If I want to apply for a loan on my own without including my parents as co-applicants, is that possible in UK/Ireland?

You can absolutely apply for a personal loan in the UK or Ireland without bringing your parents in as co-applicants or guarantors. Lenders judge you purely on your own profile: your age, your income, and your credit history through agencies like Experian or Ireland's Central Credit Register. Where this changes is with student or private education financing, which more often expects a guarantor if you lack a credit history.

What Lenders Check for an Independent Loan

When Parents Still Get Involved

• Government student finance often factors in household income until you turn 25, unless you are legally independent.
• Private student or professional loans for postgraduate study often need a guarantor if you have no established credit history.
• Mortgages remain solo-possible, but a low income or deposit often pushes young buyers toward family-boost or guarantor mortgage schemes.

My Advice

Run a soft-search eligibility check with two or three lenders before you formally apply, since a hard credit check without one can dent your score. If a standard personal loan will not cover your full education costs, ask lenders directly whether their private student loan product accepts you without a guarantor given your specific income and credit history.