Moving from NI to England - SFE or SFNI?

We currently live in northern Ireland and my daughter is applying for a university course next year (2026) in England. We will all as a family be moving to England around November/December of this year (2025), but this will be after her UCAS form is submitted . Will student finance come from northern Ireland or England? Many thanks.

Reply 1

Stephen SLC

Official Rep

Hi there, has your daughter ever applied to Student Finance Norther Ireland for support previously, or will this be her 1st time applying? Thanks, Stephen

Reply 2

Bailes55

Original post

by Stephen SLC

Hi there, has your daughter ever applied to Student Finance Norther Ireland for support previously, or will this be her 1st time applying? Thanks, Stephen

Yes, she has, she was due to go to uni this year but has put off going until next year )she has to have some urgent surgery and then a friend died so she just wasn't geared up for it. She hasn't deferred her place and is doing a totally new application

Reply 3

Drew SLC

Official Rep

Hi there,

To confirm your daughter will not be moving to England for the purpose of study as you are moving as a family. She has never had funding from Student Finance Northern Ireland. Do you know if the application was cancelled?

Thanks, Drew

Reply 4

Bailes55

Yes, she phoned and cancelled finance and place offer. We will be moving after her UCAS application has been made. So would I be right in saying the finance application is not dependent upon where the application to university was made as they are separate bodies?

Reply 5

Claire SFE

Official Rep

Original post

by Bailes55

Hi there,

Student Finance England is separate to UCAS. Based on what advised we would advise she applied to us SFE for her finance. If the course is starting September 2026 this would be the 26/27 academic year. Applications for this won't normally open till February/March. Please check our website for further updates and apply as soon as applications open.

Thanks,
Claire