How do I switch from SFNI to SFE?

Hi,

I started my degree at a university in England in September 2023. Initially I received funding for my course from SFNI for the first 2 years of my course. In March 2025 my family and I permanently moved from Northern Ireland to England.

When I rang SFNI to ask about the funding for the next 3 years of my course they told me I needed to switch from SFNI to SFE. I've been struggling to figure out what exactly I'm meant to do as the SFE website has been really confusing to navigate.

If anyone has any advice on this matter it would be greatly appreciated! :smile:

Reply 1

Graeme SFE

Official Rep

Original post by mzyal21

Hi,
I started my degree at a university in England in September 2023. Initially I received funding for my course from SFNI for the first 2 years of my course. In March 2025 my family and I permanently moved from Northern Ireland to England.
When I rang SFNI to ask about the funding for the next 3 years of my course they told me I needed to switch from SFNI to SFE. I've been struggling to figure out what exactly I'm meant to do as the SFE website has been really confusing to navigate.
If anyone has any advice on this matter it would be greatly appreciated! :smile:

Hi there,

Are you continuing on the same course and university?

If so, did Student Finance NI tell you why they wanted you to apply to Student Finance England instead? It's just you'd normally continue applying with the authority you began with.

Thanks, Graeme

Reply 2

mzyal21

Original post by Graeme SFE

Hi there,
Are you continuing on the same course and university?
If so, did Student Finance NI tell you why they wanted you to apply to Student Finance England instead? It's just you'd normally continue applying with the authority you began with.
Thanks, Graeme

Hi,
Yeah I’m continuing the same course at uni. They told me I needed to me to reapply because my permanent address was in England now.

Reply 3

Drew SLC

Official Rep

HI there,

I would advise you to speak to Student Finance Northern Ireland again because even though you have moved to England permanently you are still on the same course at the same university and your funding provider should not change due to this.

Thanks, Drew