Student
Finance
A new way to fund your future
StepEx provides funding based on your financial future, not your past. We help cover the cost of your course fees with various plans that work for you and remain affordable in the long term.
We have two products to help assist you with your tuition fees:
- Future Earnings Agreements (FEAs)
- Payment Plans
FEAs
StepEx FEAs allow universities and bootcamps to waive tuition fees in return for a percentage of your gross income.
Good to know:
- StepEx is the first regulated provider of FEAs in the UK.
- You only make repayments when you earn above a minimum income threshold.
- The amount you pay for your course is tied to your actual earnings.
- If your salary is less than expected, then you repay less.
- If your salary is more than expected, then you repay more.
- The total amount owed is capped.
- Earn more and you can repay the loan earlier.
- Earn less and extra payments are not needed.
Payment Plans
StepEx Payment Plans allow you to split your tuition costs over several monthly repayments, without any added interest.
Good to know:
- Your monthly repayment amounts are fixed and the total amount owed is capped.
- For some products, you only make repayments when you earn above a minimum income threshold.
- For some products, you start repayments after graduating from your course.
Representative Example
FEA
- Jane needs £10,000 to finish her MBA.
- StepEx offers her an FEA of £10,000, with a maximum repayment cap of £20,000 and a minimum income threshold of £30,000.
- In 2025, Jane qualifies and begins her new job, earning more than the minimum income threshold after graduating.
- Jane repays 10% of her gross income over 5 years to pay her fees.
- If Jane was earning more, her repayments would end once a total of £20,000 is repaid (maximum repayment cap).
- If Jane was earning less or was unemployed, the agreement will end after 5 years of repayments, or after 10 years have passed since the start of the agreement.
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
Representative Example:
Payment Plan with a Minimum Income Threshold
- Jane needs £10,000 to finish her MBA.
- StepEx offers her a Payment Plan of £10,000, with a minimum income threshold of £30,000.
- Jane qualifies and begins her new job.
- As Jane is earning below the minimum income threshold in 2024, she does not need to start repaying.
- In 2025, Jane earns enough to start repayments.
- If Jane instead went for a Payment Plan without a minimum income threshold, her repayments would have started in 2024 regardless of her employment or income status.
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
Representative Example:
Payment Plan
- Jane needs £10,000 to finish her MBA.
- StepEx offers her a Payment Plan of £10,000.
- Repayments for this product start after the contract is signed. As there is no Minimum Income Threshold, repayments begin while Jane studies her course.
- In 2025, Jane qualifies and begins her new job.
- If Jane went for a Payment Plan with a minimum income threshold, her repayments would have started in 2025.
2024
2025
2026
2027
Probability of Earnings while in an FEA
A Future Earnings Agreement (FEA) is based on what you earn, so the amount you repay is not fixed. It does not have a fixed APR or interest rate like traditional debt products.
So if you earn more than expected, the amount you repay will be higher. If you earn less than expected, the amount you repay will be lowered.
Based on historic earnings data, the provides an indication of how much you are likely to repay in total for a typical course.
For example, if you borrowed £10,000 and repaid £12,000 over a 5-year period, you would have repaid 120% of the amount you borrowed.
How it works
Apply online
Fund your education
Start studying
Repay
Are you eligible?
Check the following requirements before you apply:
- Over 18
- Confirmed course acceptance
- Pass a background check
- No history of financial crime
Ready to apply for a StepEx Future Earnings Agreement?
Why StepEx?
Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
We’re fully regulated and compliant with the FCA to ensure our customers are treated fairly and have full transparency of relevant information.
Our Future Earnings Agreement is a first-of-its-kind product
Similar products, such as Income Share Agreements, exist in other parts of the world – but they’re unregulated and don’t offer consumer protection.
Partnered with top qualification providers in the UK
Our trusted partners are top qualification providers seeking to make their best courses affordable to the less wealthy majority.
Student success stories
Ready to step up with StepEx?
If you think you’re eligible, apply now or find out more.
Got a question? See our FAQs.
