If you're a UK student and are finding applying for your student loan intimidating, read our complete guide on how to apply for student finance - including the student finance deadline and what to do if you’ve missed it.
Most students who live in the UK are eligible for student loans. These are provided by the UK government through the Student Loans Company (SLC). This body is responsible for Student Finance England and Student Finance Wales, and is a delivery partner of Student Finance Northern Ireland and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.
If you're a UK student, where you live will dictate which funding service you apply to. Other criteria will decide whether you are eligible to apply. (This blog concentrates on UK students who are planning to study full-time at university).
You can check the full criteria in the eligibility guide on Gov.uk but broadly speaking, whether you qualify for student finance depends on:
This blog concentrates on UK students who are just leaving school or college and planning to study full-time at university.
Student loans for UK students can be split into two types:
Tuition Fee Loans: these cover the cost of your teaching, as well as contributing to the upkeep of the buildings, facilities and technology you use during your degree.
Your tuition fee will depend on where you live in the UK and where you want to study. It might also vary from university to university.
For 2024 entry, fees for English students studying at an English university were £9,250 a year.
Maintenance Loans: these help cover your living costs. The amount of loan you can get will depend on your household income as well as where you live and where in the UK you'll be studying.
For 2024 entry, the maximum Maintenance Loan an English student studying in England could apply for was:
To get an idea of how much you're entitled to, use the student finance calculator.
In order to apply for student finance, you will need:
If you don't have a UK passport, or if your passport has expired and you don't have time to order a new one, you can use your birth or adoption certificate to prove your identity - there are details of how to do this on the Gov.uk website.
You will also need to provide details of your household income. After you apply, the people in your household will be asked to confirm their income.
Students living in England, apply for student finance online with Student Finance England.
You can do this by:
If you're unable to apply online, you can apply using forms. Alternatively, if you would like to know how to apply for student finance online but need a little help, you can call Student Finance England who can talk you through the process.
To make sure you get your money in time for the start of your course, you need to apply to Student Finance England by late May. Application deadlines for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may differ.
If you've missed the student finance deadline, you should still make your application as soon as possible. You will still receive financial support, as long as you're eligible. However, you may not receive the money in time for the start of term.
You can apply up until nine months after the start of the academic year, so don't panic if you're a little behind schedule. If you're quick, you may even still get your money on time.
Read our full guide to applying for student finance after the deadline.
The financial independence that comes with studying at university can feel a little scary. For some extra help, including information about tuition fees and loans, as well as scholarships, bursaries and other financial support, refer to our Undergraduate Fees and Funding hub.