Student Loans
Most UK and EU undergraduate students who have not been to university before are eligible for a loan from the government. You start to pay back the loan once you have finished your course and are earning over £15,000 a year.
If you are a full time UK student you can receive:
- A tuition fee loan for the full amount of your fees
- A maintenance loan to help with living costs, based on your household income.
- A range of bursaries and grants based on your household income.
If you are a full time EU student you can receive:
- A tuition fee loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees.
- A range of bursaries and grants, based on your household income.
Part time students cannot apply for a loan, but may be eligible for a grant based on your household income.
Whatever your circumstances, visit the Student Finance website for detailed information on exactly how much you can expect to receive.
Applying for a student loan
The easiest way to apply is online. Remember that you have to re-apply for your funding each year and make sure you submit your application on time.
There is one form for all your student finance, so there is no need to apply for grants or bursaries separately. Make sure you give consent for the University to see your information if you would like to be assessed for a bursary.
Is my student funding correct? Am I receiving all my funding?
Maintenance Loan (up to £4,745 for students living away from home. The loan reduces for final year students and for students living in the parental home).
Do you have previous study and not eligible for a fee loan or a grant? You may be eligible for a full Maintenance Loan. Students with previous higher education qualifications are usually not eligible for SFE funding.
Degree level NHS Nursing and Midwifery students - you should be in receipt of a reduced rate maintenance loan (up to £2,324 for students living away from home in 2011. This rate reduces for final year students and for students living in the parental home). Did you tell SFE when you applied that you are on an NHS income-assessed course?
Continuing students - did you send in the correct information to SFE? Have you given up-to-date details of your current course, the length of course the year of the course you will entering. The wrong information could mean less funding or no funding in future years. It is important that SFE know if you are repeating a year, changed courses or institutions. If your circumstances have changed, it is easy to change your details online or ask for a ‘Change of Circumstances’ for or online via the 'Make Changes to My Application' button.
Maintenance Grant (up to £2,906 depending on household income)
Did you ask for a Maintenance Grant when you applied and did you send in evidence of your household income? You can still ask for a Maintenance Grant by contacting Student Finance England and asking to be assessed on your household income. If your household income has reduced by more than 15% since you were originally assessed, you can ask for a current year assessment. The current year assessment form is downloadable from the Student Finance England website.
Independent students (over 25 years old on 1 September at year on entry on course) should be eligible for a grant and should apply straight away.
Special Support Grant
Did you request a Special Support Grant and tick the box in section 1 of the application form? The Special Support Grant is available for certain categories of student, including lone parents and student couples with children and for certain disabilities. This grant also entitles you to a full student loan which, in many cases, can result in receiving hundreds of pounds extra funding also the Special Support Grant does not get taken into account for some benefit calculations.
Other Grants and Allowances Students with dependent partners – you may be eligible for the Adult Dependence Grant (means-tested up to £2,642 per annum). Even if your partner is earning, and on a low income, you may be eligible for some extra help.
Students with children – have you applied for the Parents Learning Allowance (up to £1,508 per annum). If you are in receipt of Child Tax Credits for your child, you can claim this allowance. Did you know that you can receive Child Tax Credits for your child up to the age of 19 if your child stays in further education. You cannot claim for any child in Higher Education, studying for a higher level qualification (usually at University level) who is in receipt of his/her own funding.
Students with children (under 15 years or 17 years with special needs) requiring childcare - have you applied for a Childcare Grant (up to £148.75 for one child or up to £255 per week for 2 or more children with an approved/registered childminder). The Grant usually covers 85% of Childcare costs. You must not apply for this grant if you are receiving Childcare Allowance in your Child Tax Credits.
Student couples (over 25 on September at start of course) with children – have you each applied for the Parents Learning Allowance and Special Support Grant? You must tell Student Finance England that you and your partner are both students with child/ren. Each of you should be in receipt of a Parents Learning Allowance and the Special Support Grant.
Students with child/ren and previous study – even if you are not entitled to a student loan or grant, you may still be able to claim a Childcare Allowance and Parents Learning Allowance.
I may be entitled to some extra funding. What should I do next?
We only cover some of the most common funding issues here and, if you think you might be eligible for extra funding or you are unsure whether you are receiving the correct funding, we strongly advise you to contact Student Finance England and ask for further advice, information and application forms. Further information can also be obtained from the Government Direct website.
Student Finance England - tel: 0845 300 5090, text phone 0845 604 4434.
Website address – www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
Appointments can also be made with Student Life Financial Advisors, based in University House, by contacting 0161 295 0023. Our Advisors can also help you if you have any funding queries related any funding issue not just those mentioned here and we may be able to liaise with Student Finance to help you resolve any issues.