Advice to students applying for a student loan for 2020/21

The Student Loans Company is still processing applications from students seeking financial support for higher education or university as normal however, as the online application system has been experiencing occasional pressure, they are asking students to apply at less busy times of the day.

They have also stopped actively promoting the deadline for Academic Year 2020/21.

Key messages for full-time students remain the same:

• students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to ensure their finances are in place for the new academic year

• the later students apply for their finance, the more likely it is that they may not get all the funding they are entitled to when their first term starts

• the quickest and easiest way for students to apply is through their online account at the Student Finance England online application pages

• if new students are not yet sure of the course they will be doing, they should still apply for finance using the details of the course they are most likely to attend, and if this changes, they can come back and update their finance application

• students should apply as early as they can and send any evidence that is requested to support their application as soon as possible

• they'll need their National Insurance number and in-date UK passport details, as well as their bank account details

Please continue to reflect these key messages in your advice and publicity to new Academic Year 2020/21 students.