Get undergraduate student finance: step by step

Check if you’re eligible for student finance, find out how much you can get, how to apply and when you start repaying.

There’s different funding if you’re studying to be a doctor or dentist, social worker or if you’re a postgraduate student.

1. Step 1: Check if you’re eligible

   1. Check if you’re eligible for student finance

   There’s a different process if you’re a student from:

   • Scotland
   • Wales
   • Northern Ireland
   • Jersey
   • Guernsey
   • Isle of Man

2. 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
   • EU student
   • student who started before 1 September 2012

   How much maintenance loan you get depends on where you’ll study and your household income.

   1. Use the student finance calculator to estimate your maintenance loan

   You’ll have to pay back any loan you get.

   1. Find out how much you’ll repay
   2. Find out when you’ll start repaying

3. 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.

   1. Find out about extra help

4. Step 3: Prepare your application

   1. Check when you can apply
   2. Check what ID you’ll need
   3. Check if you need to give proof of your household income

5. Step 4: Apply

   1. 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.

6. 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
   1. Find out how to update your application

7. 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
   1. Sign in to your student finance account

8. 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.

   1. Check how to update your details
   2. Find out what to do if you suspend or leave your course

9. Step 8: Repay your loan

   1. Find out how much you’ll repay
   2. Find out when you’ll start repaying