Student finance

Hello! What banks/places are the best place to apply for student loans/finance? I’m new to all this and I’m not entirely sure where to start.

Reply 1

username7144506

Original post by em.shel

Hello! What banks/places are the best place to apply for student loans/finance? I’m new to all this and I’m not entirely sure where to start.

If you don't have a debit card, apply for a student debit card in a bank branch or online. I've heard Santander is good.

Once you've got the card and it is activated, you will need to apply for student finance online on the government's website.

Reply 2

em.shel

Original post by hairyswordsman

If you don't have a debit card, apply for a student debit card in a bank branch or online. I've heard Santander is good.
Once you've got the card and it is activated, you will need to apply for student finance online on the government's website.

Thanks. What if I have a debit card and an account already? Should I just make another new account?

Reply 3

username7144506

Original post by em.shel

Thanks. What if I have a debit card and an account already? Should I just make another new account?

You can use that account if you already have one. Student debit cards have some perks if that interests you. I still use a regular debit card and I'm surviving uni easily money-wise.

Reply 4

em.shel

Original post by hairyswordsman

You can use that account if you already have one. Student debit cards have some perks if that interests you. I still use a regular debit card and I'm surviving uni easily money-wise.

Thank you!

Reply 5

martin7

Original post by hairyswordsman

If you don't have a debit card, apply for a student debit card in a bank branch or online. I've heard Santander is good.
Once you've got the card and it is activated, you will need to apply for student finance online on the government's website.

You don't need to have a student account to apply for student finance. In practice most university applicants will be submitting their student finance applications well before any bank will allow them to open a student bank account.

Reply 6

martin7

Original post by em.shel

Hello! What banks/places are the best place to apply for student loans/finance? I’m new to all this and I’m not entirely sure where to start.

If you're a UK student planning to start your course this year (i.e. in September/October), then you need to start your student finance application as soon as possible. You've already missed the deadline to have the funding in place for the start of your course -- you will still get funded, but you might only get the minimum maintenance loan until the your application has been fully assessed.

You apply through Student Finance England if you live in England; through Student Awards Agency Scotland if you live in Scotland; through Student Finance Wales if you live in Wales; or Student Finance NI if you live in Northern Ireland.

Start here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-online-for-student-finance

Once your university place is confirmed, you'll be able to apply for a student bank account. You can do this with your current bank -- it's likely they'll convert your existing account into a student account -- or you can apply to one of the other banks that offers a student account.

Note that if you open a student bank account, the bank will expect your maintenance loan to be paid into that account, and that you use that account as your "main or only" current account.

Quick Reply

Latest

Trending

Articles for you

Living costs - what's available

Postgraduate Master's Loan - How to Apply

Postgraduate Doctoral Loan - How to apply

Postgraduate Master’s Loan

Try out the app

Continue on web

Student finance

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Articles for you