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The short answer
Yes, usually. GOV.UK lists people with settled status, which includes indefinite leave to remain, alongside UK and Irish nationals as able to get a Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan, provided their home is in England and they have lived in the UK for 3 years before the first day of the first academic year. Previous higher education can limit what you get.
Many Nigerians who came on work visas reach settlement and then want to retrain, finish a degree they started at home or move into a new profession. ILR changes your position with Student Finance England, but it is not the only test. This page goes through each one, using what GOV.UK says as at October 2026.
The residence test
For a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan, GOV.UK says UK nationals, Irish citizens and people with settled status must:
- have their home in England, for Student Finance England (Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own bodies)
- have been continuously living in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for 3 years before the first day of the first academic year of the course
Temporary absences such as holidays do not break that 3 years, GOV.UK says. Long periods back in Nigeria are a different matter: if you spent much of the last 3 years away, expect to be asked about it.
Example
Example: Tunde arrived on a Skilled Worker visa in March 2021 and got ILR in May 2026. His course starts in September 2026. He has lived in the UK for more than 3 years before the start, so the residence condition is met on the dates, even though he only became settled months before. What matters for this test is the 3 years of living here and his settled status, not how long he has been settled.
Some residence rules also look at whether your time in the UK was mainly for full-time education. GOV.UK's summary page does not set this out, so if you arrived as a student and later switched to work, check the full residence guidance or the student finance checker before you rely on eligibility.
The previous study test
GOV.UK says you usually get student finance only for your first higher education qualification. A Nigerian degree can count here. If you already hold a bachelor's degree from a Nigerian university, Student Finance England may treat a second undergraduate course as an equivalent or lower qualification, with limited or no funding.
GOV.UK lists exceptions where limited funding may be available:
- topping up an HNC, HND or foundation degree to an Honours degree
- holding an Honours degree or higher and starting a course in certain listed subjects
- some healthcare courses starting on or after 1 August 2017
- returning after stopping a course in the first year
Nurses and midwives who trained in Nigeria and want a UK conversion or postgraduate route should read the listed-subject rules closely.
Age and other points
- There is no upper age limit for Tuition Fee Loans or grants, according to GOV.UK.
- People aged 60 or over may get limited Maintenance Loan funding for full-time courses that started on or after 1 August 2016.
- GOV.UK notes that courses starting on or after 1 January 2027 follow changed rules. If your course starts then, check the updated guidance.
If you are not settled yet
If you are still on a Skilled Worker visa, GOV.UK lists study among the things you can do on that visa, so a part-time course alongside your sponsored job is not barred by the visa itself. The catch is money: without settled status you would normally fall outside the loan rules above, and universities usually charge international fees to students who do not qualify for home fee status. Ask the university's admissions or fees team how it will classify you before you accept a place.
Some people choose to wait. If your ILR application is due within a year, starting the course after the grant can make the difference between paying fees yourself and having a loan. Weigh that against the cost of delaying a career move, and remember the 3-year residence clock already counts your years on a visa.
How repayment works in practice
A student loan is repaid through the UK tax system once your income passes a threshold set by the government, and the threshold and rate depend on which repayment plan applies to your course. Those figures change and differ by plan, so check the current ones on GOV.UK when you apply rather than relying on a figure someone quotes. Moving back to Nigeria later does not cancel the loan; check the Student Loans Company guidance for borrowers overseas before you go.
Steps
- Confirm your ILR shows on your eVisa and keep the decision letter.
- Count your years of UK residence back from the first day of the course.
- List every higher education qualification you hold, including Nigerian ones.
- Run the GOV.UK undergraduate student finance checker.
- Apply through Student Finance England and upload evidence of status.
For background on how ILR works, see our ILR fees guide; if you are a nurse, our NMC fees guide covers what registration costs.
Where Pryme fits
A student loan pays fees and living costs; it does not fund family obligations at home. If you will be studying and still supporting relatives, a Pryme account keeps your GBP and NGN apart, and Swap shows the rate and fee before any conversion. The Personal Assistant can keep a budget on track through term time.
Student finance and immigration rules are information here, not advice. Student Finance England makes the final decision.
Questions people ask
Does ILR count as settled status for student finance?
Settled status in this context includes indefinite leave to remain. GOV.UK lists settled status with UK and Irish nationals for loan eligibility, subject to the 3-year residence rule.
I got ILR last month. Can I apply this year?
Possibly. The test looks at 3 years of living in the UK before the course starts, plus your status. If you have lived here 3 years, recently granted ILR may be enough; check with the student finance checker.
My Nigerian degree: will it stop my loan?
It can. GOV.UK says funding is usually for your first higher education qualification. There are exceptions for some subjects and healthcare courses.
Is there an age limit for a UK student loan?
GOV.UK says there is no upper age limit for Tuition Fee Loans. Maintenance funding is limited for people aged 60 or over.
Sources
- Student finance: who qualifies (GOV.UK) · accessed Oct 2026
- Skilled Worker visa (GOV.UK) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.