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Results Day Advice
What is Student Finance?
Student finance is money from Student Finance England that you can apply for in order to fund all or part of a Higher Education degree as well as your living costs during your studies which includes costs such as accommodation, food, social activities, course books and resources. You could also get extra money if you meet certain criteria.
For more information, check out the UCAS essential guides below.
At the end of the degree, a student loan is repaid to SFE based on your income at the time and is taken out like tax and national insurance from your salary. That means you do not need to worry about making payments - or missing them - and because you never see the money, you cannot miss it.
A student loan is designed to make university accessible for all students but you do not need to take out a loan if you are in a position to pay for the fees. A total of 1.5 million students currently access student finance every year!
What are the options?
There are two parts: Course fee loan and Maintenance loan.
Course fee loan is the money to cover the cost of your study. You will never see this money, it goes straight to the university.
Maintenance loan is an optional, additional loan and calculated based on household income. It will go straight to you to cover your living costs like accommodation, food, course books and equipment, and even socialising. You can top this up with part-time work if you wish without affecting this loan.
If you are classed as disabled you can also get additional funds through the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). ‘Disability’ includes mental health problems, unseen conditions (like epilepsy) and learning difficulties (such as dyslexia) as well as long-term physical conditions. You'll need to provide evidence or be assessed, but then there’s cash to pay for specialist equipment, a non-medical helper, a general allowance and travel expenses. DSA isn’t means-tested and is non-repayable. Accepting other disability related grants or support can affect whether you get DSA, so talk it over with your university or Student Finance office first.
If you’re responsible for looking after someone else while studying, you could be eligible for extra income depending on your household income. This will be money you don't have to pay back and can include:
The Parents’ Learning Allowance awards cash to students with dependent children.
The Childcare Grant helps pay for a childminder, nursery or other childcare fees.
An Adult Dependants' Grant provides cash support if you’re financially responsible for another adult, for example, as a carer. Awards are means-tested, either by your household income or the person you look after.
Both DSA and the allowances and grants for parents/carers are applied for while you apply for your other student loans.
Alternative Student Finance
If you follow a religion that does not permit interest on loans, Student Finance can be a challenge as it charges interest from day one. Student Finance England is conscious that this acts as a barrier to some students and are in the process of rolling out the ASF (Alternative Student Loan). There is currently no start date for these loans to roll out, but it is anticipated to be after the Lifelong Learning Entitlement changes in the 2026/2027 academic year. More on Alternative Student Finance can be seen here.
Other money that might be available
Bursaries, scholarships and grants all help students who need financial support get through university. Unlike your loan, none of these need to be repaid.
They're all basically the same thing (i.e. a pot of money that isn't repayable), but there are some distinctions between them. Grants typically come from government money, while bursaries and scholarships may also be funded by private companies, individuals, or anyone else who feels especially generous.
Grants and bursaries also tend to be income-dependent, while scholarships are typically based on merit (like academic or sporting achievement).
I'm an international student, a displaced student or on a dependent visa - can I get student finance?
Student finance eligibility is always dependent on the individual. However, there are some restrictions due to residency. It is always best to speak to someone at Student Finance to get an answer but generally speaking:
If you are an international student here on a study visa, you will likely have to pay full university fees without UK financial support, especially if your visa is only a temporary one.
For some dependents this is also the case. It will likely depend on how long you have been in the UK and your parent/carer information, but more information can be found here.
Refugees who have come into the UK but have been granted asylum are considered 'Home' students and will often be awarded student finance. Unfortunately Asylum Seekers who do not have a settled status in the UK are considered international students until their claim has been awarded and typically this means they are not eligible for student funds. More on all being a displaced student can be found here.
Who gets what can be a bit of a puzzle, just like finding them, as there are schemes for school students, mature students, students with disabilities or dependents, and funding for full-time, part-time higher and further education courses – and they all vary across the UK.
Sadly, there’s no unified system that helps students see what’s available from one place. But to help get you started, we’ve include a list of places to start looking right here.
The Helena Kennedy Foundation can support students with a bursary of up to £2,250, alongside ongoing support and mentoring.
To apply you must be in your final year of your college course (A-Levels/Access/BTEC) and aiming to start at HE Institution this September. You must also meet certain entry criteria.
Please speak to your Personal Tutor if you plan on applying, or contact the Careers Team.
I want to apply - what do I need to do?
Student finance is usually not open until approximately the Spring before you are meant to start your studies (usually between Feb - March), meaning you will first need to focus on getting your UCAS application in before the January deadline!
In the meantime, check what evidence you will need and the process so you are ready to make your application. You can look on their website here.
When SFE is open, head to their website to make an account and complete the necessary sections.
Provide the evidence you are requested to submit before the deadline.
Please note: you can apply for your loan without having a university place confirmed, it's better to have applied and have it sorted than leaving it too late!
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