Student finance: how to apply

Skip contents

When to apply

You can apply online for student finance for 2025 to 2026.

You can still apply for funding up to 9 months after the first day of the academic year for your course.

Course start date Apply by
Between 1 August and 31 December 31 May after your course started
Between 1 January and 31 March 30 September after your course started
Between 1 April and 30 June 31 December after your course started
Between 1 July and 31 July 31 March after your course started

You do not need a confirmed place to apply.

If you’re late applying

You might get less money than you expected if you apply close to the start of your course or after it has started.

This is because you’ll be given the minimum amount of funding, to make sure you have at least some money close to the start of your course.

You’ll be paid anything else you’re owed later, once Student Finance England have checked your household income.

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

    You may be able to apply for:

    • a Tuition Fee Loan to help pay your course tuition fees
    • a Maintenance Loan to help with your living costs

    Find out how much 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. You are currently viewing: 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 or reapply

    You can apply online or by post depending on the type of student finance you’re eligible for.

    If you apply in the wrong way, it could delay your application.

    1. Find out how to apply

    It takes 4 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

    Tuition Fee Loans are paid directly to your university or college.

  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 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

  10. 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