Student loans

You can visit the Student Finance Direct (opens in a new window) website for more information.

We process student applications and calculate entitlement to support.

The Student Loans Company (SLC) are responsible for all loan and grant payments and repayment of loans.

Once you have made an application for support you will be sent correspondence confirming your unique eleven digit reference number (ART ID) and a separate letter confirming your internet password and secret answer. You must retain these details as you will be taken through an authentication procedure by staff when you call to enquire about your support. Where staff are unable to verify the identity of a caller, it will not be possible to discuss details of a confidential nature.

Once you have applied to your local council, the Student Finance Customer Support Office is available to answer your queries. You can contact them on 0845 6077577 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday and between 9am and 5.30pm Saturday and Sunday.

• New students who enter Higher Education are assessed under the new regulations for variable tuition fees.
• Further possible assistance for new students is a maintenance grant, bursaries, student loan for tuition fees and student loan for living costs.
• Existing students who started their course prior to September 2006 no longer have to pay their tuition fee contribution whilst they study, instead they can take out a loan for their tuition fee contribution in much the same way as the loan for living costs. 

Support for higher education - full time students 

Courses of higher education are: Degrees, Higher National Diplomas, Diplomas in Higher Education, University Foundation Degrees and Post Graduate Certificate in Education Courses.

Financial help whilst at university falls broadly into two categories:

1. Help towards tuition fees

From September 2008 universities will be charging variable fees of up to £3,145. Students will be able to take out a loan for tuition fees for the amount charged by the university up to a maximum of £3,145.

2. Help towards living and study costs

A student loan is available to eligible students to help with living expenses such as accommodation and food.

Twenty five per cent of the loan is subject to a means test of household income. Eligible students can receive 75 per cent of the full value of the loan regardless of any other income.

The maximum full loan rate for 2008/2009 is £4,625 for students living away from home, £3,580 for students who reside in the parental home and £6,475 for students studying in London.

A Maintenance Grant was introduced for new students starting their courses in September 2006. For 2008/2009 this grant is worth up to £2,835 (NB: £1,260 of this grant is paid in substitution for part of the maintenance loan) and is means tested on household income.

New entry students in 2008/2009 academic year

Eligible students will receive the maximum £2,835 grant where household income is less than £25,000. A partial grant is payable to eligible students whose household income is between £25,001 and £60,005.

Students who were new entrants in the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 academic years

Eligible students will recieve the maximum £2,835 grant maintenance grant where household income is less than £17,910. A partial grant is payable to eligible students whose household income is between £18,360 and £39,305.

Further information is contained in the booklet ‘Financial Support for Higher Education Students’ issued by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

This booklet will be distributed with application forms which will be available from our Student Finance Service and local schools, colleges and Connexions centres from mid/late March. It is important that all Higher Education students read this booklet.

Supplementary grants

Financial support available: grants for adult dependants, child care grants, parents’ learning allowance and Disabled Student Allowances (DSAs).

Calculator

Full details of the scheme and a calculator to estimate the level of the financial support can be found on the Student Finance Direct (opens in a new window) website.