Applying for student finance

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What you need to know

If you're entering higher education, you can receive financial support from the government.

To do this, you need to apply through the Student Finance England service.

Student finance: getting help with the costs of higher education

There’s no need to wait until you've been offered a place on a degree course to find out what student finance you could be entitled to.

If you're planning on studying full-time, use the Student Finance Calculator to get an estimate in advance.

It’s important you apply as early as possible – this means you can get on with planning your time at university or college.

Applying for student finance – full-time students

New and continuing students can currently apply online for the 2010/11 academic year, though you can also apply on paper for 2010/11 or 2011/2012.

To apply online for full-time finance, or support an online application, you must first register with Student Finance England.

As well as applying for student finance, you can also use your online account to:

  • keep your bank details and contact details up to date
  • keep track of any letters and statements you have been sent
  • see payments that have been sent to your bank account.

Click here to register, login and apply online for student finance

Where can full-time students get financial help from?

If you’re studying full-time, the main sources of help are:

  • student loans and grants from the government
  • bursaries from your university or college

Student loans from the government

All eligible students can get help with tuition fees and living costs through student loans.

You’ll be able to take out two student loans for each academic year:

  • a Tuition Fee Loan - to cover your tuition fees in full
  • a Maintenance Loan - to help with accommodation and other living costs. Be aware that how much you get depends on your household income.

Repaying student loans

You will have to pay back your student loan, but you don’t have to start making repayments until you’ve finished your course and are earning over £15,000.

Once your salary reaches this threshold, you’ll pay back 9% of whatever you earn over £15,000.

Help with living costs - Maintenance Grant and Special Support Grant

For 2010/11, around 40 per cent of new students are expected to qualify for the full Maintenance Grant, with many more obtaining a partial grant.

Certain groups of students are entitled to get the Special Support Grant instead of the Maintenance Grant.

Bursaries

Bursaries are an additional avenue of financial help from your university or college.

If you're paying maximum tuition fees and getting the full Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant, you are entitled to at least a minimum bursary payment.

However, you will find that most universities will give you more than a minimum bursary.

Many universities also offer bursaries to students receiving a partial Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant.

Grants and bursaries do not have to be repaid.

Extra help

You may qualify for extra help on top of student loans, grants and bursaries if you’re disabled, or you have a mental health condition or specific learning difficulty.

If you have a child or an adult dependant, you may qualify for an additional grant or allowance.

Part-time students

The main sources of financial help for part-time students are usually different from those available to full-time students.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to apply for the part-time Fee Grant and Course Grant.

How much you are entitled to depends on your household income and personal circumstances.

The main sources of government-funded help for lower income part-time students are:

  • the Fee Grant - to help with tuition fees
  • the Course Grant - to help with study costs, such as text books, stationary, materials and travel.

The maximum Fee Grant you can get is based on how 'intensive' your course is, i.e. how long it takes to complete compared to the equivalent full-time course.

For the most intensive courses, the maximum available through the Fee Grant and Course Grant combined is £1,470 for 2009/10, or £1,495 for 2010/11.

If you’re getting certain benefits, you’ll qualify for the maximum automatically.

Otherwise, how much you can get depends on your personal circumstances and household income.

Any help you get through the Fee Grant or Course Grant doesn’t have to be paid back.

Extra help

You may qualify for extra help if you’re disabled, or you have a mental health condition or specific learning difficulty.

Initial Teacher Training, social work and NHS courses

The sources of financial help available may be different for certain NHS healthcare, social work and Initial Teacher Training courses.

  • Finance for NHS and social work courses
  • Financial help for Initial Teacher Training: undergraduate courses

I'm not sure I'm eligible - what do I do?

Unfortunately, not everyone is eligible for student finance.

It depends on whether you and your course meet certain conditions.

For example, eligibility can be affected by the country you’ve been living in, and your course must lead to a recognised higher education qualification.

Check if you're eligible.

What if I’m not from England?

This guide aims to help prospective university students from England. The amount of help available and how to apply for it is likely to be different if you’re from outside of England.

Go to the Directgov guide to student finance for non-English students to find out more information.