Northern Ireland Student Loans: Lowest Fees, Plan 1 & Fastest Write-Off
Understanding Northern Ireland's distinctive student finance system with the UK's lowest tuition fees and shortest repayment period
In this article
Northern Ireland operates a unique student finance system featuring the UK's lowest tuition fees for home students (£4,855), Plan 1 repayment terms, and the fastest loan write-off period at just 25 years. This combination makes Northern Irish graduates potentially better off than their counterparts in England, Wales, or Scotland, despite receiving lower maintenance support.
Administered by Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI), part of the Student Loans Company, the Northern Irish system provides maintenance grants up to £3,475 for lower-income households and maintains the original Plan 1 loan structure that England and Wales abandoned in 2012. With tuition fees approximately half those charged in England and a 25-year write-off, Northern Irish students face significantly lower lifetime debt burdens.
Northern Ireland's Key Advantages: Tuition fees of just £4,855 (vs England's £9,250), Plan 1's 25-year write-off (shortest in UK), and maintenance grants up to £3,475 create the lowest total debt burden outside of Scotland.
Northern Ireland Student Finance Overview
Northern Ireland's student finance system has remained relatively stable since 1998, maintaining Plan 1 loan terms and modest tuition fees while the rest of the UK underwent significant reforms. This stability has created unique advantages for Northern Irish students.
Northern Ireland's Distinctive Features
- Lowest UK tuition fees: £4,855 for Northern Irish students studying in NI (2025/26)
- Plan 1 repayment terms: Only UK nation still using the original Plan 1 system
- 25-year write-off: Shortest loan cancellation period in the UK
- Maintenance grants: Up to £3,475 for households earning under £19,203
- Lower maintenance support: Maximum £6,776 loan (less than England, Wales, Scotland)
- Republic of Ireland option: Special provision for studying in ROI with student contribution loan
Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI)
SFNI is a partnership between the Student Loans Company and the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy. SFNI serves:
- Students ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland
- Residents who have lived in NI for at least 3 years before course start
- Northern Irish students studying anywhere in the UK or Republic of Ireland
NI 2025/26 Funding Summary
| Support Type | Studying in NI | Studying in GB | Studying in ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Tuition Fee | £4,855 | £9,535 | €3,000 (contribution) |
| Tuition Fee Loan Available | Up to £4,855 | Up to £9,535 | Up to €3,000 |
| Max Maintenance Loan (Away) | £6,776 | £8,132 (£11,391 London) | Varies |
| Max Maintenance Grant | £3,475 | £3,475 | £3,475 |
| Repayment Threshold | £26,065 (2025/26) | ||
| Write-Off Period | 25 years | ||
Northern Ireland's Lower Maintenance Support:
NI students receive less maintenance support than peers from other UK nations. An NI student studying in Manchester receives max £8,132/year while an English student gets £10,544, Welsh gets £12,345, and Scottish gets £11,400. This "maintenance gap" is a significant disadvantage of the NI system.
Lowest UK Tuition Fees: £4,855 in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's £4,855 tuition fee cap for home students represents less than half what England charges (£9,250), making NI the most affordable UK nation for tuition fees after Scotland's free tuition.
Why Are NI Tuition Fees So Low?
Northern Ireland chose not to follow England's 2012 tuition fee reforms that tripled fees from £3,000 to £9,000. Key reasons include:
- Political consensus to maintain accessible higher education
- Concerns about student debt burden on Northern Irish graduates
- Lower average incomes in Northern Ireland compared to rest of UK
- Devolved education policy allowing distinct approach
The "NI Discount": Fee Comparison
3-Year Undergraduate Degree - Tuition Fees Only:
- Northern Ireland (studying in NI): £14,565 (£4,855 × 3 years)
- England: £27,750 (£9,250 × 3 years)
- Wales: £27,000 (£9,000 × 3 years)
- Scotland (Scottish students): £0 (covered by SAAS)
- Scotland (NI students): £28,605 (£9,535 × 3 years)
- NI saves £13,185 vs England!
Studying Outside Northern Ireland
If a Northern Irish student chooses to study in England, Wales, or Scotland, they pay the higher fees charged by those institutions (up to £9,535), not the NI rate. However, they can still access tuition fee loans up to the amount charged.
The NI Fee Paradox:
NI students from Belfast pay £4,855/year at Queen's University Belfast, but would pay £9,535/year at University of Edinburgh. English students from London pay £9,250/year at Queen's or £9,250/year at Edinburgh. This creates strong incentives for NI students to stay home.
University Funding in Northern Ireland
The low tuition fees create funding challenges for Northern Irish universities. To compensate for the tuition fee gap, NI universities:
- Receive direct government block grants
- Charge higher fees to students from England, Scotland, and Wales (£9,535)
- Actively recruit international students who pay premium fees
- Lobby for increased tuition fee caps (unsuccessful so far)
Plan 1 in Northern Ireland: Repayment Terms
Northern Ireland is the only UK nation where all students - past and present - have Plan 1 loans. While England and Wales moved to Plan 2 in 2012 and England to Plan 5 in 2023, Northern Ireland has maintained the original Plan 1 system.
Northern Ireland Plan 1 Parameters (2025/26)
- Repayment threshold: £26,065 per year (£2,172 monthly, £501 weekly)
- Repayment rate: 9% of income above the threshold
- Interest rate: Lower of RPI or Bank of England base rate + 1% (currently 4.3%)
- Write-off period: 25 years after the April you became eligible to repay
- Write-off at age: 65 for loans taken before 2006/07
- Repayment start: April after you leave or complete your course
NI Plan 1 Repayment Examples
NI graduate earning £30,000/year:
- Income above £26,065 threshold: £3,935
- Annual Plan 1 repayment: 9% of £3,935 = £354.15
- Monthly deduction via PAYE: £29.51
NI graduate earning £40,000/year:
- Income above £26,065 threshold: £13,935
- Annual Plan 1 repayment: 9% of £13,935 = £1,254.15
- Monthly deduction via PAYE: £104.51
Plan 1's 25-Year Write-Off Advantage
Northern Ireland's 25-year write-off period is the shortest in the UK:
- Northern Ireland (Plan 1): 25 years
- Scotland (Plan 4): 30 years
- Wales (Plan 2): 30 years
- England (Plan 5): 40 years
For NI graduates who don't fully repay their loans, this 5-15 year shorter repayment window compared to other nations means thousands of pounds saved. A graduate making £30,000 saves £5,312 over the shortened repayment period compared to Scotland's 30 years.
NI Plan 1 Interest Rates
Northern Ireland uses the same interest calculation as Scotland's Plan 4: the lower of either RPI or Bank of England base rate plus 1%. As of September 2025, this results in:
- Current RPI: 3.2%
- Bank of England base rate + 1%: 5.75%
- Applied Plan 1 rate: 3.2% (the lower)
This is significantly lower than England's Plan 2 maximum of RPI+3% (6.2%) for high earners, benefiting NI graduates who take longer to repay.
Northern Ireland Maintenance Grants
Northern Ireland provides maintenance grants to students from lower and middle-income households, reducing the amount of repayable debt they carry. Unlike Wales's universal minimum grant, NI grants are only available to households earning under £41,065.
NI Maintenance Grant Eligibility
Maintenance Grant Tiers (2025/26):
- Household income £19,203 or less: £3,475 maximum grant
- Household income £19,204-£41,065: Tapered grant (reduces as income increases)
- Household income over £41,065: £0 grant (loan only)
How NI Grants Reduce Loan Amounts
Important: Receiving a maintenance grant reduces your available maintenance loan. However, you receive the same total support - just with less repayable debt.
Example 1: Household income £19,000 (living away from home)
- Maintenance grant: £3,475 (non-repayable)
- Maintenance loan: £3,301 (repayable)
- Total support: £6,776
- Only repay £3,301 (49%)
Example 2: Household income £50,000 (living away from home)
- Maintenance grant: £0
- Maintenance loan: £6,776 (repayable)
- Total support: £6,776
- Repay full £6,776 (100%)
Special Support Grant (SSG)
NI offers a Special Support Grant for students in specific circumstances:
- Lone parents
- Students aged 60+ at course start
- Students with disabilities receiving certain benefits
- Students eligible for income-related benefits
SSG Advantage:
Unlike the maintenance grant, the Special Support Grant (same amount up to £3,475) does NOT reduce your maintenance loan entitlement. If eligible, you get both the full SSG and full maintenance loan - significantly more total support.
Additional NI Support
Beyond standard grants and loans, NI students can access:
- Parents' Learning Allowance: Extra support for students with dependent children
- Childcare Grant: Help with registered childcare costs
- Disabled Students' Allowances: Non-repayable support for disability-related study costs
- Travel costs: For medical/dental students on clinical placements
Northern Ireland vs Rest of UK
Northern Ireland's combination of low tuition fees, Plan 1 repayment terms, and 25-year write-off creates unique trade-offs compared to other UK nations.
Total Debt Comparison (3-Year Degree, Studying at Home)
Low-Income Household (£19,000/year):
- Northern Ireland: £14,565 tuition + £9,903 maintenance = £24,468 total debt
- Scotland: £0 tuition + £21,000 maintenance = £21,000 total debt
- Wales: £27,000 tuition + £12,735 maintenance - £1,500 cancellation = £38,235 total debt
- England: £27,750 tuition + £30,000+ maintenance = £57,750+ total debt
Lifetime Repayment Comparison
Graduate earning £35,000 across UK nations:
| Nation | Plan | Annual Payment | Write-Off | Max Total Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N. Ireland | Plan 1 | £804.15 | 25 years | £20,104 |
| Scotland | Plan 4 | £202.95 | 30 years | £6,089 |
| Wales | Plan 2 | £693.45 | 30 years | £20,804 |
| England | Plan 5 | £900 | 40 years | £36,000 |
Northern Ireland's Advantages
- Lowest tuition fees in UK (after Scotland's free tuition): £4,855 vs England's £9,250
- Shortest write-off period: 25 years vs England's 40 years
- Lower interest rates than England's Plan 2 maximum
- Maintenance grants reduce repayable debt for lower-income students
- Significantly lower total debt than England or Wales
Northern Ireland's Disadvantages
- Lower maintenance support than other UK nations (£6,776 max vs Wales £12,345)
- No universal minimum grant (Wales gives everyone £1,000)
- Lower threshold than Scotland (£26,065 vs £32,745) means repayments start sooner
- Still pay tuition fees (unlike Scottish students in Scotland)
- Limited postgraduate support compared to Wales
Studying in Republic of Ireland
Northern Irish students have a unique option unavailable to other UK students: accessing student finance to study in the Republic of Ireland (ROI).
ROI Student Contribution Loan
In the Republic of Ireland, students don't pay tuition fees but instead pay a "student contribution charge." For 2025/26, this is €3,000 (approximately £2,570).
NI Student Finance for ROI Study:
- Student contribution loan: Up to €3,000 to cover the charge
- Maintenance support: Same grants and loans as studying in UK
- Repayment terms: Same Plan 1 terms (£26,065 threshold, 25-year write-off)
- Combined with UK loans: ROI contribution loan combines with any UK undergraduate loans
Why NI Students Choose ROI
- Lower "fees" (€3,000 vs £4,855 in NI or £9,535 in GB)
- Geographic proximity (Belfast to Dublin: 2 hours)
- Cultural and historical connections
- Access to EU universities post-Brexit (transitional arrangements)
- Quality institutions (Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin)
ROI vs NI vs GB: Total Cost Comparison
Northern Irish Student - 4-Year Degree (ROI degrees typically 4 years):
- Studying in ROI: €12,000 (≈£10,280) contribution + £20,000 maintenance = £30,280 total
- Studying in NI: £14,565 tuition + £20,328 maintenance = £34,893 total (3-year degree)
- Studying in England: £27,750 tuition + £24,396 maintenance = £52,146 total (3-year degree)
Post-Brexit Note: EU students (excluding Irish nationals) no longer receive the same support as NI students when studying in ROI. The student contribution loan for ROI study is specifically for NI-resident students, maintaining the historic Belfast-Dublin educational corridor.
Calculate Your Northern Ireland Loan Repayments
Use our Plan 1 calculator for accurate NI student loan projections
Dr. Lila Sharma
UK Education Policy Specialist
With over 15 years of experience in UK education policy and student finance, Dr. Sharma founded Student Loan Calculator UK to help students navigate the complex world of student loans.