How to apply for student finance

TSR Wiki > Student Finance > How to apply for student finance

Apply online now- the final deadline is approaching!

New and continuing full-time students should apply now for 2012/13 student finance. The best way to apply is online – it's quick, easy and secure. Simply go to:

www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

You can apply for student finance for 2012/13 before you've made your final course decisions and your offer has become unconditional on UCAS. This'll ensure your application is assessed and the money you're entitled to is available when you start your course.

The final deadline for new full-time students to apply for 2012/13 student finance is 31 May 2012.

Continuing full-time students should apply for 2012/13 student finance before the final deadline of 29 June 2012.

Need help applying?

Student Finance England has a range of interactive and downloadable tools to help you apply for finance.

o Handy checklists for your notice board or fridge including
• Key dates checklist for new students;
• Key steps to applying for Disabled Students’ Allowances;
• What, when and how to repay checklist; and a
• How to apply for extra financial help to support you and your dependants ;

o Use the Student Finance Calculator to find out how much you can get;

o Watch Student Finance England’s selection of 'how to' films for advice on a range of topics such as ‘how to set up an online account’, or ‘what to do if your circumstances change’. Or even check out their myth-busting film;

o Use Student Finance England’s downloadable guides for:
• New full-time students
• Continuing full-time students
• Students with a disability
• and students with children or adult dependents

Have your finance in place for the start of term- new students apply before 31 May 2012 and continuing students apply before 29 June 2012.

To get regular updates, you can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

• facebook.com/SFEngland
• twitter.com/sf_england
• youtube.com/studentloanscouk

What evidence/documents do I need to send?

When applying you won't be asked to send Student Finance England (SFE) any financial evidence up front. SFE will ask for your parents' or partner's National Insurance number and financial information on your application. They'll then check this automatically with HM Revenue and Customs. If financial evidence is requested to support your application please send photocopies of this evidence, not originals. If you're asked to send evidence to SFE please send this as soon as possible to ensure no delays when processing your application. Make sure you include your customer reference number on all evidence you send to SFE.

You don't need to send SFE your UK Passport – simply provide your UK passport number and they'll check your identity automatically with the Identity and Passport Service.

Continuing students who did not apply for finance based on their household income should wait to hear from SFE as they may not need to re-apply. Student Finance England will contact them by the end of February 2012.

When will I find out what I am eligible to receive?

When your application has been assessed you'll be sent a Student Finance Entitlement letter. This'll show you exactly what finance you're entitled to and how much money you'll receive. If you applied online, this letter will include a declaration form that you must sign and return to Student Finance England.

You need to save this letter along with your other official UCAS and university letters and take it to registration in autumn 2012.