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Loans and Grants Timetable

You will need funds to live now and to pay back tuition fees later (not Scotland) but you will be entitled to help from the government and maybe the university. Some things you know now:

  • All the universities in England, Northern Ireland and Wales will charge tuition fees of about £3,375.
  • The Scottish universities will levy fees on those coming into Scotland from the other UK countries but Scottish students will be exempt.
  • All students will be eligible for student loans, about half for a government grant; and many also for a university bursary.
In the timetable below, THEY = Student Finance England (England);Student Finance Wales (Wales); SAAS (Scotland); Student Finance Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland).

February 2011 and beyond

  • If you live in England YOU can start applying for financial support from 16 March 2011. For those of you in Northern Ireland, it is February 2011; in Wales, February 2011; and in Scotland March 2011.
  • YOU receive or request an application form for Student Support and any Guidance Notes. You can also apply online (see links to relevant country websites above) but make sure you include all the information requested.
  • YOU read booklet and return application form (keep a copy of the application form).

Spring 2011

  • Within six weeks or so, Student Finance England (English-domiciled students) will send you a letter confirming details of the financial help to which you are entitled, including how and when it will be paid. Scottish-domiciled students will receive similar information in an award notice from SAAS within three weeks of applying.
  • Be very aware of the deadline dates (Scotland 21 March, Wales 15 April, Northern Ireland 4 May, England 31 May) by which YOU must return your Application Form in order to guarantee that THEY will have your entitlement ready at the beginning of the academic year.

August/September 2011

  • YOU notify THEM if the university you will be attending is not your original first choice university.

September/October 2011

  • Make sure YOU have your Student Finance England/Wales/Northern Ireland/SAAS correspondence with you when you register at the university. The university will confirm your registration to the relevant authority. If all goes according to plan, within three days the first instalment of your loan and any grant to which you are entitled will be paid into your bank or building society account or, more rarely, for you to collect at university.
  • YOU can now start spending your loan and any grant!

Next page: Bursaries and Scholarships

Next Steps

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