Get undergraduate student finance: step by step
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-31)

Check if you're eligible for a student loan, find out how much you can get, how to apply and when you start repaying.

Check if you're eligible for student finance

If you’re from England or outside the UK, check if you’re eligible (/student-finance/who-qualifies)

There’s a different process if:
- you’re from Scotland (http://www.saas.gov.uk/)
- you’re from Wales (http://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/)
- you’re from Northern Ireland (http://www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/)
- (you’re from Jersey (https://www.gov.je/working/skillscareershighereducation/studentfinance/Pages/home.aspx)
- you’re from Guernsey (http://www.education.gg/article/2127/Funding-for-University))
- you’re from Isle of Man (https://www.gov.im/student-grants)
Find out how much loan you could get

You may be able to apply for:
- a Tuition Fee Loan to help pay your course tuition fees
- a Maintenance Loan to help with your living costs
Find out how much you could get if you’re a:
- new full-time student (/student-finance/new-fulltime-students)
- continuing full-time student (/student-finance/continuing-fulltime-students)
- part-time student (/student-finance/parttime-students)
- student who started before 1 August 2016 (/student-finance-for-existing-students)
How much Maintenance Loan you get depends on where you’ll study and your household income.

Use the student finance calculator to estimate your Maintenance Loan (/student-finance-calculator)

You’ll have to pay back any loan you get.

Find out how much you’ll repay (/repaying-your-student-loan/what-you-pay) Find out when you’ll start repaying (/repaying-your-student-loan/when-you-start-repaying)

Check if you can get extra help

You might be able to get extra money if you:
- are under 25, have no contact with your parents and support yourself (https://www.ucas.com/money-and-student-life/money/student-finance/student-finance-england/finance-independent-students#estranged)
- pay for childcare (/childcare-grant)
- are a full-time student with children (/parents-learning-allowance)
- have an adult who depends on you financially (/adult-dependants-grant)
- have a disability, mental or physical health problem or learning difficulty like dyslexia (/disabled-students-allowances-dsas)
You might also be able to get other financial help, for example from your university or the government.

Find out about extra help (/student-finance/extra-help)

Prepare your application

Check when you can apply (/apply-for-student-finance/when) Check what ID you’ll need (/apply-for-student-finance/proof-of-identity) Check if you need to give proof of your household income (/apply-for-student-finance/household-income)

Apply or reapply

You can apply online or by post depending on the type of student finance you’re eligible for.

If you apply in the wrong way, it could delay your application.

Find out how to apply (/apply-for-student-finance)

It takes 4 weeks to process your application. You might have to provide extra evidence.

Update your details if your circumstances change

You must update your application if your circumstances change. For example if you:
- change your course through clearing
- change where you’re going to live - for example with your parents instead of halls
Find out how to update your application (/apply-for-student-finance/change-an-application)

Make sure you can be paid

After you register at your university or college you’ll usually get your Maintenance Loan paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term.

Use your student finance account to:
- update your bank details - for example if you open a student account
- check how much you’ll be paid
- check when you’ll be paid
Sign in to your student finance account (/student-finance-register-login)

Tuition Fee Loans are paid directly to your university or college.

Check what to do while you're studying

You’ll need to reapply for student finance for each year of your course.

You must keep your details up to date throughout your course because some changes can affect your loan payments, for example if your household income or bank details change.

Check how to update your details (/apply-for-student-finance/change-an-application) Find out what to do if you suspend or leave your course (/student-finance-if-you-suspend-or-leave)

Check what to do when you stop studying

When you stop studying the Student Loans Company (SLC) will create a student loans repayment account for you.

The log in details will be the same as for your student finance account. You should check your contact details are correct.

Sign in to your student loan repayment account (/sign-in-to-manage-your-student-loan-balance)

You must update your employment details if:
- you leave the UK for more than 3 months
- SLC asks you to update them
Update your employment details (/repaying-your-student-loan/update-your-employment-details)

Repay your loan

The repayment plan you’re on will determine when you start repaying and how much you repay.

Check which repayment plan you’re on (/repaying-your-student-loan/which-repayment-plan-you-are-on) Find out how much you’ll repay (/repaying-your-student-loan/what-you-pay) Find out when you’ll start repaying (/repaying-your-student-loan/when-you-start-repaying) Find out how to repay (/repaying-your-student-loan/how-you-repay)