About StepEx
StepEx is a UK tuition-finance company. It lends to students so they can pay for a course over time, and it works with the education providers that run those courses so the finance fits the course, the fee and the intake.
Who we are
StepEx is the trading name of two companies in the same group. StepEx Lender Ltd is the lender under every StepEx finance agreement. It is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number 824928) and you can check its entry on the FCA Register. Step Exchange Ltd is the group holding company; it runs this website and the StepEx platform and provides services to education providers. StepEx is based in Saltash, Cornwall.
What we do
StepEx finances courses at participating UK education providers: universities, colleges, professional schools and training providers. The provider delivers the course. StepEx assesses the applicant, provides the credit, settles the fee with the provider and collects the repayments. Every StepEx agreement is a regulated fixed-sum credit agreement. The full cost, including every fee and charge, is shown before the applicant signs, and the applicant has 14 days after signing to withdraw from the finance.
How we work with education providers
Education providers signpost students to StepEx using financial promotions created and approved by StepEx. StepEx remains the lender of record and retains regulatory responsibility for credit. Providers decide which courses are eligible and which repayment products to offer, and keep their own admissions decisions; StepEx makes every lending decision. The model is designed to be used by providers without their own FCA permission
Who we work with
StepEx finance is available at the providers listed on our finance-availability page
Our approach to lending
- Affordability first. StepEx lends only where repayments look affordable on the evidence, and declines where they don't. Approval is not guaranteed.
- Clear before signing. Every cost is shown in pounds before the applicant commits, in a representative example and in the agreement itself.
- Support when things change. Borrowers who struggle can ask StepEx for help, and StepEx points them to free, independent debt advice.
- Credit reporting. StepEx uses Experian to assess applications and reports repayment history to it, which can help or harm a borrower's credit file depending on how they repay.
For education providers · For students · Regulatory & compliance