Most UK students doing their first degree can get a student loan. In the not-so-distant-past, this was only intended to cover living costs, (or ‘maintenance’ as they call it). Now that tuition fees have gone supersize - more sit-down meal than a light snack, however, you can get loans to cover those as well.
You still get 'maintenance' loans for all those necessary student expenses: hoodies, platefuls of cheese and chips and posters of 'cool' people you've never heard of.
People struggling to rub their coins together may also qualify for a grant – that's money you don't have to give back as opposed to a loan which you do. In effect, the poorer you (or your parents are) the more money the Government gives you and the less they're willing to lend you. If they're only willing to lend you the money though, they make more available to borrow.
To get loans and grants, you need to contact Student Finance England (or the equivalent bodies of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) .
Universities also have to give out extra money in the shape of bursaries, which you don't have to pay back. The Government forces all Universities charging the full £3,225 tuition fees have to give all students who receive the full maintenance grant a bursary. The minimum amount is £300 but perhaps to keep things sweet with Gordy and chums the unis are often willing to give more than that – and it's now pretty normal for universities to hand out £1,000. Sometimes, they'll give a bursary for putting them as your first choice uni or being local or being from a minority or studying a particular course. Like Henry VIII's attitude to his wives, the amount, conditions and availability differ a lot from university to university. Look at the finance sections under Push's individual university profiles to see if you are an unfortunate Anne of Boleyn or lucky Catherine Parr.
Old school bursaries, which are much like scholarships for especially clever, sporty, special types are still around too, although a lot less people get these in comparison.
All this fountainous fund action could leave a student feeling a little giddy - as well as soaked through, but alas it's always worth reminding yourself that, in the case of loans, it probably has to be paid back.
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