Hello,

I would like to make a question about goverement loan. According the new scheme postgraduate loans will be available for distance learning and part time Msc Programmes. I confirm you that i am resident in the EU for at least three years prior to the beginning of your course also i didnt take any loan since now. I want it to follow a distance learning programm or part time as a resident of EU (Greece) and not of UK is it any location requirement? what is your opinion?

Hi physiogr

I'm afraid the loans are only available for study in the UK. You're eligible as an EU student, but you'd have to live and study in England.

Hope that helps clear things up - lots more info in our guide:

Local british council informed me that isnt nessesary to live in england during the studies. I really dont know what really exist about this issue

Hi Physiogr

Content in our guide is all based on official information. UK students can take out a loan to study anywhere in the UK and can study abroad for up to 50% of the course. EU students can take out a loan to study in England, but must be resident there - the funding is primarily intended to support postgraduates in the UK.

Hope that helps a bit - not sure which council you've spoken to - do you mean *the* British Council? Or a branch of local government?

I spoken to the british council. Look at "goverment response to the consultation on support for postgraduate study" official PDf. Go to page 12 paragraph 16 "this will now include distance learning....conditions of the loan" it says that undertake msc study at an institution within UK but living outside england.

Yes - distance learning courses are eligible as described in the 2015 consultation response. However, the criteria for UK and EU students differ. Distance learning outside England is only an option for students who ordinarily qualify as English resident.

The most recent information on this was published by the Student Loans Company in a Residency FAQ, available here:

As per the third page:

"Do EU students need to study in England
to be eligible for PG funding?

For those EU students who have been
ordinarily resident anywhere in the EEA /
Switzerland for the past three years but
do not meet the requirements to be
assessed as English domiciled students,
must attend the course (or undertake the
course where they are distance learning)
in England."

Hope that helps clear things up.

Thank you for your time! I really appriciate it. Is it possible to follow a 2 years part time MSC from an england institution by attending all block weeks but normally living in greece and be able to take the loan? Look at the example

"Katrin is an Estonian national who confirms that she has not been living in the UK and Islands for three years prior to the first day of the first AY of the course. She gives the following address history (most recent address first): Germany: Estonia: 2 years 1 year She comes to England to start the course. She is eligible for PGL as an EU student (i.e. a non-UK EU national who has been living in the EEA / Switzerland for three years prior to the first day of the first AY of the course) as long as she is attending / undertaking the course in England."

Talking about attending the course in england not living in england.

Thank you again

Well, the example there is for an EU national who doesn't qualify as English-resident. They therefore can't study outside of England.

In terms of living outside Greece, but attending classes, I suspect you'd have to give an English residence when applying for the loan and / or the course. I don't know how rigorously this would be checked, but wouldn't advise giving any false information.

More information about the loans is gradually being confirmed - I'll send you a message if / when I hear of any changes to distance learning criteria for EU students.

Not only for distance learning but also for part time studies.
British council informed me again that i will be able to take tution loan only (no maintenance loan) and
attending classes doesnt mean be english residence.
I dont know exactly the truth.
Thank you for your time,
I am looking forward to hear you again.

I'm afraid I can't speak for the British Council, but they aren't directly responsible for these loans.

The British Council works to support international students in the UK. As part of that they administer scholarships for students from different countries - and may be able to help you secure funding as a Greek student.

The Postgraduate Masters Loans are separate to this. They're essentially a form of public funding in which the UK government lends money to UK students to help pay for their education. EU students are also eligible for the loans as a condition of the UK's EU membership.

The Masters loans don't actually come in separate fee and maintenance amounts. Students can simply borrow up to £10,000, subject to the eligibility criteria discussed.

I'm not a representative of the UK government, but I am responsible for all of the loan information on the FindAMasters website and have had meetings with the Student Loans Company. To the best of my knowledge, you'll only be eligible for a postgraduate Masters loan as an EU student if you study your Masters in England.

I'll be in touch if I hear anything else.

What if i follow A PART TIME course not distance learning and attend every study in their campus in england? For example course needa of attedance is 5 weeks per year. Im going to england only these weeks? Where is the problem if i attend the course but without be resident in england? Thank you

They may ask for a UK address. If you can give them one you will probably be ok.

Term time address as every year (is optional)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am sending you this message in response to your article regarding postgraduate student loans. I would like you to confirm if I am eligible or not. I am Greek and I live in Greece and I have never been a UK resident but I am as you can verify a EU resident. I am graduated from National Technical University of Athens and I hold a 5-year degree.

In your is written: ''Applicants will need to be UK nationals, resident in England, or EU nationals, resident in the EU.''

Yours Sincerely,

Hi DinosRetsas

I think you may actually have emailed us with this query - see my reply if so.

But to sum up - yes, you should be eligible as an EU student. The only question will be whether your 5 year degree is equivalent to a UK Masters. If it *isn't* you'll be able to get a loan.

Hope that helps a bit!

Mark