Student finance question re year abroad placement

I’m going on a year abroad in 2024/25 and trying to figure out if it’s worth applying for an internship. I will be in either Austria or Germany for the whole year on a likely unpaid internship.

I have no support from parents ie household income of 0 and have therefore always had the higher rate of maintenance loan. I’ve already applied when I was dead set on studying abroad and been allocated 11k.

If I were to change from studying to an unpaid internship (still on a required language degree YA) would I suddenly have my finance cut to 3k?

Additionally is there any guidelines available clearly re:sfe on a year abroad? I can only find pages relating to either regular sfe or travel grants.

Reply 1

Drew SLC

Official Rep

Hi there,

So just to confirm you will be abroad for the full academic year and will not be attending the university at any point in that academic year? There should be guidance on the Gov.UK website for a year abroad.

Thanks, Drew

Reply 2

tinos21

Original post by Drew SLC

Hi there,
So just to confirm you will be abroad for the full academic year and will not be attending the university at any point in that academic year? There should be guidance on the Gov.UK website for a year abroad.
Thanks, Drew

There’s two possibilities- one where yes I would only be interning.

The second is where I would be simultaneously taking a “course of extraordinary study” at Vienna uni (where I’m registered at a university) and also interning, again unpaid.

Reply 3

Angela SFE

Official Rep

Original post by tinos21

There’s two possibilities- one where yes I would only be interning.
The second is where I would be simultaneously taking a “course of extraordinary study” at Vienna uni (where I’m registered at a university) and also interning, again unpaid.

Hi there, To provide specific information we would advise to contact us direct so we can look into the account and options available for you. Thanks, Angela