Maintenance Funding
SUSI Maintenance funding is available for eligible students from the Republic of Ireland.
This is the Irish student maintenance funding body which students can benefit from while studying in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland students cannot avail of maintenance funding via the UK's student finance system.
Tuition Fee Loan
Study Now, Pay Later
You do not have to pay your Tuition Fees up front or while you study in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland students may be eligible for UK Student Finance funding that covers the entire cost of tuition. This funding is called a Tuition Fee loan.
This means you do not pay tuition fees while you study. You are only eligible to make repayments when you leave the programme (withdraw or graduate) and are earning above the annual salary threshold.
The loan is paid directly to the University by the Student Loans Company (SLC). It is not paid to you.
The Tuition Fee Loan is not means-tested, so the amount available is not based on your parents’ or household income. However, eligibility rules do apply, including rules relating to nationality, residency, your course and any previous higher-education study.
Eligibility Criteria
Who can apply for the Tuition Fee Loan?
Irish citizens living in the Republic of Ireland who meet the relevant residency and course conditions can apply for the Tuition Feel Loan.
Your eligibility is assessed individually. If you are not an Irish or UK citizen, have lived outside Ireland or the UK, already hold a higher-education qualification, or have unusual residency circumstances, you may not qualify for tuition fee funding.
You may be able to apply for tuition fee loan funding if you're:
an Irish citizen and have been resident in the UK, Gibraltar, the EU/EEA or Switzerland for the three years prior to the first day of the first academic year of your course.
a family member of an Irish citizen or person of Northern Ireland and you have been granted pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and have been resident in the UK, Gibraltar, the EU/EEA or Switzerland for the three years prior to the first day of the first academic year of your course.
a family member of a UK National or a person who has settled status in the UK, and you have been resident in the UK and Islands for the three years prior to the first day of the first Academic Year of your course.
a UK national or an EU national, or the family member of either, you have resident status in Gibraltar and have been resident in the UK, Gibraltar, the EU/EEA or Switzerland for the three years prior to the first day of the first academic year of your course
Repayments
How; When; and How much will you repay?
Repayments are based on income, not the amount borrowed. You will normally begin repaying from the April after you finish or leave your course, but only when your earnings exceed the salary threshold.
For 2026/27, the salary threshold is £26,900 (approx €31,000*) with repayments set at 9% of income above this amount; not 9% of your full salary.
As an example, someone earning £30,000 (€35k) would repay £23.50 per month. That's approxmiately the price of a coffee per week!
The more you earn, the more you repay. You continue make repayments until either:
- You have repaid the total amount plus interest;
OR - 25 years have passed from the date you began making repayments
*Euro conversions are provided for comparative reference only. Calculated using the European Central Bank reference exchange rate on 18 August 2026 (€1 = £0.85585). Exchange rates fluctuate.
How to Apply
Applications open in Spring
Find the Correct Form
Go to studentfinanceni.co.uk and download the correct "tuition fee only funding" form for Republic of Ireland applicants.
For 2026 entry, this is the EU26N form.
For 2027, it will be the EU27N form.
The name of the form is linked to the academic year of entry.
Complete the right sections
The form contains sections for each of the three UK regions (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Applications for student finance in Scotland is done by a separate funding body known as the SAAS and is a separate application form.
You should only complete the sections of the regions where you have applied to study.
Providing Evidence
You will be asked to supply evidence relating to your nationality and residency in order to assess your eligibility for student finance. This will include:
- An original, valid Irish or UK passport to confirm identity and nationality.
- A complete three-year address history, with no gaps, to confirm residency before the course begins.
Returning the Form
Check that every relevant section is complete, sign the declaration and include the required supporting evidence. It should be addressed to:
Student Finance Services
Non UK Team
Student Finance England
PO Box 89
Darlington
DL1 9AZ
United Kingdom
Check the return address printed on the form before posting, as addresses can change. Consider using a tracked postal service and keep a copy of your completed application and evidence.
Notification of Entitlement
What happens after you apply?
Student Finance will assess your application and may contact you if more information is needed. Once approved, you will receive a Notification of Entitlement confirming the support available to you.
Keep this confirmation and check that your personal, course and university details are correct. If anything changes, notify Student Finance promptly.
Ulster University will confirm your registration and attendance to the Student Loans Company after you enrol. The approved Tuition Fee Loan is then paid directly to the University. You do not need to transfer the money yourself.
You must make a new student-finance application for each academic year of your course. Continuing tuition-fee-only students use a different form, currently called EUPR1a, rather than repeating the new-student form.
