If you normally live in England, you can apply online for student finance for 2024 to 2025 now.
You can apply for:
- Tuition Fee Loans
- Maintenance Loans
- Maintenance Grants (only if your course started before 1 August 2016)
You can apply up to 9 months after the start of the academic year for your course.
If you’re eligible for tuition fee-only funding, you must apply by post. You can use the form finder to find and download your form.
If you need help with a further education course at a college or training provider you may be able to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan instead.
The application process is different for students from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Check how to:
Start now on the Student Finance England website
What you need to know
If you cannot use a computer without help but want to apply online, you can contact Student Finance England for help.
Apply by post
It’s best to apply online. If you cannot, use the form finder to download the application forms and guidance notes you’ll need.
Problems logging in
You can:
Part of Get undergraduate student finance: step by step
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Step 1: Check if you're eligible
- Check if you're eligible for student finance
There’s a different process if you’re a student from:
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Step 2: Find out how much loan you could get
Find out the maximum tuition fee and maintenance loan you could get if you're a:
- new full-time student
- continuing full-time student
- part-time student
- student who started before 1 August 2016
How much maintenance loan you get depends on where you'll study and your household income.
- Use the student finance calculator to estimate your maintenance loan
You'll have to pay back any loan you get.
- Find out how much you'll repay
- Find out when you'll start repaying
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and Check if you can get extra help
You might be able to get extra money if you:
- are under 25, have no contact with your parents and support yourself
- pay for childcare
- are a full-time student with children
- have an adult who depends on you financially
- have a disability, mental or physical health problem or learning difficulty like dyslexia
You might also be able to get other financial help, for example from your university or the government.
- Find out about extra help
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Step 3: Prepare your application
- Check when you can apply
- Check what ID you'll need
- Check if you need to give proof of your household income
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Step 4: Apply online
- You are currently viewing: Apply online
If you're eligible for Tuition Fee Loans, Maintenance Loans, or Maintenance Grants, you can apply online.
You'll need to create a student finance account if you're a new student or sign into an existing account if you're a returning student.
It can take up to 6 weeks to process your application. You might have to provide extra evidence.
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or Apply by post
- Apply by post
If you’re eligible for tuition fee-only funding, you must complete a form and send it by post instead. You cannot apply online.
You can also apply by post if you're unable to apply online.
It can take up to 6 weeks to process your application. You might have to provide extra evidence.
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Step 5: Update your details if your circumstances change
You must update your application if your circumstances change. For example if you:
- change your course through clearing
- change where you're going to live - for example with your parents instead of halls
- Find out how to update your application
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Step 6: Make sure you can be paid
After you register at your university or college you'll usually get your maintenance loan paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term.
Use your student finance account to:
- update your bank details - for example if you open a student account
- check how much you'll be paid
- check when you'll be paid
- Sign in to your student finance account
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Step 7: Check what to do while you're studying
You'll need to reapply for student finance for each year of your course.
You must keep your details up to date throughout your course because some changes can affect your loan payments, for example if your household income or bank details change.
- Check how to update your details
- Find out what to do if you suspend or leave your course
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Step 8: Check what to do when you stop studying
When you stop studying the Student Loans Company (SLC) will create a student loans repayment account for you.
The log in details will be the same as for your student finance account. You should check your contact details are correct.
- Sign in to your student loan repayment account
You must update your employment details if:
- you leave the UK for more than 3 months
- SLC asks you to update them
- Update your employment details
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Step 9: Repay your loan
- Find out how much you'll repay
- Find out when you'll start repaying