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Student Finance England: service updates
You'll find the latest information about the student finance service on this page.
Problems with the online student finance application?
UCAS – security certificates error message
If you apply for student finance online, you’ll be offered the option of copying your course details over from the UCAS website.
If you’re using Firefox or Internet Explorer, you may get a message saying that the site does not have a valid security certificate.
Please ignore this message: it’s caused by a system error, and Student Finance England is working to correct it. The online student finance application is a secure service which protects your identity.
Now fixed: problems resetting some student finance account passwords
If you use hotmail, Live or MSN and you tried to reset your student finance account password over the last week, you may not have received a reset email to your account.
There was a problem where Microsoft email accounts were blocking the reset emails. This has now been fixed.
If you still need to reset your password and secret answer, please try again and you should receive your new details by email. If your account has been locked, you can reset your password and secret answer to unlock it.
Make sure you keep your email address on Student Finance England up to date, as this is where your password reset emails will be sent.
Student finance applications for 2010/11
If you are starting - or continuing - a full-time course from September 2010, you can apply now for student finance to cover the 2010/11 academic year.
You should apply as early as possible to make sure that you get your money at the start of term. If you're a new student, you don't need to wait until you have confirmed the course you are studying.
The quickest and easiest way to apply is using the online service.
Beware of bogus emails
Some people are getting bogus ‘phishing’ emails that claim to come from Student Finance England, asking for account or security details.
Don’t follow the links in any email that claims to come from Student Finance England. Make sure you’re logging into the genuine site by typing direct.gov.uk/studentfinance into your browser.
If you receive a suspicious email, don’t disclose your details – and report it using the email address below.
If you think that someone has found out your student finance account login details, you can change them online.
Student finance applications for 2009/10
If you’ve applied late for 2009/10, every effort will be made to pay you on time - and in some cases a provisional payment will be made.
If you get an initial payment that’s less than you were expecting, it will have been made to ensure you are paid on time. Your full entitlement will be paid as soon as possible.
Make sure you're applying for the right academic year
Make sure you apply for the right academic year
If you login to your student finance account, you may see an option to apply for 2010/11 as well as 2009/10.
Make sure you choose the right option: ask your university or college if you’re not sure. For the 2010/11 academic year, the first set of courses will start from September 2010.
You can only apply for one academic year at a time. If you still want to make an application for 2009/10, make sure you do so before applying for 2010/11.
When will I get paid?
You’ll have to register with your university at the start of term. Once you have registered, your university will need to confirm your attendance to Student Finance England.
Assuming you sent a fully completed application to Student Finance England on time - including all supporting evidence - payment will then take between three and five working days to reach your bank account.
You can login to your student finance account to:
- check your scheduled payments (under ‘View Payments’)
- see your Payment Schedule letter (under 'View Correspondence')
My online account says my payment is “awaiting confirmation” or “blocked” – why is this?
If your payment is “awaiting confirmation”
If the ‘View payments’ section of your student finance account says that your payment is “awaiting confirmation”, it means that Student Finance England is waiting for confirmation from your university or college that you’re attending your course.
To get this confirmation, take your Payment Schedule letter to your university or college. Once your attendance has been confirmed, you’ll get your payment within three to five working days.
If your payment is “blocked”
Payments can be blocked at your request, or at the request of your college or university (because you’ve withdrawn from your course).
If you’re not sure why your payment has been blocked, first check that your bank details are complete and correct using your online account.
If your bank details are correct, your payment might be temporarily blocked while Student Finance England checks your National Insurance number with the Department for Work and Pensions. If this is the case, your payment status should change to “awaiting confirmation” in the near future.
If you’re still not sure why your payment has been blocked, contact Student Finance England.
When and how will my tuition fees get paid?
If you take out a student loan to cover your tuition fees, they will be paid directly to your university in two instalments following confirmation of your continued attendance. One payment is made in February, and one in May.
Will I still be paid if I have changed my course?
Yes - if you have recently changed your course or university, your new uni will confirm your attendance when you register on your course. Your first payment will be automatically processed.
You should then let Student Finance England know about the change. If you're a full-time student, do so by completing a 'CO1' form.
What does ‘applying on time’ mean - and what do I do if I’ve applied late?
Student Finance England has recommended application guidelines to guarantee payment at the start of your course.
If you applied before these dates and have supplied the evidence asked for by Student Finance England, you will be paid on time and receive the correct amount.
For the 2009/10 academic year, the application guideline dates were:
- 24 April for students who did not wish their household income to be taken into account
- 22 May for returning students who did wish their household income to be taken into account
- 26 June for new students who did wish their household income to be taken into account
Even if you did not apply by these dates, every effort will be made to pay you on time - and in some cases a provisional payment will be made.
Why does my financial assessment not take account of my household income?
While every effort will be made to pay you at the start of your course, in some cases Student Finance England may not have received your application or evidence on time.
As long as you are eligible for student finance, you will receive an initial payment - and any additional money due to you will be calculated and paid as soon as possible afterwards. This will be set out for you in a new financial assessment.
You’ll only get the additional payment once you have sent in the required evidence. If your partner or parents need to supply information in support your application, your application won’t be processed until they do so.
Review of student finance application processing for 2009/10
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Student Loans Company (SLC) agreed to delay the launch of the Student Finance England service for the 2010/11 academic year, originally scheduled for 7 December.
This was in order to consider the findings of the review of processing of applications for student support for academic year 2009/10.
Professor Sir Deian Hopkin, who conducted the review with the support of Bernadette Kenny of HM Revenue & Customs, has now presented his report. The recommendations have been accepted in full.
More useful links
Additional links
Student finance online services
