Contact Student Finance

0844 579 1492

Calls cost 7p per minute, plus your operator’s access charge. This is a call forwarding service which will connect you directly to the official helpline.

The Impartial Guide to Student Loans

Student finance can be rather complex and as much as we’d like to bury our heads in the sand and enjoy our time at university, it’s integral to get a firm grasp of how student loans, fees and grants work.

Unfortunately it’s not always a simple case of applying for your first course and then receiving all of your entitled money, some of the help isn’t as accessible as it should be and there are often changes to rules and regulations.

With that said, you should not worry, there are ways to increase your income and enjoy many of the benefits that come with furthering your education.

Here at Student Finance Help we help guide you to the personnel that can assist and also enlighten you with many fees you probably did not realise you were allowed.

What are Student Loans?

A student loan is a loan designed specifically for students and is one that’s provided by the UK government. Those that qualify onto a university course with UCAS can then apply for one and pay the tuition fee with this amount.

Student loans have changed somewhat and those in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland will all have to apply via their own Student Finance organisation.

Each application takes six weeks and once you have qualified you will accrue a small interest amount, you do not need to pay the amount you have borrowed until you have graduated and are over a certain salary threshold.

The amount to pay back is determined on what you earn and it will be automatically retrieved by the HMRC.

How to Apply

It’s easy to apply and there’s lots of help throughout the process. When looking to complete an application you should follow these steps:

  1. Set up an online account on Student Finance England.
  2. Once your account is up and running, log in and then complete the application.
  3. You can include your household income and those who live with you will be asked to confirm.
  4. Send in your ID if asked.
  5. You’ll then receive all the information you need and will be notified on the status of your application through letter or e-mail.

Eligibility

Your eligibility for a student loan rides on a number of factors but generally if you’re a student and are in need of financial aid, you will more than likely qualify for some kind of support.

Things that affect whether you qualify for a student loan:

The University

Your loan is dependent on where you’re studying – many colleges and universities that are officially recognised will enable you to qualify for a student loan. Your university or college will need to a recognised body or listed, check here for more information and to see if your institution is listed.

Type of Course

Another key factor comes down to the type of course you have enrolled onto, it’s not about the subject but what type of qualification you’re looking to achieve.

The below courses qualify under the Student Finance guidelines:

  • BA, BSc or BEd
  • Foundation Degree
  • Certificate of Higher Education
  • Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
  • Higher National Certificate (HNC)
  • Higher National Diploma (HND)
  • Post graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
  • Initial Teacher Training
  • Integrated Masters
  • Postgraduate healthcare course

How you’re carrying out your course also makes a difference, with part–time students it counts as 25% course intensity and affects the amount that you can apply for.

Studied before?

If you’ve already utilised the loan facility offered by the UK then it’s unlikely that you’ll qualify again, sometimes even if you funded the course yourself it will still affect your chances of qualifying.

Your Age

A common misconception is that there’s a cap on the age, there is no upper age limit.

UK Residents Only

You must be a UK national, live in England and have been living the UK for at least three years before the course.

Who Else Offers Student Loans?

Typically many of the major banks steer clear of student loans as they’re reluctant to qualify students, understandably so as many are hard studying and struggling work simultaneously.

There are loan options for students outside of the orthodox solutions, there are various loans but when veering away from official student borrowing not only will you get more freedom with what you choose to spend your money on, you will endure some disadvantages that come with borrowing from these companies.

Applying for a loan is a serious protocol and should be given lots of respect and consideration prior to filling in the forms. We advise that you look elsewhere such as borrowing from family or working alongside education to fund your essentials but this isn’t always possible and that is why there are many other choices.

You can use comparison sites such as GoCompare or look towards student credit cards and bank accounts with overdraft terms.

It’s vital to note that prior to your application you should be carrying out a credit report, there are lots of free credit reports available online and you can get your credit rating. This rating will reveal how likely you are to be accepted for the credit card or loan that you’re looking for.

You should then look at the APR, the total amount payable, how much repayments will be per month and the term length. Pay day loans are there for those with bad credit but they can be very difficult to repay and have a high APR that require huge interest, you should avoid these types of financial aids unless you can pay it back within days.

Types of Loans

There are two types of student loans, one for tuition fees and one for maintenance. The first benefit is to enable you to pay for your course and the costs, the maintenance one is for everyday living- food, clothes, home essentials and anything else you wish to spend the money on.

Contacting the Student Loans Company

We do exactly what it says on the tin- we’re a student assistance team set up to help make the procedure as simple as possible. Studying itself is never easy and the added stress of money can often complicate things – but we’ve picked out many important phone numbers, places to start applying for help and lots of guides.

Our team of experts point you in the right direction as well as help you qualify for all of the financial aids that you’re entitled to.

Here at Student Finance Help we merely pick out integral numbers for scholars and act as an independent call-forwarding service. We’re all ex-students too – so we understand how frustrating the finance aspect of university can be.

What we do?

  • Find the important student phone numbers that you need for help and applications
  • Guide you with help on loans and other financial support that you’re entitled to
  • Help you with the application process with our expert (ex-student!) advice
  • Ensure that you understand the circumstances and how to find support

Tuition Fees

It’s no secret that there’s been a dramatic rise in tuition fees during the last decade. When looking for a course you may consider the price, this because some similar courses differ in cost. The most expensive courses in England are usually £9,250 per year.

Prior to your application for the course you’ll find out more about the pricing. You will also find that courses at certain universities in particular areas is more costly (for numerous reasons) but you should know that those living on-campus in London could be entitled to more money.

This is something that you should check out when finalising all of your applications and ensure that you can cover the cost of course fees and living, as the city is far more expensive than others in England.

Student’s home region Studying in England Studying in Scotland Studying in Wales Studying in Northern Ireland
England Up to £9,250 Up to £9,250 Up to £9,000 Up to £9,250
Scotland Up to £9,250 No fee Up to £9,000 Up to £9,250
Wales Up to £9,250 Up to £9,250 Up to £9,000 Up to £9,250
Northern Ireland Up to £9,250 Up to £9,250 Up to £9,000 Up to £4,160
EU Up to £9,250 No fee Up to £9,000 Up to £4,160
Other international Variable Variable Variable Variable

Complaints & Appeals

We’ve got an entire Complaints section that breaks down the process when complaining to the official finance board. It’s also possible to file an official complaint against your university if you feel there’s a shortcoming in the facilities or the course itself.

As a paying customer, and one that’s forced to pay the extortionate prices that accompany the education system in this day and age, you’re well within your right to demand the best quality.

With that said, it needs to be done for the right reasons and should be done properly. If you’re unhappy with a decision made regarding your financial status then you should go through the legitimate channels and make an appeal. You can call their department for this and express why you feel you should be entitled to a grant or maintenance amount that you did not receive.

This should not be something that you do just because you feel you deserve more, you should research and also check our entire site to find out whether you have the right to make an appeal. An appeal can be made over the phone, in writing or via e-mail, if you call their office then they’ll be able to talk you through it and figure whether you have a case or not.

You will also be privy to their expertise as they lay down the process and inform you what you’ll be expected to do next.

How to Get Support

Gaining help comes from a number of platforms and it’s a lot easier once you know who to speak to and what you’re looking for. Your university have facilities to assist you with finance and also help you work out what you are eligible to receive, you can find out more about this by personally visiting the reception at your building and asking for further detail.

We’ve also written guides to help you with your financial situation whilst also providing you with the important phone numbers and contact details that you require.

Contact Number

Rather than aimlessly calling random numbers, look up some of the grants and loans that you are able to apply for, then start to piece together your application.

Although there’s lots of information on the official websites of the borrowers, you will need to give them a call. We offer all of the contact numbers that you need, so get on the phone and give them a call, what have you got to lose?

Address

We also provide the address when possible, as you may need to know where to send your application or query.

More often that not, it’s better dealt with over the phone as you’ll receive direct feedback and will also be helped with the remaining steps of your process.

E-mail

Utilising e-mail is a great way to make the most of online communication, because it enables you to list all of your queries and then simply sit back and await a response.

What Can I Get Help With?

Our help team try their utmost to provide as much information as possible and leave no stone unturned. You can receive support when looking for financial assistance, as we break down many of the steps, how student credit works and more.

Get help with your application, additional loans, grants and finding the contact details that you require. As an independent call-forwarding service we enable you to find all of the phone numbers that you need and how to start your application process.

It could be worth giving some of the numbers listed, a call and discovering if you’re able to qualify for additional monetary support.