<P> Tuition fees are currently capped at £ 4,030 in Northern Ireland, with loans of the same size available from Student Finance NI . Loan repayments are made when income rises above £ 17,335 a year, with graduates paying back a percentage of their earnings above this threshold . </P> <P> Tuition is handled by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), which does not charge fees to what it defines as "Young Students". Young Students are defined as those under 25, without children, marriage, civil partnership or cohabiting partner, who have not been outside of full - time education for more than three years . Fees exist for those outside the young student definition, typically from £ 1,200 to £ 1,800 for undergraduate courses, dependent on year of application and type of qualification . Postgraduate fees can be up to £ 3,400 . </P> <P> The system has been in place since 2007 when graduate endowments were abolished . Labour's education spokesperson Rhona Brankin criticised the Scottish system for failing to address student poverty . Scotland has fewer disadvantaged students than England, Wales or Northern Ireland and disadvantaged students receive around £ 560 a year less in financial support than their counterparts in England do . </P> <P> Like their English counterparts, Welsh universities are able to charge up to £ 9,000 a year in tuition fees . However, Welsh students can apply for fee grants of up to £ 5,190, in addition to a £ 3,810 loan to cover these costs . This system also applies to Welsh students who study elsewhere in the United Kingdom . </P>

When did free university education start in uk