- What is a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan?
- How much can I borrow?
- Do I have to borrow the full loan?
- Can I get the higher loan amount if I started before 2021/2022?
- Can I apply after my first year of study?
- Who is eligible for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan?
- Do I have to study full time?
- How do I apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan?
What is a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan?
A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan (PGDL) is a Student Finance loan for eligible doctoral degrees lasting up to eight years.
The loan is paid directly to you by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in instalments. Repayments are income-contingent and begin when your income reaches the relevant repayment threshold.
If you are studying a Master's by Research, you should apply for a Postgraduate Master's Loan instead.
How much can I borrow?
You can borrow up to £29,390.
The loan is not means-tested, so the amount you can borrow is not affected by your income or savings.
The money is paid directly into your bank account and can be used for:
- Tuition fees
- Research costs
- Living expenses
- Other study-related costs
Do I have to borrow the full loan?
No. You can choose to borrow any amount up to £29,390.
The amount you borrow will be divided into equal payments across your course, with three instalments each academic year.
Can I get the higher loan amount if I started before 2021/2022? academic year?
No. The £29,390 maximum loan amount applies to students who started their course in the relevant academic year for that funding rate.
Students who started their doctoral course in earlier academic years may be entitled to a different maximum loan amount.
Can I apply after my first year of study?
Yes. You can apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan after your course has started.
However, you can only receive funding up to the annual maximum available for each remaining year of study. This means you may not receive the full loan amount if you apply after your first year.
For example, if you apply during the second year of a three-year doctorate, you may receive less than the maximum available over the full course.
Who is eligible for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan?
Postgraduate Doctoral Loans are available to eligible UK and EU students who meet the following criteria.
Nationality
You must:
- Be a UK citizen, or
- Have settled status, or
- Be an eligible EU citizen
Residency
UK applicants must:
- Have lived in the UK for the previous three years, and
- Be ordinarily resident in England
EU applicants must:
- Have lived in the EU, EEA or Switzerland for the previous three years, and
- Be ordinarily resident in England or studying at an English university
Age
You must be under 60 on the first day of your course.
Previous qualifications
You must not:
- Already hold a PhD or other doctoral qualification
- Be applying for a loan for a course that started before 1 August 2018
Other funding
You cannot receive a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan if you are also receiving:
- A Research Council studentship
- An NHS Bursary
- Certain other government-funded support
Eligible courses
Eligible Level 8 doctoral qualifications include:
- Subject specialist doctorates
- Integrated doctorates
- Professional doctorates
- Practice-based doctorates
You must be studying a full standalone doctoral course and not a top-up qualification.
Do I have to study full-time?
No.
You can study either:
- Full-time, or
- Part-time
Your doctoral course must normally last between three and eight years.
The course length is based on the thesis submission date agreed with the University when you apply.
How do I apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan?
Step 1: Contact the University
Once you have received your doctoral programme offer, email:
doctoralcollegefinance@herts.ac.uk
Your programme must be added to the Student Loans Company course database before you apply.
Step 2: Apply to Student Finance England
Apply online through the Student Finance England website.
If you already have a Student Finance England account, use your existing account to apply.
You will need to provide:
- Course details
- Residency information
- The amount you wish to borrow
Alternatively, you can apply using a paper application form.
Application deadline
You must apply within nine months of the first day of the final academic year of your doctorate.
Important
The information you provide during your application will be used to assess your funding eligibility.
You are responsible for ensuring all information is accurate. Providing false or inaccurate information may result in your funding being withdrawn.