NDA part-time undergraduate degree students are eligible for a student loan to cover the entire cost of their tuition fees. There are no upfront fees to pay. If you are not a previous NDA student please wait until you have been offered a place on your course before applying for your student loan.
At NDA we know that for many potential students to study at university, even part-time, is just not an option. Many are juggling home & family commitments alongside part-time or full-time work. Many creative and talented people would like to turn their hobby into a career in design—but finding the time to study and pay tuition fees makes this seem impossible.
This is why NDA offers online, flexible, affordable design degrees. With a student loan to cover the entire cost of their degree, NDA students can study without having to worry about tuition fees. Student loans are not based on income or means tested and most students in England will qualify. This means that the Government pays your tuition fees and you only start repayments when you can afford to do so—when you are earning £25,000 per year or more. (£27,295 if loan taken out before 1st August 2023).
From 1st August 2023 all new Higher Education starters will be on ‘Plan 5’.
The new repayment threshold is now £25,000 per year. (previously £27,295).
This threshold will increase in the future in line with inflation, therefore your earnings will be higher before repayments commence.
| Annual income before tax | What you’ll repay each year | |
|---|---|---|
| Repayments are 9% of your income ABOVE £25,000 | ||
| £24,000 | You don’t pay | |
| £26,000 | £90/year (9% of £1,000) | |
| £35,000 | £900/year (9% of £10,000) | |
| £50,000 | £2,250/year (9% of £25,000) | |
For more information see Martin Lewis’ excellent Guide to Part Time Student Loans at the Money Saving Expert website.
You can also visit the Student Finance England website—although the information is not all in one place and you will have to click onto different sections of the website.
Student finance eligibility is different if you live in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland:
You can also find more information on the De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) website here.
From course information to application support, our support team are always here to help.
Driven by a shared vision: to empower the next generation of designers, innovators, and tastemakers.
The National Design Academy is part of the NDA Foundation.
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The National Design Academy is part of the NDA Foundation.
© National Design Academy