Still need to sort out your undergraduate student loan? Don’t panic! Find out how to apply late if you've missed the student finance deadline, as well as tips to get your loan quicker, below.
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When is the student finance deadline?
If you're coming to university for the first time, you need to apply by late May in the year you're starting your degree. For returning students the deadline is in June.
These deadlines are in place to make sure you have the money you need before the start of term.
If you're a first-time student, you do not need a confirmed place at university to apply for student finance.
It doesn’t matter if you haven’t made your final choice yet, you should get your student finance application sorted as soon as possible. Leaving it too late may mean you won’t get your loan in time for your start date.
When applying, you will be asked which university and course you have chosen. Simply enter your first choice and, if your plans change, update your application with your new choice of university as soon as possible, to prevent delays.
What to do if you've missed the student finance deadline
If you have missed the student finance deadline, you should still apply as soon as you can. You can apply for student finance until nine months after the start of your academic year.
When you apply late, you do still get a student loan, but the money may not reach your account in time for your start date.
Read our full guide to applying to student finance.
How to speed up your student loan coming in
- Apply as soon as possible
The sooner you apply, the sooner your application will be processed and the funds released. If your plans change, for example, if you change your first choice university, you should update your application as soon as possible.
- Read the instructions carefully to prevent any issues with your application
If you’re applying late, it’s normal to feel pressure to rush your application. But not following the steps carefully, submitting the right evidence or filling out the criteria, can all lead to delays. Read the instructions and requirements closely to make sure you’ve provided all the required information.
- Get registered at your chosen university as soon as you can
You won’t get your student loan until you have registered at your chosen university. Registering is a simple process that’s usually online, but may differ depending on which university you have applied to.
Most universities will email you with specific instructions on how to register once you have confirmed your place. If you have confirmed your offer, but don’t know how to register, contact your academic school for help.
What to do if you don’t get your student loan in time
- Use your student overdraft
A student bank account is designed for students in higher education. Like any bank account, student bank accounts let you pay money in and out. However, one of the main benefits of a student bank account is that it offers an interest-free overdraft.
An overdraft is an emergency pot you can take money out of, to repay at a later date.
To get a student account, you will need either:
• a UCAS confirmation letter with an unconditional offer
OR
• proof of a conditional offer, and A Level results (or equivalent) to prove that you have met the conditions
- Apply for a ‘bridge loan’ from your university
Once you start your course, your chosen university is there to support you. In fact, universities have lots of services to make sure students are healthy, safe and have the money they need to get by during their studies.
If you run out of money, you can apply for a loan from your university.
At Newcastle University, short-term, interest-free, emergency loans can only be provided once per academic year. However, we do not usually offer support to students prior to them registering.
- Make an emergency budget
As a new student, it’s likely you’re quite new to budgeting. If you find you’re going to be at university for a short time without financial support, it’s best to set a budget for the money you do have.
A good place to start is to make a list of all the important payments you need to make, such as food, rent and bills.
Adding up these costs can give you a good idea of how much money you have left to cover other things, like socialising or eating out. From here, you may want to set a daily budget to stop you from running out of money before your loan eventually comes in.
If you’re a Newcastle University student struggling to budget and you need someone to speak to, you can contact our advisers at student.fin-supp@ncl.ac.uk for advice at any time during the academic year.
- Ask for help from relatives or friends
The gap between starting university and receiving your loan should only be small. If you're in a position to, you could ask family or friends to help support you if you don't receive your loan in time. Many students rely on financial support from relatives, particularly students in their first year who are just finding their feet.
For further advice and support contact our team at student.fin-supp@ncl.ac.uk.