Can You Get Student Finance for a Second Degree?

When it comes to student finance, there are so many different policies, criteria, rules and regulations that it can feel impossible to keep track of them all. If you’re returning to university, this uncertainty skyrockets as there’s just not enough information out there on the subject.

In this article, we’ll clear up the confusion by providing everything you need to know about second degrees, other forms of higher education, and the student finance implications.

Keep reading to learn more about student finance for second degrees, including eligibility requirements, how it affects different situations and degree programmes, exceptions to second degree funding, and alternative funding options

Can you get another loan for a second degree?

Generally, students are only able to receive student finance for their first degree, even if this was paid for without government loans. This is known as the equivalent or lower qualification (ELQ) rule.

This rule has been in place since 2007 and means that students can’t get funding for a qualification that is at the same level or lower than one, they already have. 

However, students may be eligible for funding for another qualification if it is at postgraduate level, provided they haven’t already obtained one. Note that funding for postgraduate qualifications work slightly differently. You can learn more about it in this Think Student article. 

Learn more about the ELQ rule on this guide from the University of Nottingham.

Despite this rule, there are some exceptions. Students who paused, changed, or dropped out of their course during or at the end of their first year may still be entitled to funding for the remainder of that degree or a completely new one.

Additionally, students may be eligible for some funding even if they continued their studies after completing their first year.

This is primarily for students who:

• Suspended their studies before the end of the whole programme.
• Withdrew from their course before the end of the whole programme.
• Need to repeat a year for the same course at the same university.

Students that fit these criteria, but withdrew from, or suspended their course due to personal circumstances, such as illness or pregnancy, may be able to get full funding when they go back to university.

You can learn more about these exceptions on this page of the government website.

How is the ELQ rule changing in 2026?

The government announced in 2024 that the equivalent or lower qualification rule is set to change from the 2026-27 academic year. These changes will mean that instead of the ELQ, there will be a Lifelong Loan Entitlement (LLE) policy.

As part of this LLE policy, students will be entitled to the equivalent of up to four years’ worth of student loans, which can be used flexibly, regardless of whether it is their first degree. The loans can also be applied to a range of different higher education programmes up to bachelor’s degree level.

You can see how it is set to change and more on the LLE policy on this page of the government website.

Can you get funding for two undergraduate degrees?

As with the ELQ rule, you will only be eligible for funding to return to university if you did not complete your degree the first time around. Students will generally not be able to receive funding for a second, separate degree.

However, there are some exceptions for certain second-degree programmes that may receive limited funding. This funding will most likely still be limited, although certain official bodies, such as the NHS may offer bursaries.

We’ll look at which degree programmes may be eligible for second degree funding in the following section. Consider this page on the government website for more on this policy.

Under the LLE policy from 2026, students will be eligible for funding for two or more separate qualifications, as long as these qualifications add up to the equivalent tuition fees of four years of full-time study.

As a result, students may only receive partial funding for a second degree if both degrees are three years long, or they may not be eligible for funding at all if one of the degrees is longer than three years of full-time study.

Which courses are eligible for student finance for a second degree?

Students may be eligible for funding of an additional degree with a degree programme that is considered as a “shortage subject”. These are subjects that lead directly to careers with high demand in the UK.

Degree subjects included in this category for funding are as follows:

• Agriculture or equivalent areas.
• Certain architecture degrees.
• Biology and biological sciences.
• Computer science.
• Healthcare courses.
• Mathematics and mathematical sciences.
• Medicine and allied subjects.
• Physics and physical sciences.
• Technologies.
• Veterinary surgery and related programmes.

Some courses aren’t considered for exceptions to the ELQ, even if they are directly related. For example, paramedicine isn’t considered for second degree funding even though it is still a medicine-allied course. Learn more about this here on the NHS website.

Make sure to check whether your course qualifies for an exception before applying. These programmes may include honours degrees, joint honours degrees (if both subjects fall within the category), or integrated master’s degrees. However, these courses will most likely need to be pursued on a part-time basis.

Even with an exception, students are unlikely to receive full funding, as it is still considered a second degree. Learn more on this page of the government website.

How do you get funding for a second degree?

If you’re eligible for funding for a second degree, getting this will be very similar to how you got funding for your first one. The first thing you need to do is apply.

Applying for a student loan is usually done online but can also be done via hard-copy forms. You will need to print these off from the government website.

Applying online can be done in a few simple steps:

• Step 1: Set up an account for student finance or log in if you already have one.
• Step 2: Complete all required application forms on the site.
• Step 3: Send in your ID if needed.

This process will be largely the same if you apply by post.

The deadline for applying will be the same for all undergraduate students. Make sure that you apply as soon as possible and apply a few months before your course starts in around March.

Unlike your first degree, you will likely not be eligible for a maintenance loan, unless you did not complete your previous degree. This means you may not need to fill out means-testing forms.

Learn more about this on this page of the Arden University website.

If you withdrew from or suspended your studies due to personal circumstances, you may still be eligible for a maintenance loan and/or full tuition funding. You will need to submit evidence of this when you apply. Learn more about this on this page of the government website.

If your application is approved, you should then receive a student loan award letter. This letter will tell you how much you are entitled to and when payments will be made. It will also include other important information, such as your customer reference number for student finance, which you should review and keep. You can learn more about them in this Think Student article.

From here, your funding will most likely be paid directly to your university in termly instalments. If you’re eligible for a maintenance loan, this will be paid into your own bank account.

Learn more about the process of applying for student finance in this Think Student article.

How else can you finance a second degree?

The eligibility for second degree funding under both, the current ELQ rule, and the upcoming LLE policy is rather limited. You may find that you’re unable to get sufficient funding or even any funding at all to pay for your degree.

In this section, we’ll be looking at some of the alternative ways that you can gain funding.

Look at the following table to consider these different options based on how you can get them, as well as some links to get you started.

Learn more about these alternative forms of funding on this page from The Scholarship Hub website and this page by Save The Student.

*Please note that all information is true as of February 2025, therefore, if you are reading this at a later date, please be aware that some information may have changed.