How to apply for student finance

If you're starting a higher education course or you're an existing student continuing your education in the 2009/10 academic year, you may be entitled to financial support.

The types of financial support available includes grants, burseries and loans. You can find what you might be entitled to and apply at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance.


Who will deal with your application
If you're starting a full time higher education course or you're an existing student in the 2009/10 academic year, the way your application for financial support is dealt with has changed. Depending on your circumstances, your application will either be dealt with by Student Finance England or by our Student Support Section.


Students whose applications will be dealt with by Student Finance England

• All new students starting in 2009/10
  For example, if you are studying for an honours' degree, foundation degree, higher national Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) or Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
• Students who have applied in the past but did not receive any funding
• Students who have taken more than a two-year break from their course
• Students who withdrew permanently from a course and now want to start a new course. (Not those who are just transferring from one course to another)
• Students who did a higher education course in the past, and now want to take another course of higher education
• Students who are starting another 'end on' course, such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or have already done a foundation degree or HND and now want to take an honours degree

Students whose applications will be dealt with by our Student Support Section
You must have started your current course during or before the 2008/09 academic year, have been found eligible to receive funding and are:

• Continuing on to the second, third or fourth year of your course of study. This includes you if your foundation year is integrated as part of the degree course - check with your university if you are not sure; or
• Transferring to another course as part of a single course of study; or
• Transferring from one course to another - in the same or a different Higher Education Institution - but not if that is another 'end on' course such as PGCE or was an HNC, HND or DipHE or an honours degree course after taking a foundation degree, you should apply to Student Finance England
  

Need more advice?
If you need more advice go to www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance or contact Student Finance England.