education
- Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan – A Guide
- Student finance explained
Additional support
Legislation
The eligibility of higher education students for financial support in terms of tuition fees, maintenance grants and loans is determined under the Education (Student Support) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (as amended).
Each provision of each Act, Order in Council, or Statutory Rule must be read individually and in its up-to-date version. Legislation which appears on Legislation.gov.uk website is subject to changes which do not appear in the text but are noted in drop down boxes which appear alongside the text. All of these changes must be read, understood and applied to the text to arrive at the up-to-date version of the legislation.
Contact Us
General queries relating to student support should be addressed, in the first instance, to Student Support Branch, Department for the Economy, by emailing studentsupport@economy-ni.gov.uk