FAQ

How do I know if I qualify for student finance?

To get the financial support mentioned on this website, you’ll need to meet certain conditions.

You must take a recognised higher education course at an accredited university or college within the UK. Usually, you have to live in England and you must have been a resident for three years.

However, the rules can be complex. To find out more, and to find routes to information if you don’t normally live in England, follow the link below.

How much will it all cost?

The two types of cost you’ll face in higher education are tuition fees and living costs.

Tuition fees vary depending on where you’re studying, when you started your course, and so on - however, the maximum that full-time students will be charged in 2008/2009 is £3,145.

Living costs include accommodation, food, household bills... to find out more about possible costs, and handy tips on budgeting - and a cost of living calculator - visit the UCAS website.

What other financial help could I get?

As well as Student Loans, non repayable grants and bursaries, you could get extra help if you:

• - have a disability,
• - have children or adult dependants,
• - get into financial difficulty while you’re studying
• - are taking an Initial Teacher Training, NHS or Social Work course

How do you repay Student Loans?

When you take out a Student Loan, you’ll only begin repaying it after you’ve left your course and are earning more than £15,000 a year.

You pay back nine per cent of your earnings over £15,000 - on an average graduate’s starting salary of £18,000, that’s around £5.19 a week.

For most people, repayments are deducted from their salary by their employer. You can also make additional repayments if you want to repay your loan more quickly.

But what if I can’t afford to pay?

Your repayments will stop if your earnings fall below £15,000 at any time (for example a career change or maternity leave), and only restart once your earnings rise above £15,000 again.

In addition, students due to start paying back their Student Loans from April 2012 will also have the option of taking a repayment break of up to five years - useful if you’re thinking of buying a home or starting a family.

Assuming you’re on track with your repayments, your debt will be cancelled after 25 years (up to 30 years if you take the full repayment break).

What if I’m not studying full time?

If you’re studying part time, financial support is available to help with fee and course costs.

Who can I speak to, to find out more?

You can find out more by contacting the Student Loans Company Customer Support Office on 0845 607 7577 - they're open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, and from 9am to 5:30pm Saturday and Sunday. You can also contact your local authority.