Higher Education Short Course Loans
Information for students on funding and how to apply for Higher Education Short Course Loans (HESC) for those living in England and taking part in the trial of HESC.
Applies to England
Overview
You may be able to borrow money to help pay for university or college tuition fees if you have been accepted onto an eligible course taking part in the trial of Higher Education Short Courses (HESC).
Higher Education (HE) Short Course Loans are only available for specific courses at specific universities or colleges.
Your university or college can confirm if a course is eligible for HESC funding.
Applications for HE Short Course Loans are now open!
You should only apply if your university or college has provided you with an offer letter.
What you can get
Tuition Fee Loan
Your university or college sets your tuition fee, and the loan is paid directly to them. You have to pay it back.
You can get funding for 30 or 40 credit short courses up to a maximum amount.
| Number of course credits | Maximum Tuition Fee Loan available |
|---|---|
| 30 credits | up to £2,310 per course |
| 40 credits | up to £3,080 per course |
You don’t have to borrow the full cost of your course, you can pay for some of it yourself.
Extra help
There is no Maintenance Loan available to support with your living costs while taking part in the HESC trial.
If you need help with study costs, speak to your university or college about the Study Support Bursary.
Maximum number of Loans
You can receive up to a maximum of 4 HE Short Course Loans and you can receive more than one at the same time.
You can either apply for all 4 HE Short Courses on the same application, or apply separately as long as you don’t exceed the maximum number of HE Short Course Loans.
Eligibility
Whether you qualify for a HE Short Course Loan depends on your:
- course
- nationality or residency status
Loan eligibility does not depend on your previous study or current qualifications held.
Course
Your course must meet the following criteria.
The course must:
- be 30 or 40 credits
- be at Level 4, 5 or 6
- start on or after 1 September 2022
- last no longer than 1 year
- be delivered by a specific university or college in England taking part in the trial of HESC.
Ask your university or college if you don’t know if your course is eligible for an Higher Education Short Course Loan.
If you’re studying a ‘Access to Higher Education’ course, you should apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.
Nationality and residency status
You can apply for a HE Short Course Loan if all of the following are true:
- you’re a UK national or Irish Citizen or have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme or indefinite leave to enter or remain so there are no restrictions on how long you can stay
- you normally live in England
- you’ve been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 3 continuous years before the first day of your course, apart from temporary absences such as going on holiday
You may also be eligible if you have a different nationality, residency status or have lived elsewhere. Find out more on our nationality and residency guidance page.
Before you apply
Before you apply for a HE Short Course Loan, it’s important to know a few facts:
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You will need to repay any HE Short course loan you borrow.
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You will be charged interest on any HE Short Course Loans you borrow. Interest will be charged from the day the loan is paid to your university or college.
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We will not pay your university or college until 2 weeks after your course starts and your attendance has been confirmed.
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You only start repaying your loan once you earn over a certain amount. The size of your monthly repayments will depend on how much you earn, not what you owe. For more information on Repayment Plan 2, read our repaying your student loan guide.
For more information on our terms and conditions, read our student loans: a guide to terms and conditions. The terms and conditions can change.
Read the student finance privacy notice to find out how the information you provide will be used.
How and when to apply
How to apply
The quickest and easiest way to apply is using your online account, you should follow these steps:
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Set up a student finance account or log in if you already have one.
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Download the digital application form, do not print and scan it.
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Complete and upload the completed form to your online account.
If you can’t apply online, download the HE Short Course Loans application and supporting form, print and send by post.
If you started your course on or after 1 September 2024
If you started your course before 1 September 2024
When to apply
Applications for HE Short Course Loans are now open.
You should only apply if your university or college is taking part in the trial of HESC and you’ve been provided with an offer letter.
It’s important to apply before your course starts.
After you apply
It can take up to 6 weeks to review your application in full. To ensure we process your application as quickly as possible, we ask that you do not contact us during this time.
Change of Circumstances
If you started your course on or after 1 September 2024
To change your loan amount. Download the ‘HESC Loan Request Form’
To make any other changes. Download the ‘HESC Change of Circumstances Form’
If you started your course before 1 September 2024
To change your loan amount. Download the ‘HESC Loan Request Form’
To make any other changes. Download the ‘HESC Change of Circumstances Form’
Contact
Telephone
Telephone: 0300 100 0085
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Closed on bank holidays
If you have a customer reference number, have it with you when you call.
Address
HE Short Courses
PO Box 5610
Glasgow
G52 9DH
Updates to this page
Last updated 24 June 2024 + show all updates
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Updated for new academic year.
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Split out sections for students who started on or after 1 September 2023 and those who started before 1 September 2023 as different forms are available.
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Added guidance for Study Support Bursary for those taking part in the HESC trial.
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Updated guidance to provide clear guidance around course eligibility. The course and provider must be taking part in the Higher Education Short Course (HESC) trial.
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Updated guidance page as applications for Higher Education Short Course Loans are now open as of 27 June 2022.
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Added guidance for previous study and current qualifications held under eligibility section
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First published.