Student finance: how to apply

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Change an application

You must say if any details in your application change. You’ll need to report some changes yourself. Your parents, partner or sponsor will need to report others.

Changes you must report

You must tell Student Finance England if:

  • you’ve changed your course, university or college
  • you’re repeating a year
  • you’ve changed your name or marital status
  • your Tuition Fee Loan amount has changed
  • you’re living somewhere new

If the year you applied for has started

Ask your university or college to tell Student Finance England if you change or repeat your course or change your Tuition Fee Loan.

You’ll still need to contact Student Finance England yourself if you’ve changed your name or marital status or you’re living somewhere new.

How to report changes to Student Finance England

How you report changes depends on whether you:

  • study full-time
  • study part-time
  • receive tuition fee-only funding

There’s a different process if you’ve changed your name or marital status.

If you’re a full-time student

Use your student finance account to tell Student Finance England about changes.

If you’re a part-time student

You’ll need to fill in form CO2 to tell Student Finance England about changes.

Use your student finance account to send the form to Student Finance England, or send it by post. The address is on the form.

If you receive tuition fee-only funding

You’ll need to fill in form EUCO1 to tell Student Finance England about changes.

Send the form to Student Finance England by post. The address is on the form.

If you’ve changed your name or marital status

You must write and tell Student Finance England if you’ve changed your name or marital status. The letter must include:

  • your customer reference number
  • the date
  • your signature
  • evidence that you’ve changed your name or marital status

If you’ve changed your name, you must include a copy of one of the following with your letter:

  • marriage certificate
  • final or conditional order
  • decree absolute
  • change of name deed poll

If you’ve changed your marital status, you must include a copy of one of the following with your letter:

  • marriage certificate
  • final or conditional order
  • decree absolute
  • civil partnership final order

Use your student finance account to send the letter and evidence to Student Finance England, or send it by post

Student Finance England
PO Box 210
Darlington
DL1 9HJ

If you cannot provide the right document, contact Student Finance England.

Changes your parents, partner or sponsor must report

If your household income changes

Your parents or partner must:

If your parents or sponsor have another child

Your parents or sponsor must tell Student Finance England if they have any more children. They can use form PFF2.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of Get undergraduate student finance: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if you're eligible for student finance

    1. If you’re from England or outside the UK, check if you're eligible

    There’s a different process if:

  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:

    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:

    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 online

    1. 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.

  6. or Apply by post

    1. 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.

  7. 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. You are currently viewing: Find out how to update your application

  8. 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

  9. 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. You are currently viewing: Check how to update your details
    2. Find out what to do if you suspend or leave your course

  10. 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.

    1. 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
    1. Update your employment details

  11. Step 9 Repay your loan

    The repayment plan you're on will determine when you start repaying and how much you repay.

    1. Check which repayment plan you’re on
    2. Find out how much you'll repay
    3. Find out when you'll start repaying
    4. Find out how to repay