FULL time undergraduate students in the North West are being encouraged to apply now for student finance, as the application service launches for the 23/24 academic year.

The Student Loans Company (SLC) paid over 1.5 million students more than £22bn in maintenance loans, grants and tuition fees in the last completed academic year (21/22). As students start to prepare for the upcoming academic year, the message from SLC is to submit applications as early as possible, so that their funding will be ready for the start of the new academic year.

Prospective students don’t need to have a confirmed place on a course at a University or college to make their application, as the course details can be updated at a later date.

Jackie Currie, Interim SLC Executive Director of Operations, said:- “Deciding to pursue study through higher education is a big decision for every potential student and there’s a lot to organise and manage before their course starts.  Many aspiring students will be in the middle of studying and getting themselves ready for important exams in the months ahead, which is why I highly recommend submitting a student finance application as early as possible. That way they can focus on their studies and work towards making their education goals a reality.”

Important information for prospective students:-

• There are a number of resources available for students to find out more about how to apply and about the financial support that might be available.
   
• Full information, including guides on how to apply, what funding is available and videos to help students through the application process are available at:- Gov.UK.
   
• Students can apply for Tuition Fee Loans to cover fees and Maintenance Loans to help with living costs. There is a student finance calculator to estimate entitlement:- Gov.UK/Student-Finance-Calculator.
   
• Students can also access more information and guidance on:- Gov.UK, also on:- TheStudentRoom.Com and by following Student Finance England at:- Facebook, Twitter or YouTube

Have important documents to hand:-

• Students should have their National Insurance Number and passport details to hand before starting the application.
   
• They will also be asked for bank details when applying, including the 8-digit account number and 6-digit sort code.  If the bank details change after applying, it’s quick and easy to log into their online account and update them.

Track the progress of the application:-

• Applications can take 6 to 8 weeks to process, and students do not need to contact us during this time. They can track the status of their application via their online accounts and will be notified if there are any outstanding actions they need to take.  Students can also make changes to their personal information in their online accounts.

If a student has studied before:-

• If a student has studied before it could affect their eligibility; even if the previous course was self-funded. Make sure to submit the application early so entitlement can be confirmed.
   
• If returning to study after a break, students should use the online account they originally had, rather than create a new one. The online search function can be used to locate it.

If estranged from parents:-

If a student has no contact with their parents for over a year, they may be able to apply as an estranged student. Applications from estranged students are dealt with by our dedicated team of specially trained, customer advisors to ensure that the process is sensitive to their circumstances. The evidence requirements are different too.  Read this guide to find out more.

Depending on circumstances students might be entitled to further support:-

There may be circumstances where a student is able to access some extra money, for example if they have additional needs, have children, or are studying for a medical, social work or teaching course. More information about what is available can be found here:- Gov.UK/Student-Finance/Extra-Help

Jackie added:- “The online application process only takes around 30 minutes to complete, and for most students the process will be straightforward. However, we know that some individuals may require extra support, and we have a dedicated specialist team who are ready to help guide students through their journey.”

Student finance applications for part time undergraduate and postgraduate student finance will be available later in the spring.