Welsh students invited to apply now for student finance
Full-time undergraduate students in Wales are being encouraged to apply now for student finance, as the application service launches for 2020 to 2021.
The easiest way to apply is online at www.studentfinancewales.co.uk and students should do so as soon as possible to ensure their funding is in place before the start of term.
Students in Wales can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to pay for tuition fees and a Maintenance Loan to help with living costs. They can also apply for a Welsh Government Learning Grant which doesn’t need to be paid back. Find out more about what is available on the 2020 to 2021 summary page.
Last year 46,000 applications were received within the first three months of the service opening, with 14,000 being submitted within the first month.
Derek Ross, SLC Executive Director of Operations, said: “The launch of the application service is one of the biggest dates in the student finance calendar. It means that students can get on with the important job of getting their student finances sorted.
“The application takes 30 minutes to complete online and for most students the process will be straightforward. However, we know that some individuals require extra support and our team of expert staff are ready to help them.”
SLC has compiled the following ‘top tips’ to help students with different circumstances get their student finances sorted in plenty of time for the new academic year.
All students should:
- Apply early
Apply as early as possible to make sure your funding is in place before your course starts. The deadline to apply is 15 May 2020 for new students and 12 June 2020 for returning students. If you don’t have a confirmed place on a course you can still apply now, just give us the details of your first choice and you can update the application later if required.
- Keep contact details up-to-date
Make sure you have provided us with an up-to-date e-mail address so we can contact you about your application if we need to.
- Have important documents at hand
Have your National Insurance number and passport details to hand before you start your application as you will be asked for this information when you apply.
If you have studied before
- If you have studied before it could affect your eligibility – even if your previous course was self-funded. Make sure to submit your application early so your entitlement can be confirmed. Find out more about previous study.
If you need extra funding
- There may be circumstances that make you eligible for more funding, for example if you are disabled, have children, or an adult who depends on you. Find out more about what extra funding is available.
If you’re not from the UK
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Check out Student Finance Wales for more information about eligibility.
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You may be asked to provide evidence of your ID and residency history. It’s important that you send this as quickly as possible so that we can process your application and confirm that you are entitled to funding.
For more information visit the Student Finance Wales website and watch the Student Finance Explained video. You can also follow Student Finance Wales on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all the latest news and information.