how and when to apply

The quickest and easiest way to apply for finance if you’re studying full time is online. To apply online you need to set up a student finance account, complete your application online and send in any supporting evidence.
Full-time students: apply for student finance
Full-time students can apply for student loans, grants and bursaries by completing an application form online for the 2010/11 academic year.

If you can’t apply online contact Student Finance England who’ll provide you with a paper application form.

Students will be able to apply online for 2011/12 in early 2011.

Register, login and apply online for student financeContact Student Finance EnglandFull-time applications: what you need to doStudent finance service updates


Get the latest information on student finance services

Service updatesRegister with Student Finance England
New, full-time applicants need to register with Student Finance England before applying online.

When you register, you’ll get a Customer Reference Number (formerly known as an ‘ART ID’).

If you’ve already registered, or you’ve begun an application before - even if you didn’t complete it - you will already have a Customer Reference Number or ART ID.

If you apply on paper, you won’t need to register for a student finance account. You’ll be sent a Customer Reference Number so you can access your student finance account and check on the status of your application.

Register, login and apply online for student financeAlready registered? Find out your Customer Reference Number or security details Opens new windowAccess your student finance account
Once you’ve registered, use your Customer Reference Number and security details to log in to your student finance account and apply online.

Once you've completed your online application, you'll need to sign and return an ‘online declaration' form.

You can download a copy by logging into your student finance account. Once you've logged in, select 'view correspondence' to get a personalised online declaration.

Your student finance account: passwords and Customer Reference NumbersSupplying evidence
Whether you’re applying online or on paper, don’t forget to provide the documents you’re asked to supply as evidence.

If you don't, your application won’t be processed and your payment could be delayed.

Submitting evidence to support a student finance applicationDownload evidence needed for student finance applications for 2010/11 (PDF, 137K)Provide your National Insurance Number
You must provide your National Insurance Number as soon as possible - preferably when you complete your application. Your payments won’t be released until you do.

If you don’t have a National Insurance Number, your first payment may still be released - if you can prove that you are actively trying to get one.

If you have completed an application without your National Insurance Number, you can add it by logging into your student finance account and selecting ‘Update my profile’.

Login to your student finance accountChanging your application
If you've changed your course choice since you made your application for student finance, you must let Student Finance England know as soon as possible. This is to ensure that you receive the right amount of support, and that your Tuition Fee Loan is paid to the right university or college

Student finance: if your course, income or family circumstances changeHow your application is assessed
If you’ve applied for parts of the finance package that depend on household income, the information you (and your parents or partner) have supplied will be assessed to determine how much you get.

Applying for finance: income assessment for full-time studentsIncome assessment for full-time students: families with more than one studentWhen do you get your payments?
Get the latest on your payments

Login to your student finance account to:

•check your scheduled payments (under ‘View Payments’)
•see your Payment Schedule letter (under 'View Correspondence')
Login to your account Login to your student finance account Opens new window Once your application has been assessed, Student Finance England will approve your payments. You’ll get a Payment Schedule Letter - take this to your university or college so they can confirm that you’re attending the course.

As soon as Student Finance England receives this confirmation and verifies your National Insurance Number, your payments will be released. Assuming you sent in a fully completed application on time - including all supporting evidence - payment should take between three and five working days to reach your bank account.

In general, grants and the Maintenance Loan are split into three payments over the year. Payments to help with tuition fees are paid directly to your university or college.

Part-time students
There’s a different application procedure for part-time courses (except for Initial Teacher Training courses that started in 2009/10 or earlier). Follow the relevant link below to find out more, and download a form

Finance for part-time students - applying for the first time Finance for part-time students - applying after your first yearAppealing against a decision on your application
If you think there has been a mistake in the decision on whether you’re entitled to student finance - or on how much you get - you can ask for it to be reviewed.

Student Finance England handles applications for new students starting a course from the 2009/10 academic year onwards. Download the booklet ‘how to appeal’ for guidance on appealing against a decision made by Student Finance England.

If you started in 2008/09 or earlier, contact your local authority to find out how to appeal.