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.

Students who are from or normally live in England If you’re a UK national, include your valid UK passport details in your application the first time you apply. If you cannot apply online, fill in the passport details form - do not send the passport itself. Academic year Form 2025 to 2026 UK passport details form 2025 to 2026 2024 to 2025 UK passport details form 2024 to 2025 If you do not have a UK passport or it has expired If you’re a UK national, you can either: upload a copy of your birth or adoption certificate to your student finance account send a copy of your birth or adoption certificate to Student Finance England by post If you’re sending your original birth or adoption certificate by post If you’re sending your original birth or adoption certificate by post, include your name and address. You should also include your customer reference number if you have one. This is an 11-digit number. You can find it on letters or emails you’ve had from Student Finance England. If you have a different nationality or you live outside the UK You need to provide details from one of the following when you apply: passport national identity card biometric residence card biometric residence permit Where to send your documents If you need to send any original documents, they’ll be returned to you within 4 weeks. Student Finance England PO Box 210 Darlington DL1 9HJ

You must provide your household income if you apply for any of the following: full Maintenance Loan Maintenance Grant - not available if your course started on or after 1 August 2016 Special Support Grant - not available if your course started on or after 1 August 2016 Childcare Grant Adult Dependants’ Grant Parents’ Learning Allowance You’ll need to provide your household income for tax year: 2023 to 2024 if you’re applying for the 2025 to 2026 academic year 2022 to 2023 if you’re applying for the 2024 to 2025 academic year After you apply, Student Finance England will ask the people in your household to confirm their income . They might need to provide evidence. What counts as household income Household income always includes income you get from your own savings, investments or property (for example dividends or rent). It may also include your parents or partner’s income. This depends on your individual circumstances. If you’re under 25 and financially depend on at least one parent Your household income includes: your parents’ income, if you live with them or depend on them financially the combined income of one of your parents and their partner, if you live with them or depend on them financially If you’re under 25 and do not financially depend on your parents Your household income does not include your parents’ income if: you have supported yourself financially for at least 3 years you have been married or in a civil partnership at any time before the start of your course you spent at least 13 weeks in the care of your local authority before you turned 16 - in this case, you might be able to apply as a care leaver you’ve had no contact with your parents for over a year - in this case, you might be able to apply as an ‘estranged student’ If you’re over 25 Your household income will not include your parents income if you are over 25, as you will be classed as an ‘independent student’ . Your household income will include your partner’s income, if you live with them (even if they spend most of their time abroad).

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: correct any mistakes relating to their household income - they can use form PFF2 tell Student Finance England if they think their household income will be at least 15% lower than the tax year they submitted details for 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 .

Student finance: how to apply

How to apply

How you apply depends on:

what type of student finance you’re eligible for
whether you’re a new or continuing student

You should check your eligibility before you apply.

If you’re eligible for a Maintenance Loan along with your Tuition Fee Loan (full support), you can apply online.

If you’re eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan but not a Maintenance Loan (tuition fee only funding), you must apply by post.

You’re a continuing student if you are:

moving on to the next year of your course
transferring onto a new course from your old course

If you’re repeating or returning to a course after taking time out for personal reasons, you may need to reapply with a letter explaining this.

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

There’s a different process if you’re from or normally live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Check:

Apply for student finance online

You can apply online if you’re eligible for a Maintenance Loan along with your Tuition Fee Loan.

New students

Follow these steps to apply online if you’re a new student:

Set up a student finance online account.
Sign in and complete the online application.
Include your household income if needed. Your parent or partner will be asked to confirm these details.
Send in proof of identity, if needed.

Continuing students

If you need help or cannot apply online

If you’re having trouble applying online, use the form finder to get the forms you need.

You can call Student Finance England if you’re eligible to apply online but you cannot use a computer without help.

Apply for student finance by post

If you’re eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan but not a Maintenance Loan, you must apply by post.

Student Finance England
PO Box 210
Darlington
DL1 9HJ

New students

You can use the form finder to find and download your form.

Your student finance account will be updated to show how much you’ll get. You’ll get an email when this is ready to view, usually within 6 weeks.

Continuing students

You’ll be sent application forms to fill in and return by post. Sign in to your student finance account to check your address is up to date.

If you’re returning to study after taking time out for personal reasons

You’ll need to reapply if you previously studied for more than a year but stopped your course because of personal reasons. This could be for things like if you were ill, pregnant, caring for someone or someone close to you died.

If you’re eligible for a Maintenance Loan along with your Tuition Fee Loan, you can apply online by signing in to your student finance account.

If you’re eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan but not a Maintenance Loan, you must apply by post.

What to include with your application

Include a letter explaining why you suspended your studies with supporting evidence.

Supporting evidence can include:

a letter from your doctor or social services on headed paper
a letter from your university or college on headed paper
copies of birth or death certificates

You might need to send more than one piece of evidence if it helps you to show why you stopped your course.

If you forgot to include the letter and evidence when you applied, sign in to your student finance account to upload it. Or, send it by post. Make sure you include your customer reference number.

Your student finance account will be updated to show how much you’ll get. You’ll get an email when this is ready to view, usually within 8 weeks.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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:
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
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
Step 3 Prepare your application
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. You are currently viewing: Find out how to apply
It can take up to 6 weeks to process your application. You might have to provide extra evidence.
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
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.
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
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
Step 9 Repay your loan
The repayment plan you're on will determine when you start repaying and how much you repay.

Student finance: how to apply

How to apply

Apply for student finance online

New students

Continuing students

If you need help or cannot apply online

Apply for student finance by post

New students

Continuing students

If you’re returning to study after taking time out for personal reasons

What to include with your application

Step 1 Check if you're eligible for student finance

Step 2 Find out how much loan you could get

and Check if you can get extra help

Step 3 Prepare your application

Step 4 Apply or reapply

Step 5 Update your details if your circumstances change

Step 6 Make sure you can be paid

Step 7 Check what to do while you're studying

Step 8 Check what to do when you stop studying

Step 9 Repay your loan

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Cookies on GOV.UK

Student finance: how to apply

How to apply

Apply for student finance online

New students

Continuing students

If you need help or cannot apply online

Apply for student finance by post

New students

Continuing students

If you’re returning to study after taking time out for personal reasons

What to include with your application

Part of Get undergraduate student finance: step by step

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

Step 2: Find out how much loan you could get

and Check if you can get extra help

Step 3: Prepare your application

Step 4: Apply or reapply

Step 5: Update your details if your circumstances change

Step 6: Make sure you can be paid

Step 7: Check what to do while you're studying

Step 8: Check what to do when you stop studying

Step 9: Repay your loan

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Step 1 Check if you're eligible for student finance

Step 2 Find out how much loan you could get

Step 3 Prepare your application

Step 4 Apply or reapply

Step 5 Update your details if your circumstances change

Step 6 Make sure you can be paid

Step 7 Check what to do while you're studying

Step 8 Check what to do when you stop studying

Step 9 Repay your loan