Making changes to your study

Withdrawing from your course can have several financial implications, so it's important that you understand these before making a final decision. Please read the following information in full.

Tuition fees and tuition fee liability

If you withdraw from your course part-way through the academic year, you may still be liable for a proportion of your tuition fees. The amount will depend on your official withdrawal date.

If you withdraw within the first 21 days of your academic years's scheduled start date, you will not be liable to pay any tuition fees for that academic year. After 21 days, you'll be charged the following:

• Term 1: 25% of the annual tuition fee
• Term 2: 50% of the annual tuition fee
• Term 3: 100% of the annual tuition fee

It's important that you complete the University's formal withdrawal process, as simply stopping attendance does not mean that you have officially withdrawn. Delays in completing this process could affect your tuition fee liability.

You can read more in the NTU Fee Payment Conditions.

Tuition Fee Loan

If you receive a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance, we will notify them when your withdrawal has been confirmed, including any changes to your tuition fee liability.

Any Tuition Fee Loan already paid to the University towards fees you remain liable for will normally form part of your student loan balance. This is repaid through the usual student loan repayment system, rather than being immediately repayable.

Your future entitlement to tuition fee funding may also be affected if you decide to study again, particularly if you have previously attended university or repeated a year.

Even if you withdraw part-way through an academic year, this will normally count as a year of previous study when Student Finance assesses your eligibility for future funding.

If you decide to start another course, the amount of tuition fee funding available to you will depend on your previous study history and the funding rules applying to your new course.

Our Previous Study and Compelling Personal Reasons page provides further information.

Maintenance Loan

Your entitlement to a Maintenance Loan will normally be reassessed when you withdraw from your course.

Your national Student Finance provider will calculate how much Maintenance Loan you are entitled to, based on your official withdrawal date.

This means:

• Any future scheduled Maintenance Loan payments will normally stop following your withdrawal.
• If you have already received funding covering a period after your withdrawal date, you may have been overpaid.
• Your national Student Finance provider will calculate any overpayment and advise you how this will be recovered.
• If you are not returning to study, you will normally be required to repay any Maintenance Loan overpayment. If you cannot afford to repay the full amount immediately, you should contact your Student Finance provider to discuss repayment arrangements.

It's important to be aware that a Maintenance Loan overpayment is different from your normal student loan debt. You may be required to repay an overpayment before you reach the normal student loan repayment earnings threshold.

The Maintenance Loan you were entitled to receive for the period you were studying will remain part of your normal student loan balance and will be repaid through the usual repayment system.

Grants, bursaries and other financial support

If you receive additional student finance, such as a Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance or Adult Dependants' Grant, your entitlement will normally be reassessed when you withdraw.

Any payments covering periods for which you are no longer eligible could be treated as overpayments. You may need to repay these, although the repayment arrangements depend on the type of grant you receive.

If you receive an NTU Bursary, scholarship or other University financial support, your eligibility will normally end when you withdraw. Any outstanding payments will usually stop, and any previous payments will be subject to the relevant scheme's conditions.

If you receive Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA), your entitlement to ongoing support will end when you withdraw. You should notify your support providers to ensure that any services or equipment arrangements are reviewed.

Accommodation

If you are currently living in student accommodation, it's important to understand that withdrawing from your course does not automatically release you from your accommodation contract.

If you live in NTU or UPP accommodation, you should contact the Accommodation Team to discuss your circumstances and whether you can be released from your accommodation agreement.

If you live in privately rented accommodation, you should check your tenancy agreement and speak directly with your landlord or accommodation provider. You could remain liable for rent even after leaving university.

You can contact the NTU Accommodation Team at accommodation@ntu.ac.uk or read the Accommodation Policies.

Council Tax

Withdrawing from your course may also affect your Council Tax liability.

Once you are no longer registered as a full-time student, you will normally lose your student Council Tax exemption. If you continue living in your accommodation, you may become liable for Council Tax, depending on your household circumstances.

You should contact your local council for further advice.

Studying again in the future

If you withdraw from your course and later decide to return to university, you will normally need to make a new application for admission rather than automatically returning to your previous course.

You will also need to apply for student finance again, and your previous study history may affect the funding available to you.

Under the existing undergraduate student finance system, previous years of higher education study are normally taken into account when calculating your remaining Tuition Fee Loan entitlement.

If you withdrew because of illness or other serious personal circumstances, you may be able to apply for additional tuition fee funding under the Compelling Personal Reasons provisions. You can read more on our Previous Study and Compelling Personal Reasons page, or contact us for advice.

Please be aware that Student Finance England is introducing the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) for eligible courses starting from 1 January 2027.

If you begin a new course under these arrangements, different funding rules will apply.

Under the LLE:

• Tuition Fee Loan funding is based on the number of credits studied and your remaining loan entitlement.
• Any previous government-funded higher education study will normally reduce your remaining Tuition Fee Loan entitlement.
• Maintenance Loan entitlement is linked to the number of credits you study and your personal circumstances.
• Different rules apply to grants and other financial support, including minimum credit requirements.

If you're considering starting a new course in, or after, January 2027 onwards, please contact us so we can explain which funding system will apply to you.

You can read more in the Government's Lifelong Learning Entitlement guidance.

What should you do next?

Before making a final decision, we recommend that you:

• Speak with your course leader or personal tutor to discuss your intention to withdraw and whether there are any alternative options available.
• Follow the University's formal withdrawal process and ensure you understand your official withdrawal date.
• Contact your national Student Finance provider to discuss your funding and any potential overpayments.
• Contact your accommodation provider to clarify any ongoing rent liability.
• Consider how you will financially support yourself after withdrawing, including whether you may be eligible for welfare benefits.

Access to University services

Please also be aware that withdrawing will result in the loss of access to University services, including your NTU email account, NOW and other online resources.

You should save any important documents or information you may need before your withdrawal is completed.

You can find full details of the process and further guidance on the University's Withdrawing from your Studies page.

If you have any questions about the financial implications of withdrawing, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Repeating all or part of an academic year can have several financial implications, so it's important that you understand how this may affect your tuition fees and student finance. The support available will depend on whether you're repeating with or without attendance, how much of your course you need to repeat, and your previous study history. Please read the following information in full.

Repeating with or without attendance

There are different ways you may be required to repeat your studies, and this can make a significant difference to your student finance entitlement.

Repeating with attendance

If you're required to attend teaching sessions and repeat some or all of your modules, you'll normally be classed as repeating with attendance.

You may be eligible to receive student finance during this period, including a Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan, depending on your previous study history and individual circumstances.

Repeating without attendance

If you're only required to complete outstanding assessments or examinations, without attending teaching sessions, you may be classed as repeating without attendance.

You won't normally be eligible for student finance during this period. This means:

• You won't normally receive a Tuition Fee Loan.
• You won't normally receive a Maintenance Loan.
• You will need to make alternative arrangements to cover your living costs.
• You may be required to pay an administration or assessment fee to NTU.

If you're repeating part of the year with attendance and part without, your funding arrangements may be more complicated. We recommend contacting us for advice about your individual circumstances.

Tuition fees and tuition fee liability

If you're repeating your studies with attendance, you'll normally be required to pay tuition fees for the modules you're repeating.

The amount charged will depend on how many credits or modules you need to repeat.

For example:

• If you're repeating a full academic year with attendance, you'll normally be charged the full annual tuition fee.
• If you're only repeating certain modules with attendance, your tuition fee will normally be calculated according to the number of credits you're studying.
• If you're repeating without attendance, you won't normally be charged tuition fees, although an administration or assessment fee may apply.

Your Academic School should confirm your repeat arrangements and the tuition fees you'll be charged.

You can find further information on the NTU Tuition Fees page.

Tuition Fee Loan

Your entitlement to a Tuition Fee Loan will depend on your previous study history and whether you have any remaining funding entitlement.

Under the existing undergraduate student finance rules, students are normally entitled to Tuition Fee Loan funding for the standard length of their course, plus one additional year.

This additional year is often referred to as a 'gift year' and can be used if you need to repeat a year of study.

For example, a student studying a three-year degree would normally have four years of Tuition Fee Loan entitlement, provided they have no other previous higher education study.

If you're repeating for the first time

If this is your first repeat year and you haven't previously studied at university, you'll normally be entitled to a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your repeat tuition fees.

If you've repeated before or have other previous study

If you've already used your additional 'gift year’ or have previously studied at another university or on another course, you may not have enough Tuition Fee Loan entitlement remaining.

In these circumstances, you may need to pay your repeat tuition fees yourself.

Student Finance normally allocates any remaining years of Tuition Fee Loan entitlement to the final years of your course. This means you may need to self-fund your repeat year but receive Tuition Fee Loan funding again when you progress.

If you're unsure whether you have enough funding remaining, please contact us.

You can also read our Previous Study and Compelling Personal Reasons guidance.

Maintenance Loan

Your Maintenance Loan entitlement will depend primarily on whether you're repeating with attendance.

If you're repeating with attendance

If you remain registered on a full-time undergraduate course and are required to attend teaching, you'll normally remain eligible for a Maintenance Loan, subject to meeting the usual eligibility requirements.

Importantly, previous study does not normally affect your entitlement to a Maintenance Loan, even if you're no longer eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan.

This means you may still be able to receive a Maintenance Loan to help with your living costs, even if you need to pay your tuition fees yourself.

However, if you're only attending for part of the academic year, or your repeat arrangements involve periods without attendance, your funding may be affected. Your Student Finance provider will need to assess your entitlement based on your circumstances.

If you're repeating without attendance

You won't normally be eligible for a Maintenance Loan during a period of repeat study without attendance.

Any scheduled Maintenance Loan payments may be stopped, and if you've already received funding for a period when you're not entitled to support, this could result in an overpayment.

Student Finance will calculate any overpayment and advise you about repayment arrangements.

It's important to plan ahead if you won't be receiving a Maintenance Loan, particularly if you have ongoing accommodation or other living costs.

Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR)

If you've already used your additional year of Tuition Fee Loan entitlement, you may be able to apply for further funding if you were unable to progress with your studies because of Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR).

You can find full details of the process, including guidance on preparing your application, on our Previous Study and Compelling Personal Reasons page.

We recommend contacting the Student Money Team if you think you may need to make a CPR application.

Grants, bursaries and other financial support

If you receive additional student finance, such as a Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance or Adult Dependants' Grant, your entitlement may be affected by your repeat arrangements.

If you're repeating with attendance and remain eligible for student finance, you may continue to receive this support.

However, if you're repeating without attendance, your entitlement will normally be affected, and you may not be eligible for further payments during that period.

If you receive an NTU bursary, scholarship or other University financial support, your eligibility will depend on the terms and conditions of the particular scheme. Repeating studies may affect your entitlement, particularly if you're repeating without attendance.

If you receive Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA), you should contact your Student Finance provider and relevant support providers to check how your repeat arrangements may affect your support.

Further information is available on our Bursaries and Scholarships page.

Accommodation and living costs

If you're repeating your studies, you should consider how this will affect your accommodation arrangements and living costs.

If you're repeating with attendance, you'll normally need to budget for an additional period of study, including accommodation, food, travel and other living expenses.

If you're repeating without attendance, you may have a period when you're not eligible for a Maintenance Loan but remain responsible for accommodation costs.

If you currently live in student accommodation, repeating without attendance does not automatically release you from your accommodation contract.

If you live in NTU or UPP accommodation, you should contact the Accommodation Team to discuss your circumstances.

If you live in privately rented accommodation, you should check your tenancy agreement and speak directly with your landlord or accommodation provider.

You can contact the NTU Accommodation Team at accommodation@ntu.ac.uk or read the Accommodation Policies.

Council Tax

If you're repeating without attendance, you should also check whether you remain eligible for a student Council Tax exemption.

Your eligibility will depend on your circumstances and how your period of repeat study is recorded. You should contact your local council if you're unsure.

What should you do next?

We recommend that you:

• Confirm your repeat arrangements with your Academic School. It's important to establish whether you're repeating with or without attendance, which modules you're repeating and the dates you'll be expected to attend.
• Confirm your tuition fee liability. Your Academic School should be able to confirm the tuition fees or administration charges associated with your repeat studies.
• Check your student finance entitlement. You should submit a student finance application for the relevant academic year if you're repeating with attendance and check whether you have sufficient Tuition Fee Loan entitlement.
• Consider whether you have Compelling Personal Reasons. If you've previously been unable to progress because of personal circumstances, you may be eligible for additional Tuition Fee Loan funding.
• Review your living costs and accommodation arrangements. This is particularly important if you'll be repeating without attendance or have a period when you're not receiving student finance.

If you're unsure how repeating your studies will affect your funding, we strongly recommend contacting the Student Money Team before making any financial commitments.

We can review your previous study history, explain the funding available to you and advise whether you may need to apply for additional Tuition Fee Loan funding through the CPR process.

Transferring to a different course can have several financial implications, so it's important that you understand how this may affect your tuition fees and student finance before making a final decision. The financial implications will depend on when you transfer, whether you're transferring within NTU or to another university, and whether you'll need to start your new course from the beginning. Please read the following information in full.

Tuition fees and tuition fee liability

If you transfer to a different course part-way through the academic year, your tuition fee liability may be affected. The amount you'll be charged will depend on your official transfer date, the tuition fees for your new course and whether you're transferring within NTU or to another university.

If you're transferring between courses at NTU, we'll need to establish whether there is any difference in tuition fees and whether your existing tuition fee payments can be transferred to your new course. If you're transferring to another university, you may remain liable for a proportion of your tuition fees at NTU. Your new university may also charge tuition fees for the remainder of the academic year.

If you're receiving a Tuition Fee Loan, the amount payable to each university will depend on when you transfer. Under the existing student finance rules, the total Tuition Fee Loan available for the academic year will normally be limited to the applicable annual maximum.

It's important to establish your tuition fee liability with both universities before completing your transfer, as you could be responsible for paying any fees that aren't covered by your Tuition Fee Loan.

You can read more in the NTU Fee Payment Conditions.

2Tuition Fee Loan

If you receive a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance, we'll notify them of your course transfer once it has been confirmed. Your national Student Finance service will then reassess your entitlement based on your new course and circumstances.

Previous study and future funding

Your previous study history can also affect the Tuition Fee Loan funding available for your new course.

Under the existing undergraduate student finance system, full-time students are normally entitled to Tuition Fee Loan funding for the standard length of their course, plus one additional year. This is often referred to as a 'gift year'.

Any previous years of higher education study, including years that you didn't complete, will normally be taken into account when calculating your remaining entitlement.

This means:

• If you transfer during your first year and start a new three-year course from the beginning, you'll normally have sufficient Tuition Fee Loan entitlement, provided you have no other previous study.
• If you've already completed one or more years of your current course and need to start your new course from the beginning, you may not have enough Tuition Fee Loan entitlement to cover every year.
• If you transfer directly into a later year of your new course, your remaining funding entitlement may be sufficient, depending on your circumstances.

If you don't have enough Tuition Fee Loan entitlement, you may need to pay some of your tuition fees yourself.

Student Finance will normally allocate your remaining funding entitlement to the final years of your course. This means you may need to self-fund an earlier year before becoming eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan again.

If you have previously been unable to progress because of illness or other serious personal circumstances, you may be eligible for additional funding through the Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR) provisions.

You can find further information on our Previous Study and Compelling Personal Reasons page.

Transferring to a new course from January 2027

Important changes to Student Finance England funding

If you're funded by Student Finance England and transfer to a new course starting on or after 1 January 2027, your funding will normally be assessed under the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).

This is a significant change from the existing undergraduate student finance system.

Under the LLE:

• Eligible students have access to a Tuition Fee Loan entitlement worth up to £39,160 at 2026/27 rates, equivalent to approximately four years of full-time study.
• Any previous government-funded higher education study will normally reduce the amount of Tuition Fee Loan available.
• Your remaining entitlement will be calculated based on the value of your previous tuition fee funding, rather than simply the number of years you've studied.
• If you don't have enough entitlement remaining to cover your new course, you may need to pay some tuition fees yourself.
• The amount of funding available will also depend on the course you're transferring to and the number of credits you'll study.

If you're transferring to a new course after January 2027, we strongly recommend contacting us before making a final decision so we can explain how the LLE rules may affect your funding.

You can read more in the Government's Lifelong Learning Entitlement guidance.

Maintenance Loan

Your entitlement to a Maintenance Loan will normally continue if you transfer directly to another eligible full-time undergraduate course without a break in your studies, provided you continue to meet the usual eligibility requirements.

However, your entitlement may need to be reassessed depending on your transfer arrangements.

Transferring during the academic year

If you're transferring directly between courses, your Student Finance provider will normally update your Maintenance Loan entitlement to reflect your new course. Your payments may be delayed while your student finance record is updated.

If you're transferring to another university, your entitlement may also change if your living arrangements change. For example, moving from your parental home to independent accommodation, or moving to London, could affect the amount of Maintenance Loan you're entitled to receive.

Taking time out before your new course starts

If you stop studying your current course and have a break before your new course begins, your Maintenance Loan entitlement will normally be reassessed.

This means:

• Any future scheduled Maintenance Loan payments may stop until you begin your new course.
• If you've already received funding covering a period when you're not studying, you may have been overpaid.
• Your Student Finance provider will calculate any overpayment and explain how this will be recovered.
• Overpayments may be deducted from future student finance payments, although you could be asked to repay them separately.

It's important to understand that a Maintenance Loan overpayment is different from your normal student loan debt. You may be required to repay an overpayment before reaching the usual student loan repayment earnings threshold.

If you're planning to take time out before starting your new course, we recommend contacting us to discuss the potential implications.

Grants, bursaries and other financial support

If you receive additional student finance, such as a Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance or Adult Dependants' Grant, your entitlement may be reassessed when you transfer.

If you're transferring directly to another eligible course, you may continue receiving this support, subject to meeting the relevant eligibility requirements.

However, any break between courses could affect your entitlement, and payments covering periods when you're not eligible could be treated as overpayments.

If you receive an NTU bursary, scholarship or other University financial support, transferring courses may affect your eligibility or future payments. This will depend on the conditions of the particular scheme. If you're transferring to another university, any NTU bursary or scholarship payments will normally stop once you leave NTU.

If you receive Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA), you should notify your Student Finance provider and relevant support providers of your transfer. Your support arrangements may need to be reviewed, particularly if the requirements of your new course are different.

You can find further information on our Bursaries and Scholarships page.

Accommodation

If you're transferring to another university or moving to a different campus, it's important to consider how this may affect your accommodation arrangements.Transferring courses does not automatically release you from your existing accommodation contract.

If you currently live in NTU or UPP accommodation, you should contact the Accommodation Team to discuss your circumstances and whether any changes to your accommodation agreement are possible.

If you live in privately rented accommodation, you should check your tenancy agreement and speak directly with your landlord or accommodation provider.

You could remain liable for rent under your existing agreement even if you move to a different university.

You can contact the NTU Accommodation Team at accommodation@ntu.ac.uk or read the Accommodation Policies.

Transferring to a course with different funding arrangements

It's also important to check whether your new course has different student finance arrangements.

For example, funding may be different if you're:

• Transferring from a full-time course to a part-time course.
• Moving to a course with a foundation year.
• Transferring to a healthcare course that may attract additional NHS funding.
• Moving to a course that includes a placement year or study abroad.
• Transferring to a course that leads to a qualification at a different level.

These changes could affect your tuition fees, Maintenance Loan entitlement, additional financial support or the overall length of time you'll need funding.

If you're transferring from full-time to part-time study, your entitlement to student finance and your Council Tax exemption may also change.

We recommend checking the funding arrangements for your intended new course before confirming your transfer.

What should you do next?

Before making a final decision, we recommend that you:

• Speak with your course leader or personal tutor. Discuss your reasons for transferring and confirm whether it's possible to transfer to your preferred course.
• Confirm your new course arrangements. Establish whether you'll be starting from the beginning or entering a later year, and whether there will be any break between courses.
• Check your tuition fee liability. Confirm whether you'll owe any tuition fees for your current course and what you'll be charged for your new course.
• Check your student finance entitlement. If you've previously studied at university, it's particularly important to establish whether you'll have sufficient Tuition Fee Loan funding to complete your new course.
• Consider the LLE changes. If you're transferring to a new course starting on or after 1 January 2027, contact us to discuss how the new funding rules may affect you.
• Contact your accommodation provider. If your transfer involves moving to another university or location, check whether you'll remain liable for accommodation costs.

Updating your Student Finance application

If your current course has already started, NTU will normally need to notify the Student Loans Company of your confirmed transfer.

You should also check your student finance account to ensure that your new course details and funding entitlement are correct.

If your new course begins in a later academic year, or you'll be applying under the LLE, you may need to submit a new student finance application.

If you're unsure how transferring courses will affect your funding, we strongly recommend contacting the Student Money Team before completing your transfer.

We can review your previous study history, explain the funding available for your new course and help you understand any potential shortfall in your Tuition Fee Loan entitlement.

Changing your mode of study, for example, moving from full-time to part-time study or vice versa, can have several financial implications. It's important that you understand how this may affect your tuition fees and student finance before making a final decision.

The financial implications will depend on your proposed study arrangements, when the change takes place and whether you'll be transferring to a different version of your course. Please read the following information in full.

Changing your mode of study

If you're considering changing the rate at which you study, you'll first need to check whether your course offers both full-time and part-time options. Not all courses allow students to change their mode of study, so you should discuss your circumstances with your course leader or personal tutor.

It's also important to establish exactly how your change will be recorded by the University.

Transferring to a part-time course

If you formally transfer from a full-time course to a part-time version, your student finance will normally be reassessed under the funding rules for part-time students. This could affect your Tuition Fee Loan, Maintenance Loan and eligibility for additional financial support.

Studying a full-time course on a part-time basis

In some circumstances, you may be permitted to study fewer modules or credits while remaining registered on a full-time course.

This is different from formally transferring to a part-time course, and your student finance entitlement may not be assessed in the same way. If you're considering this arrangement, we strongly recommend contacting the Student Money Team before making any changes, as the funding implications can be more complicated.

Tuition fees and tuition fee liability

Changing your mode of study is likely to affect the tuition fees you're charged.

If you change from full-time to part-time study, you'll normally study fewer credits each academic year, and your annual tuition fees may be lower.

However, because it will usually take longer to complete your course, you should consider the total cost of your studies rather than just the fees charged each year.

If you change from part-time to full-time study, your annual tuition fees may increase to reflect the additional credits you'll be studying.

Changing mode part-way through the academic year

If you change your mode of study during an academic year, your tuition fee liability will depend on when the change takes effect and the University's fee regulations.

You may remain liable for tuition fees associated with your original mode of study, even if your new annual tuition fee is lower.

It's therefore important to confirm the tuition fees you'll be charged for both your current and new study arrangements before making a final decision.

You can read more in the NTU Fee Payment Conditions.

Tuition Fee Loan

If you receive a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance, changing your mode of study may affect the amount of funding available to you.

Changing from full-time to part-time study

Under the existing Student Finance England rules, part-time students can normally apply for a Tuition Fee Loan if they're studying an eligible course at an intensity of at least 25% of the equivalent full-time course.

Your study intensity is based on the number of credits you study compared with the equivalent full-time course.

For example, if full-time students complete 120 credits per academic year:

• 90 credits would represent 75% study intensity.
• 60 credits would represent 50% study intensity.
• 30 credits would represent 25% study intensity.

If you study at less than 25% intensity, you won't normally qualify for part-time student finance under the existing funding rules.

The maximum Tuition Fee Loan available for part-time study is also different from the maximum available for full-time study.

Changing from part-time to full-time study

If you transfer to a full-time course, you may become eligible for a full-time Tuition Fee Loan, subject to the usual eligibility requirements.

Your previous study history will still be taken into account when assessing your entitlement.

Changing mode during the academic year

If you change mode part-way through an academic year, your national Student Finance service may need to reassess your Tuition Fee Loan entitlement.

Any fees already charged, or loans already paid to the University will need to be taken into account. You should not assume that your existing Tuition Fee Loan will automatically cover your revised fees.

You can read more about Student Finance for Part-Time Students.

Maintenance Loan

Changing your mode of study could have a significant impact on your Maintenance Loan entitlement.

Changing from full-time to part-time study

If you formally transfer to an eligible part-time undergraduate course, you may still be entitled to a Maintenance Loan.

However, the amount available will normally be lower than the equivalent full-time entitlement because part-time Maintenance Loans are calculated according to study intensity.

Your entitlement will depend on several factors, including:

• The number of credits you study each academic year.
• Your household income.
• Where you live while studying.
• Your course and whether it qualifies for part-time maintenance support.
• Your age and other eligibility requirements.

Not all part-time courses qualify for a Maintenance Loan. For example, part-time distance learning students are not normally eligible unless they're unable to attend in person because of a disability.

Changing from part-time to full-time study

If you transfer to an eligible full-time undergraduate course, you may become entitled to a higher Maintenance Loan. Your national Student Finance service will need to reassess your entitlement based on your new course details and circumstances.

Changing mode part-way through the academic year

If your mode of study changes during the academic year, your Maintenance Loan entitlement may be reassessed.

This means:

• Your remaining Maintenance Loan payments may be reduced or increased.
• Your scheduled payments may be delayed while Student Finance updates your application.
• If you've already received more Maintenance Loan than you're entitled to under your revised study arrangements, you may have been overpaid.
• Your Student Finance provider will calculate any overpayment and explain how this will be recovered.

Maintenance Loan overpayments are different from normal student loan debt. You may be required to repay an overpayment before reaching the usual student loan repayment earnings threshold.

It's particularly important to seek advice before reducing your study intensity if you rely on your Maintenance Loan to cover accommodation and other living costs.

Grants, bursaries and other financial support

Changing your mode of study may affect your entitlement to additional student finance and University financial support.

Student Finance grants

If you receive a Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance or Adult Dependants' Grant through the existing Student Finance England system, you should be aware that these are normally only available to eligible full-time students.

If you transfer to a part-time course, you will normally lose your entitlement to these grants.

Any payments you've already received may be reassessed, and you could be required to repay an overpayment.

If you transfer from part-time to full-time study, you may become eligible for these grants, subject to meeting the relevant eligibility requirements.

NTU bursaries and scholarships

If you currently receive an NTU Bursary, changing from full-time to part-time study may affect your eligibility. The NTU Bursary and NTU Opportunity Bursary are available to part-time students, our other undergraduate bursaries are not normally available to students registered on part-time courses.

Any scholarships or other University financial support will be subject to the specific conditions of the scheme.

You can read more on our Bursaries and Scholarships page.

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

If you receive Disabled Students' Allowance, you may remain eligible for support if you change your mode of study.

However, your support arrangements may need to be reviewed, particularly if your attendance requirements or study intensity change.

You should notify your Student Finance provider and relevant support providers of your proposed change.

Council Tax and welfare benefits

Changing from full-time to part-time study may also affect your entitlement to Council Tax exemption and welfare benefits.

Council Tax

Full-time students are normally exempt from Council Tax, although this depends on their course and individual circumstances.

If you formally transfer to a part-time course, you may no longer qualify for a student Council Tax exemption and could become liable for Council Tax.

You should contact your local council to establish whether you'll remain eligible for an exemption or discount.

Welfare benefits

Students studying part-time may be eligible for welfare benefits, including Universal Credit, depending on their circumstances.

However, eligibility is not automatic, and there are additional conditions that you must meet.

It's particularly important to understand that if you remain registered on a full-time course but study on a part-time basis, you may still be treated as a full-time student for benefit purposes.

If you already receive benefits, changing your mode of study could affect your entitlement.

Any Maintenance Loan you're entitled to receive may also be taken into account when calculating your benefits, even if you choose not to take the full loan.

We recommend seeking specialist welfare benefits advice before making changes to your studies if you currently receive benefits or intend to make a claim.

You can read more in the Government's Universal Credit and Students guidance.

Accommodation and living costs

If you're considering changing your mode of study, it's important to review your accommodation arrangements and living costs.

Although studying part-time may reduce your annual tuition fees, it could also mean receiving a lower Maintenance Loan and spending longer at university.

Your accommodation, food, travel and other living expenses may therefore continue over a longer period.

Changing your mode of study does not automatically release you from your accommodation contract.

If you live in NTU or UPP accommodation, you should contact the Accommodation Team to check whether changing to part-time study will affect your eligibility to remain in your accommodation.

If you live in privately rented accommodation, you should check your tenancy agreement and speak with your landlord or accommodation provider if your circumstances are changing.

You can contact the NTU Accommodation Team at accommodation@ntu.ac.uk or read the Accommodation Policies.

Changes to student finance from January 2027

Important changes for students funded by Student Finance England

Student Finance England is introducing a new funding system called the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) for eligible courses starting on or after 1 January 2027.

If you change your mode of study by transferring to a new course, including the part-time version of your existing course, which starts on or after this date, you'll normally be assessed under the new LLE funding rules.

Under the LLE:

• Tuition Fee Loan funding is based on the number of credits studied and your remaining loan entitlement.
• Any previous government-funded higher education study will normally reduce your remaining Tuition Fee Loan entitlement.
• Maintenance Loan entitlement is linked to the number of credits you study and your personal circumstances.
• Different rules apply to grants and other financial support, including minimum credit requirements.

If you simply continue on your existing course without transferring to a new course, you'll normally remain under your existing student finance arrangements.

If you're considering changing your mode of study from January 2027 onwards, please contact us so we can explain which funding system will apply to you.

You can read more in the Government's Lifelong Learning Entitlement guidance.

What should you do next?

Before making a final decision, we recommend that you:

• Speak with your course leader or personal tutor. Confirm whether changing your mode of study is possible and how this would affect your course structure and expected completion date.
• Confirm how your change will be recorded. Establish whether you'll formally transfer to a part-time or full-time course or remain on your existing course with a different study pattern.
• Check your tuition fee liability. Confirm the fees you'll be charged and whether any additional payments will be required.
• Review your student finance entitlement. Contact the Student Money Team to establish how your Tuition Fee Loan, Maintenance Loan and any additional grants may be affected.
• Consider the impact on Council Tax and benefits. If you'll be changing to part-time study, check whether your entitlement to Council Tax exemption or welfare benefits will change.
• Review your living costs. Consider whether any reduction in Maintenance Loan funding will affect your ability to meet your ongoing financial commitments.

Updating your Student Finance application

If you change your mode of study, NTU will normally need to notify your Student Finance provider of the confirmed change.

Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to submit a new student finance application or provide additional information.

We recommend checking your student finance account once your change has been processed to ensure that your course details and funding entitlement are correct.

If you're unsure how changing your mode of study will affect your funding, we strongly recommend contacting the Student Money Team before making a final decision.

We can help you understand the funding arrangements that will apply to your proposed change and identify any potential financial implications.

Taking a break from your studies can affect your student finance payments and tuition fees. It's important to understand these implications before deciding to take a break. Please read the following information in full.

Tuition fees

Taking a break part-way through the academic year may affect how much you need to pay towards your tuition fees.

The amount you're liable for will depend on when your break starts and the University's Fee Payment Conditions. For most postgraduate courses, your fee liability is calculated on a pro-rata basis, based on the number of weeks you have studied before you take your break. if you take a break within the first 21 days of the academic year starting, you will not usually be liable to pay any tuition fees.

Postgraduate loans are paid directly to you to help with both tuition fees and living costs. You're responsible for paying any tuition fees you owe to the University, even if your postgraduate loan payments have stopped.

Postgraduate Master's and Doctoral Loans

If you take an agreed break from your studies, your national Student Finance service will normally stop your postgraduate loan payments until you return.

NTU will notify the Student Loans Company of your break, including the date it starts. Your loan entitlement will then be reassessed based on how much of your course you've completed.

If you've already received a payment that covers a period when you're no longer studying, some of this may be classed as an overpayment. This is usually the case if you have taken a break in a previous term, but have still been paid for the next term.

If you intend to return to your course, any overpayment will usually be deducted from your future loan payments. However, if you don't return, you may be asked to repay the overpayment directly.

You can find more information in the government's guidance on suspending your studies.

Taking a break for health or personal reasons

If you're taking a break because of serious illness, you may still be entitled to receive a postgraduate loan instalment if it's due within 60 days of the date your break begins.

If you're taking a break for another serious personal reason, such as bereavement, you may also be eligible for additional financial support.

Contact your national Student Finance provider to discuss your circumstances and find out whether you're eligible for continued payments or additional assistance.

Returning to your studies

When you return to your course, your postgraduate loan payments can normally resume once NTU has confirmed that you've restarted your studies.

You may need to update or renew your student finance application if you're returning in a new academic year.

Taking a break doesn't automatically increase the total amount of postgraduate funding available to you. This means that if your break extends the length of your course, you won't necessarily receive additional funding to cover the extended period.

It's important to consider how you'll manage your tuition fees and living costs when you return, particularly if you have already received a significant proportion of your loan.

Other financial considerations

Taking a break may also affect any scholarships, bursaries, studentships or Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) support you receive.

If you're living in student accommodation, you'll also need to check your tenancy agreement. Taking a break doesn't automatically release you from your accommodation contract, and you may remain liable for rent.

What should you do next?

Before requesting a break from your studies, we recommend that you:

• Discuss your plans and intended return date with your course leader or supervisor.
• Contact your national Student Finance provider to check how your postgraduate loan will be affected.
• Check whether you'll have any outstanding tuition fees or accommodation costs.
• Contact the Student Money Team if you need advice about the financial implications of taking a break.

You can also read our Taking a break in study guidance for information about the University's procedures.

If you're receiving a Postgraduate Master's Loan or Postgraduate Doctoral Loan from Student Finance England, withdrawing from your course can have significant financial implications.

It's important to understand how withdrawing may affect your tuition fees, student finance payments and eligibility for funding in the future. Please read the following information in full.

Tuition fees

If you withdraw from your course part-way through the academic year, you may still be liable for a proportion of your tuition fees.

For most postgraduate students, NTU calculates tuition fee liability based on the proportion of the academic year completed when you withdraw.

If you withdraw within the first 21 days of your course starting, you won't normally be liable for tuition fees. After 21 days, your tuition fee liability will usually be calculated on a pro-rata basis, depending on the number of weeks you've studied.

You can find more information in the NTU Fee Payment Conditions.

You're responsible for paying any outstanding tuition fees to the University, even if your postgraduate loan payments have stopped.

Postgraduate Master's and Doctoral Loans

If you withdraw from your course, you'll no longer be eligible to receive further payments from your Postgraduate Master's Loan or Postgraduate Doctoral Loan.

NTU will notify the Student Loans Company of your withdrawal, including the date you've left your course.

Your national Student Finance provider will then reassess your loan entitlement based on the number of terms you've attended.

If you've already received more funding than you're entitled to, this will be classed as an overpayment.

You'll normally be required to repay any overpayment directly to the Student Loans Company. This is separate from your normal student loan repayments and may need to be repaid immediately, even if your income is below the usual repayment threshold.

If you're unable to repay the full amount, you can contact the Student Loans Company to discuss a repayment arrangement.

You can read more in the government's guidance on withdrawing from your studies.

Repaying your postgraduate loan

Withdrawing from your course doesn't remove your responsibility to repay any postgraduate loan you've already received.

Any loan you're entitled to keep will remain repayable under the normal student loan repayment arrangements.

Repayments will usually begin from the April after you withdraw, provided your income is above the relevant repayment threshold.

You can find more information about repaying your student loan.

Eligibility for future postgraduate funding

Withdrawing from your postgraduate course may affect your eligibility for student finance if you decide to study another course in the future. Postgraduate Master's Loans and Doctoral Loans are normally only available once for each level of study.

If you've previously received postgraduate funding and subsequently withdrawn, you won't normally be eligible for another loan to study a different course at the same level. However, if you withdrew because of a serious personal reason, such as illness or bereavement, Student Finance England may consider awarding funding for a new course.

You'll normally need to provide evidence explaining why you were unable to continue with your previous studies.

We strongly recommend contacting us before withdrawing if you think you may want to return to postgraduate study in the future.

Other financial considerations

Withdrawing may also affect any scholarships, bursaries, studentships or Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) support you receive.

If you're living in student accommodation, you'll also need to check your tenancy agreement. Withdrawing from your course doesn't automatically release you from your accommodation contract, and you may remain liable for rent.

What should you do next?

Before withdrawing from your course, we recommend that you:

• Discuss your decision with your course leader or supervisor and consider whether taking a break from your studies might be a suitable alternative.
• Contact Student Finance England to understand how your withdrawal will affect your postgraduate loan and any future funding entitlement.
• Check whether you'll have any outstanding tuition fees or accommodation costs.
• Contact the Student Money Team for advice about the financial implications of withdrawing.

You can also read our Withdrawing from your studies guidance for information about the University's withdrawal procedures.

Repeating part of your course can affect your student finance payments and tuition fees. It's important to understand these implications before starting your repeat period, particularly as you may not be entitled to additional funding to cover the extra time spent studying. Please read the following information in full.

Tuition fees

If you're required to repeat part of your course, you may need to pay additional tuition fees. The amount you're charged will depend on which modules or parts of your course you're repeating, and whether you're required to attend teaching.

If you're repeating with attendance, you'll normally be charged tuition fees for the study you're repeating. If you're repeating without attendance, different fee arrangements may apply.

You should check with your academic school to confirm what you'll be charged.

You can also find more information in the NTU Fee Payment Conditions.

Postgraduate Master's and Doctoral Loans

Student Finance England doesn't normally provide additional postgraduate loan funding to cover repeat periods of study.

Unlike undergraduate student finance, Postgraduate Master's Loans and Postgraduate Doctoral Loans are awarded as a total amount for your course, rather than providing a separate entitlement for each year of study.

If you need to repeat part of your course, the total amount of loan available to you won't automatically increase. This means you may need to cover any additional tuition fees and living costs yourself.

If your repeat period extends the overall length of your course, it may also affect when you receive any remaining loan payments.

NTU will notify the Student Loans Company of any relevant changes to your studies. Student Finance England will then assess how these changes affect your funding.

You can find more information about Postgraduate Master's Loans and Postgraduate Doctoral Loans.

Repeating with or without attendance

How you repeat your studies may affect your eligibility for postgraduate loan payments.

Repeating with attendance

If you're required to attend teaching while repeating part of your course, you may still be eligible to receive any remaining postgraduate loan payments, depending on your circumstances and the funding already received. However, you won't automatically receive additional funding simply because you're studying for longer.

Repeating without attendance

If you're repeating assessments or coursework without attending teaching, your postgraduate loan payments may be suspended during this period.

Any remaining payments may resume when you return to your normal studies, subject to confirmation from your national Student Finance service.

It's important to check how your repeat arrangements will affect your payments before your repeat period begins.

Repeating due to personal circumstances

If you need to repeat part of your course because of serious personal circumstances, such as illness, bereavement or other circumstances beyond your control, you should explain this to Student Finance England.

These are sometimes referred to as compelling personal reasons.

Student Finance may take these circumstances into account when assessing your eligibility for continued funding. However, this doesn't mean you'll automatically receive an additional Postgraduate Master's Loan or Doctoral Loan to cover your repeat period.

You may be asked to provide supporting evidence, such as a letter from a medical professional or the University.

We recommend contacting the Student Money Team for advice before submitting any evidence to Student Finance.

Other financial considerations

Repeating part of your course may also affect any scholarships, bursaries, studentships or Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) support you receive.

If your course is extended, you may also need to arrange additional accommodation and consider how you'll cover your living costs during the extra period of study.

What should you do next?

Before starting your repeat period, we recommend that you:

• Confirm with your academic school whether you'll be repeating with or without attendance.
• Check whether you'll be charged additional tuition fees.
• Contact Student Finance England to find out whether you'll receive any further postgraduate loan payments.
• Consider how you'll cover your tuition fees and living costs if your funding is reduced or unavailable.
• Contact the Student Money Team for advice about the financial implications of repeating your studies.

If you're required to attend teaching sessions and repeat some or all of your modules, you'll normally be classed as repeating with attendance.

Transferring to another course can affect your student finance payments and tuition fees.

It's important to understand these implications before transferring, particularly as your continued eligibility for postgraduate funding will depend on the course you're transferring to. Please read the following information in full.

Tuition fees

If you transfer to a different course part-way through the academic year, your tuition fees may change. You may still be liable for tuition fees relating to your original course and could be charged different fees for your new course.

The amount you'll need to pay will depend on when you transfer, the fees for both courses and the University's Fee Payment Conditions.

You're responsible for paying any tuition fees you owe, even if your postgraduate loan payments are reduced or stopped.

Postgraduate Master's and Doctoral Loans

If you transfer to another eligible postgraduate course, you may be able to continue receiving your existing postgraduate loan. However, your national Student Finance won't automatically provide you with a new loan or additional funding when you transfer.

Any funding you've already received will normally count towards your overall loan entitlement. This means you'll usually only have access to the remaining unpaid balance of your existing loan.

For your funding to transfer, your national Student Finance service must accept the change, and your new course must meet the relevant eligibility requirements. If your new course is longer than your original course, you won't automatically receive additional funding to cover the extra period of study.

Your future payment dates and instalment amounts may also change.

You can find more information about Postgraduate Master's Loans and Postgraduate Doctoral Loans.

Transferring to another university

If you're transferring to another university, it's important that your change is recorded as a transfer rather than a withdrawal.

If you withdraw from your original course before arranging your transfer, you could lose your eligibility for further postgraduate loan funding.

This is because postgraduate loans are normally only available once at each level of study, and you won't usually qualify for a new loan if you've already received funding for a previous course. Your new university will need to confirm your transfer to your national Student Finance service before further payments can be released.

We strongly recommend checking your funding eligibility with your national Student Finance service before leaving your existing course.

Transferring to an ineligible course

If you transfer to a course that doesn't qualify for a Postgraduate Master's Loan or Doctoral Loan, your remaining loan payments will normally stop from the date of transfer.

This could happen if you transfer to a postgraduate certificate or diploma, or to a course that doesn't meet the Student Loan Company's eligibility requirements.

Any payments you were entitled to receive for your original course will normally remain part of your student loan. However, payments made after you transfer to an ineligible course may be treated as an overpayment. If you've received an overpayment, your national Student Finance service may ask you to repay this separately from your normal student loan repayments.

Other financial considerations

Transferring to another course may also affect any scholarships, bursaries, studentships or Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) support you receive.

If your new course starts later or takes longer to complete, you should consider how you'll cover your living costs during any additional period of study.

If you're transferring to another university, you'll also need to check your accommodation arrangements. Your existing tenancy agreement may still apply, and you could remain liable for rent even after transferring.

What should you do next?

Before transferring to another postgraduate course, we recommend that you:

• Discuss your proposed transfer with your course leader or supervisor.
• Check that your new course is eligible for postgraduate student finance.
• Contact your national Student Finance service to confirm whether your existing loan can be transferred.
• Check whether you'll have any outstanding tuition fees or additional accommodation costs.
• Contact the Student Money Team for advice about the financial implications of transferring.

Changing the rate at which you study can affect your student finance payments and tuition fees. This includes changing from full-time to part-time study, or from part-time to full-time study.

It's important to understand these implications before making any changes, particularly as your continued eligibility for funding will depend on your new study arrangements. Please read the following information in full.

Tuition fees

If you change your mode of study, the amount you pay towards your tuition fees may change.

Part-time tuition fees are generally lower each academic year than full-time fees, although you'll normally study over a longer period. If you change your mode of study part-way through the academic year, your tuition fee liability may be calculated using a combination of full-time and part-time charges.

You should check with your academic school to confirm how much you'll be charged and whether your overall tuition fee liability will change.

You can find more information in the NTU Fee Payment Conditions.

Postgraduate Master's and Doctoral Loans

If you change your mode of study, your national Student Finance service will need to reassess your postgraduate loan entitlement.

Unlike undergraduate student finance, Postgraduate Master's Loans and Postgraduate Doctoral Loans provide a total amount of funding for your course, which is normally divided across the number of years you're studying.

Changing your mode of study won't automatically increase the total amount of postgraduate loan available to you.

If you change from full-time to part-time study, your remaining funding may be spread over a longer period. This could mean receiving smaller payments each academic year.

If you change from part-time to full-time study, your remaining funding may be paid over a shorter period.

If you change your mode of study part-way through the academic year, your funding for that year may also be reassessed.

This could result in changes to your future payment dates and amounts. If you've already received more funding than you're entitled to, you may have an overpayment that your Student Finance service will ask you to repay.

You can find more information about Postgraduate Master's Loans and Postgraduate Doctoral Loans.

Eligibility for postgraduate funding

You must continue to meet the Student Loans Company's course eligibility requirements after changing your mode of study.

For students receiving a Postgraduate Master's Loan, eligible courses must normally be:

• Full-time, lasting one or two academic years.
• Part-time, lasting between two and four academic years, but no more than twice the length of the equivalent full-time course.
• Part-time, lasting up to three academic years, where no full-time equivalent course exists.

For students receiving a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan, courses must normally last between three and eight academic years and can be studied full-time or part-time.

If changing your mode of study means your course no longer meets these requirements, you could lose your eligibility for further postgraduate loan payments.

Not all postgraduate courses offer both full-time and part-time study options. You should check with your academic school and your national Student Finance service before making any changes.

Other financial considerations

Changing your mode of study may also affect any scholarships, bursaries, studentships or Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) support you receive.

If you receive an NTU alumni discount, you should check whether changing your mode of study will affect your eligibility.

Changing from full-time to part-time study may also affect your entitlement to certain welfare benefits and your Council Tax liability.

If your course takes longer to complete, you'll also need to consider how you'll cover your living costs and any additional accommodation expenses.

What should you do next?

Before changing your mode of study, we recommend that you:

• Discuss your plans with your course leader or supervisor to confirm whether the change is possible.
• Check how your tuition fees will be affected.
• Contact your national Student Finance service to confirm whether you'll remain eligible for postgraduate funding and how your payments may change.
• Consider how you'll manage your tuition fees and living costs if your funding is spread over a longer period.
• Contact the Student Money Team for advice about the financial implications of changing your mode of study.

You can also read our Making changes to your study guidance for further information.