Student Finance England - online study loan, pre-settled status, staying out of UK

Hi everyone,

I would like to ask if anyone has been in a similar situation and managed to get a loan from Student Finance England for an online master's degree.

I have pre-settled status, but currently living in Poland. I am planning to start an MSc Data Science at the University of London. My studies are fully online, but I qualify for a loan.

As far as I know, one of the main requirements of SFE is to be in the UK on the day the course starts. Have any of you found a way to meet this requirement, being in a similar situation?

I have the option of providing an address in Wales (at a friend's house), but I don't know what documents are required to prove this. For example, is a rental agreement or receipts enough? Or are other proofs needed, like a plane ticket to London?

Have any of you had experience with getting this loan while formally living outside the UK? What are the best documents to prepare to increase the chances of approval?

Thanks for any tips!

Reply 1

Stephen SLC

Official Rep

Hi Jkrasinski, for to meet the required eligibility criteria for Postgraduate support, students are required to be living in England on the first day of the first academic year of their course and remaining within the UK while studying. If you do not meet this criteria, then your application will be deemed ineligible. Thanks, Stephen.