Student Loans Company
Whats available?
You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees and a Maintenance Loan for living costs. We also offer extra support if you have children or an adult who depends on you financially, or you have a disability, a long-term health condition, mental health condition, or specific learning difficulty.
What happens if you apply near the start of your course?
Apply for student finance as soon as you can
Its important to apply for student finance as soon as possible. The quicker you apply, the sooner we can assess your application and pay you.
To make sure you have some funding in place near the start of your course well award you a minimum amount of funding first. You dont need to call us, this is normal.
Youll get more money if youre entitled to it once weve processed your household income details. This can take around 6 to 8 weeks.
Applying for funding based on household income
If youre over 25, youll be considered an independent student.
You can also be considered independent if youre under 25 and:
- care for a child
- have supported yourself financially for three years before your course starts
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- youre a care leaver or youre estranged from your parents
- you have been married or in a civil partnership at any time before the start of your course
How much funding youll get as an independent student depends on your own circumstances and household income.
If youre married, in a civil partnership or living with a partner, well ask for details of your partners income as part of the application process.
The rules are different if youre under 25. Find out more about how household income affects your funding.
Cost of living
The current cost of living pressures might be a cause of stress, anxiety, or financial strain. Use our cost of living guide to make sure youre getting the maximum student finance support youre entitled to and to find any extra support you may need during your studies.
Your living costs will differ depending on where and what youre studying. Its also important to consider lifestyle and financial commitments. Find out what living cost funding is available
Applying for extra help
Theres extra help available if youre a student with children or dependent adults, or if you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or learning difficulty.
Students with children or dependent adults can apply for:
If youre eligible for extra financial help, this will be awarded once weve assessed the household income part of your application. So, it might not be in place until after the start of your course.
These applications can take a bit longer to process, which means by applying late you might need to self-fund things like childcare at the start of your course. Once your application has been approved, any extra funding will be backdated.