Apply online for student finance

If you’re a student from England you can apply online for the following academic years:

  • 2021 to 2022
  • 2020 to 2021

You can apply for:

  • Tuition Fee Loans
  • Maintenance Loans
  • Maintenance Grants (only if your course started before 1 August 2016)

You can apply up to 9 months after the start of the academic year for your course.

If you need help with a further education course at a college or training provider you may be able to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan instead.

The application process is different for students from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Check how to:

Start now

What you need to know

If you cannot use a computer without help but want to apply online, you can contact Student Finance England for help.

EU students

If you’re an EU student applying for 2021 to 2022, how you apply depends on the type of support you want.

If you’re applying for tuition fee support and help with living costs, you can apply online now.

If you’re applying for tuition fee support only, you can apply by post now.

Apply by post

It’s best to apply online. If you cannot, use the form finder to download the application forms and guidance notes you’ll need.

Problems logging in

You can:

Part of Get undergraduate student finance: step by step

  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:

  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

    1. You are currently viewing: 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 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.

    Make sure your contact details are up to date in your repayment account. The log in details will be the same as for your student finance account.

    1. Sign in to your student loan repayment account
    2. Update your employment details

  10. Step 9 Repay your loan

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