EU Nationals and Student Finance in Northern Ireland

10 July 2018

EU nationals who are currently in receipt of student loans from Student Finance Northern Ireland, and EU students applying for university places in NI in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 academic years will continue to have access to student loans and certain grants, even if the course concludes after the UK’s exit from the EU.

This applies to all student finance from Student Finance NI for students in Northern Ireland for which EU nationals are eligible. This includes certain grants and loans to cover tuition fees (for those resident in the EEA for three years), loans and grants for maintenance (limited to those resident in the UK for at least three years), and some other grants and allowances.

Student Finance NI will assess these applications against existing eligibility criteria, and will provide loans and/or grants in the normal way. EU nationals, or their family members, who are assessed as eligible to receive grants and/ or loans by the SLC will then be eligible for the duration of their study on that course.

Students should consult their university’s student finance office, the Student Finance NI website or NI Direct, for information about the support available.