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Applying for student finance
For full-time students, the quickest and easiest way to apply for Student Loans, grants and bursaries is to do it online. If you’re a new, full-time student you can apply for finance as soon as you've made your course application.
How to apply
It’s best to apply as soon as possible - but you can still apply up to nine months from the first day of the academic year.
You’ll need to make a new application for each year of your course.
Full-time students: apply for student finance
Late applications
Even if you apply late, your application will be processed as quickly as possible – and Student Finance England may make provisional payments where necessary.
The main student finance application lets you apply for Student Loans and grants from the government - and, in many cases, a bursary from your university or college.
You can also indicate whether you want to apply for some forms of extra help - for example, because you’re disabled, or you have children or an adult dependant.
Registering with Student Finance England
New, full-time applicants need to register with Student Finance England before applying online.
If you have registered before, or begun an application (even if you didn’t complete it) you will already have a Customer Reference Number - formerly known as an ‘ART ID’.
Accessing your student finance account
Once you’ve registered, you’ll have a Customer Reference Number and security details: use these to log in to your student finance account and apply online.
Applying on paper
It’s also possible to apply for 2009/2010 using a paper form.
Full-time applications: when to apply
Applying before the start of the academic year
It’s best to apply well before the start of the academic year: apply for finance application as soon as possible after you’ve made your course application.
If you apply late, your application will be processed as quickly as possible. Assuming you’re eligible, Student Finance England can consider making a provisional payment at the start of the academic year. They may be willing to do so if you’ve applied too late for your first payment to be ready at the beginning of term.
If you’re given a provisional payment, any additional money due to you will be calculated and paid as soon as possible afterwards.
Applying after the start of the academic year
You can still apply for student finance for up to nine months after the start of the year.
Full-time applications: what happens next?
Changing your application details
If you’re a full-time student, use form CO1 to report a change in your application details.
Supplying evidence and changing your application
Don’t forget to provide the documents you’re asked to supply as evidence - not doing so could delay your application.
If you’ve changed the course you’re planning to do since you made your application for student finance, there’s no need to worry: you’ll still get paid and you don’t need to re-apply. But you should let Student Finance England know about the change.
How your application is assessed
If you’ve applied for parts of the finance package that depend on household income, the information you (and your parents or partner) have supplied will be assessed to determine how much you get.
Part-time students
The procedure is different if you’re doing a part-time course.
There’s a different application procedure for part-time courses (except for Initial Teacher Training courses). Follow the relevant link below to find out more and download a copy the application form for part-time students.
Appealing against a decision on your application
If you think there has been a mistake in the decision on whether you’re entitled to student finance – or on how much you get – you can ask for it to be reviewed.
Student Finance England handles applications for new students starting a course from the 2009/2010 academic year onwards. Download the booklet ‘how to appeal’ for guidance on appealing against a decision made by Student Finance England.
Open university courses and NHS, social work or TDA bursaries
There are separate application procedures for Open University courses - and for some forms of additional financial help like NHS bursaries, social work bursaries and TDA bursaries for postgraduate Initial Teacher Training students.
Applying for 2008/2009?
This page contains information about the 2009/2010 academic year.
If you’re applying for 2008/2009, see ‘Finance for full-time students starting in 2008/2009’.
More useful links
Additional links
Student finance online services
