If you’re going into higher education, you can get financial support from the government. Apply through the Student Finance England service.

www.slc.co.uk

 

 

Full-time student finance: frequently asked questions

Use this page to find answers to common questions about full-time student finance.

I’ve not yet applied for student loans and grants. Am I too late?

No – you can apply for finance up to nine months after the academic year has started. Check with your university or college when your academic year starts as it’s not necessarily the first day of your course.

If you appy late for finance which includes your household income (such as the Maintenance Grant), you might be given an initial assessment. This doesn’t include the full amount but gives you some money at the start of term.

What level of finance will I receive?

All eligible full-time students get a basic level of financial help, but you may be entitled to more if you apply for finance which includes your household income.

Your household income may include the income of parents or partners. The amount you receive may also depend on the number of students in your household.

How do I find out what funding I'm getting?

When your application for finance is approved, you’ll receive a ‘notification of entitlement letter’. This explains what you’re getting this year.

You can also view the letter by logging in to your student finance account and going to the ‘View correspondence’ screen.

What do I need to do when I get my finance offer if I applied online?

If you’ve applied online, you’ll need to sign and return a ‘declaration form’. You can find your ‘declaration form’ on the last two pages of your ‘notification of entitlement letter’.

If you applied on paper you should have already signed the ‘loan declaration form’ as part of your application.

You can download your ‘notification of entitlement letter’ by:

1. logging into your student account
2. selecting ‘notification of entitlement letter’ in ‘View correspondence’

How do I tell Student Finance England or my local authority about changes in my circumstances?

You can update many of your details online, such as your course, bank or address details - even if you applied for finance using the paper form. You can do this by logging in to your student finance account.

When will I receive my money?

You’ll get your student loan or grant after you register on your course at the start of term. Your money will arrive in your bank account two to three days after your university sends Student Finance England confirmation of your attendance.

You can check when your loans and grants are due by logging into your student finance account and selecting ‘View payments’.

How and when will my tuition fees be paid?

If you’ve taken out a student loan to cover your tuition fees, it will be paid direct to your university or college. There are two instalments: one in February, and one in May. The first is paid once your attendance on the course has been confirmed.

I’ve sent in evidence for student finance – how do I get an update?

It takes a few weeks for Student Finance England to sort, scan and match your evidence to your application.

If you are a full-time student, you can check what’s happening with your evidence by logging into your online account and viewing the ‘Evidence’ screen.

How can I ensure my evidence does not get lost in the post?

You can post your evidence to Student Finance England using one of Royal Mail’s 'trackable' services (such as 'Special Delivery' or 'Recorded Signed For').

Getting updates - how do I check the progress of my application online?

You can check on the progress of your application by logging into your student finance account and selecting the academic year you’ve applied for.

Parents and partners - can they contact Student Finance England on my behalf?

Student Finance England can’t discuss your application with anyone else unless you give them your permission.

I’ve forgotten the login details for my online account - what should I do?

You don’t need to call Student Finance England: just request a reminder online.

You’ll get your reminder by email, so make sure you keep Student Finance England up to date with any change to your email address. To update your details, login to your student finance account.