Full-time undergraduate students in England are encouraged to apply now for student funding, since the application department opens for the 22/23 academic year. The Student Loans Company (SLC) expects about 1.5 million full-time undergraduate students to apply for funding this year and the advice is to apply early.

Students in England can apply for tuition loans to cover their fees and maintenance loans to help cover living expenses.

By applying before the deadline (May 20, 2022 for new students and June 24, 2022 for returning students), students can ensure they will have their funding in place for the start of the academic year. Even if they don’t know what course they will take or which university they will attend, SLC always encourages students to apply now.

Applications can take six to eight weeks to process and students do not need to contact us during this time. As soon as they have applied, they can check the status of their application using the new application status tracker in their online account. This shows them what stage their application is currently at. Applicants can also view a list of all pending actions required to support their application and will be contacted by text or email if additional information is required from them.

Chris Larmer, Executive Director of Business Operations at SLC, said: “SLC exists to empower students to invest in their future through access to further and higher education. We want students to get the best possible start on their higher education journey by ensuring they have their finances in place at the start of term. This is why we encourage them to apply now for their student funding.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for students to access student funding and to support them, resources are available in line and they can follow Student Finance England (SFE) on Facebook, Twitter and instagram for all the latest student finance updates. We’ve also made it easier for students to check the status of their application using the new application status tracker in their SFE online account, and applicants can rest assured that we’ll contact them via text or by e-mail if we need more. information in support of their application.

To help students apply for student funding, SLC has put together the following tips:

• Apply early

  Apply as soon as possible to make sure your finances are in place before you start your studies. The application deadline is May 20, 2022 for new students and June 24, 2022 for returning students. Even if you don’t know which course you are taking, you should apply now using your preferred choice and you can update your application later if necessary.

• Don’t call us – we will contact you!

  Remember that processing an application can take six to eight weeks. There is no need to contact us during this time to check the status of your application. You can follow the progress of your application via our applicant tracking tool in your SFE online account. We will also let you know if you have any outstanding actions to complete. You should verify that your email address and phone number are up to date in your online account.

• Find the answer online first

  Take advantage of the information and resources provided online at https://studentfinance.campaign.gov.uk/ – these resources are continually updated to meet the needs of students, their parents and partners, as they progress through the application cycle. Students should also follow Student Finance England (SFE) on social media (Facebook, Twitter and instagram) to stay up to date with the latest information.

• Make sure you understand the amount of financing you may be eligible for

  You can apply for tuition loans to cover your costs and maintenance loans to help cover your living expenses. You can use the student finance calculator to get an estimate of how much you may be entitled to https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator

• Have your important documents close at hand

  Have your national insurance number and UK passport details to hand before you start your application, as you will be asked for this information when you apply.

• Submit your supporting documents online

  Do not forget to provide the proofs which are requested of you. All supporting documents, with the exception of certain identity documents or proof of address, can be deposited in digital form via your SFE online account.

• There may be circumstances where you can access extra money, such as if you have a disability, have children, or are studying for a medical, social work or teaching course. You can find out more about what is available here: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/extra-help

• Follow Student Finance England (SFE) on social media

  Students can keep up to date with the latest information on student finances by following the SFE Facebook, Twitter and instagram canals.