Apply For Student Finance: What It Means For You

Student fees

The introduction of tuition fees has caused a great deal of confusion about the true cost of going to university. The question of student finance has become a serious issue for many potential students, with some even being put off going to university by the idea of amassing huge 'debts'.

But what is the real picture, how best to apply for student finance, and should the cost really be a concern for you?

Student loans

The first thing to understand is that no one has to pay for their fees up front. Student finance is structured in such a way that your student loan is only ever repayable when you can afford it. 

You only start to pay back student loans when you earn £27,295 or more, and then only at a rate of 9% of anything over that amount. 

UCAS student finance

Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can opt to have UCAS student finance to share their personal details and details of their course with the Student Loan Company, and to remind them when the student finance application process opens. This pre-populates your loan application form and makes applying for student finance support so much simpler. Students in Scotland can ask UCAS student finance to share their details with the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

Useful student finance links

• The UCAS student Finance section has full details of the support available to students.
• English students can find out more about student finance at the government website.
• Scottish students can find out about student finance at the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.
• Welsh students can find out about student finance from Student Finance Wales.
• Students from Northern Ireland can find out about student finance at Student Finance NI.

You can also find lots of useful lots of independent advice and guidance on student finance on the MoneySaving Expert website.