Tuition fees total calculator
Set the yearly fee and the number of years to see the total tuition across a course, and how much of it the tuition fee loan covers. England caps full-time fees at £9,790 a year.
That yearly fee is above the £9,790 England cap, so the loan is limited and the rest is self-funded.
How the total is worked out
Tuition is charged per year, so the total is simply the annual fee multiplied by the number of years on the course. A standard three-year degree at the England cap comes to three times £9,790. Change the fee or the length and the total moves straight away, which makes it easy to compare a three-year and a four-year course, or a placement year.
The tool then shows how the tuition fee loan sits against that total. For a fee at or below the £9,790 cap, the loan can cover the whole amount and is paid directly to the university, so nothing is paid upfront. If a fee is above the cap, the loan is limited and the difference shows as an amount to fund yourself. Remember this covers fees only, not living costs.
Worked example
Take a three-year course at £9,790 a year. The total tuition is £29,370. Because the fee is at the cap and you take the tuition fee loan, all £29,370 is covered and paid to the university on your behalf, leaving £0 to fund yourself. You repay that loan later through your payslip, not during the course.
Common questions
How much are tuition fees in the UK?
Full-time tuition in England is capped at £9,790 a year, so a three-year course is about £29,370 in total. Fees can be lower at some providers and for some courses, but few charge less than the cap for a standard degree.
Do I have to pay tuition fees upfront?
No. Most eligible full-time students in England take a tuition fee loan that is paid straight to the university, so no money changes hands upfront. You only repay later, through your payslip, once you earn over the repayment threshold.
Does the tuition fee loan cover the whole fee?
For a standard fee at or below the cap, yes, the tuition fee loan can cover the full amount. If a course charges above the cap, or you are not eligible for the full loan, the difference has to be paid another way, which the tool shows as the self-funded amount.
Is tuition the only cost of university?
No. Tuition is the fee for teaching. Living costs, rent, food and travel, are separate and usually add up to more than the fees over a course. A maintenance loan helps with those, but rarely covers them in full.
Does a longer course cost more in fees?
Yes. Fees are charged per year, so a four-year course costs a full extra year of tuition compared with three. The tool multiplies the annual fee by the number of years, so changing the course length changes the total directly.