How to Apply for Student Finance

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

It's now time to apply!

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 have made your final course decisions and your offer has become unconditional on UCAS. This will ensure your application has been assessed and the money you are entitled to is available for when you start your course.

New students should apply before 31 May 2012 to ensure they have their finance for the start of term.

Continuing students should apply before 29 June 2012 to ensure they have their finance for the start of term.

Please also ensure that you register for updates on our new Calendar to keep you updated on important information about applications.

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; and a
• What, when and how to repay checklist;

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

Remember, to have your finance in place for the start of term the date you must apply before is 31 May 2012 for new students and 29 June 2012 for continuing students.

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. Student Finance England will ask for your parents' or partner's National Insurance number and financial information on your application and will check this automatically with HM Revenue and Customs. If financial evidence is requested to support your application please send photcopies of this evidence, not originals. If you are asked to send evidence to Student Finance England please send this as soon as possible to ensure there are no delays to the processing of your application. Make sure you include your customer reference number on all evidence you send to SFE.

You don't need to send Student Finance England your UK Passport – simply provide your UK passport number and they'll automaitcally check your identity 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 will be sent a Student Finance Entitlement letter. This will show you exactly what finance you are entitled to and how much money you will 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.