Website of the UK government

Finance for new students starting in 2008/2009

If you’re starting a full-time higher education course in 2008/2009, the main types of financial help you may be able to get are:

• a Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant - worth up to £2,835
• a Student Loan for Tuition Fees to cover your fees in full (up to £3,145)
• a Student Loan for Maintenance - worth up to £4,625 if you live away from home, or more if you study in London (though the maximum you can get is reduced if you’re getting higher levels of help through the Maintenance Grant)
• a bursary from your university or college

How do you apply for student finance?

Student finance applications close nine months after the start of the academic year. But if you’re still able to apply for the 2008/2009 academic year, you can do so by completing form PN1 (the application form for new students).

To get a copy of the 2008/2009 version of form PN1, contact your local authority – or the Student Loans Company, if they’re handling applications for your area.

• Contact your local authority (student finance applications) Opens new window

• More on applying for student finance

Want to know more about the help you can get?

Student Loans, grants and bursaries

All eligible students are entitled to a minimum level of support, but how much you get depends on your household income - and some other factors, like where you live while you’re studying.

To find out more about Student Loans, grants and bursaries, follow the links below.

• Student Loans

• Maintenance Grant: help with living costs

• Bursaries, scholarships and awards

Getting extra help

You may be able to get extra help on top of Student Loans, grants and bursaries if you’re disabled or you have a specific learning difficulty or mental health condition.

Extra help may also be available if you have a child or adult dependant.

The Access to Learning Fund can provide help for students on low incomes who get into financial difficulty.

• Financial help for disabled students (disabled people section)

• Childcare Grant and other help for students with children

• Adult Dependants' Grant

• Access to Learning Fund: extra help if you need it

How do you know if you’re eligible for student finance?

Not everyone is eligible for the type of financial help described on this page.

Both you and your course need to meet certain conditions - for example, you must meet some residency requirements, and your course must lead to a recognised higher education qualification.

• Eligibility for student finance

• Student finance: not from England

More useful links

• Download guide to financial support for higher education students 2008/2009 (PDF, 339K)

• Download Student Loans: a guide to terms and conditions 2008/2009 (PDF, 241K)

• Benefits for higher education students with low incomes (money, tax and benefits section)

• Student finance: what parents and partners need to do