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After you apply for full-time student finance
Once you’ve completed your student finance application, there are a few things that need to happen before you get your payments.
Making your application for student finance
You’ll find advice telling you what evidence you need to supply as you complete an online application (or if you apply on paper, you can get this from the guidance notes that go with the form).
Leaving information out - or not supplying the documents you’re asked for - can lead to your application being delayed.
What to supply with your student finance application
You need to supply documents confirming your identity the first time you apply.
If you were born in the UK
If you were born in the UK, you’ll be asked to provide your passport number with your application. For 2008/2009 applications, you’ll also need to send in the passport itself.
If you don’t have a passport, you can supply your original birth or adoption certificate as evidence of identity. If you do so, you must send a completed birth/adoption certificate form with it.
If you were born outside the UK
If you were born outside the UK, you will be asked to provide either:
- your current passport, or
- a letter or other documents completed by a responsible person, confirming information about your birth
Student Loans and your National Insurance Number
You must provide your National Insurance Number as soon as possible - preferably when you complete your application. Your payments won’t be released until you do.
If you don’t have a National Insurance Number, your first payment may still be released - if you can prove that you are actively trying to get one.
If you have completed an application without your National Insurance Number, you can login to your Student Finance England account and update it.
What to do with your application and evidence
If you're applying online
If you apply online, you should send all the evidence required to Student Finance England along with your Customer Reference Number. You’ll also need to sign and return an ‘online declaration’ - sent to you when your assessment is approved.
If you're applying on paper
New students starting a course in 2009/2010 should send the completed form, along with all the required evidence, to Student Finance England.
If you started your course in 2008/2009 or earlier, you should send your form and/or evidence either to your local authority, or to the Student Loans Company - depending on where you live. See 'Contact your local authority (student finance applications)' to find out where you need to send your form.
What parents and partners need to do
If you’re applying for the ‘income assessed’ part of the student finance package, your parents or partner may need to supply information about their income.
If you have applied online, they can also submit their details online. Otherwise they'll need to complete a paper form.
They will also be required to send evidence - they can find out what documents they'll need to supply while they’re supporting your application online, or from the guidance notes that go with the application form.
When do you get your payments?
Once your application has been assessed, Student Finance England will approve your payments. You’ll get a Payment Schedule Letter - take this to your university or college so they can confirm that you’re attending the course.
As soon as Student Finance England receives this confirmation and verifies your National Insurance Number, your payments will be released.
In general, grants and the Student Loan for Maintenance are split into three payments over the year. Payments to help with tuition fees are paid directly to your university or college.
If your circumstances change
Before you start your course
It’s common for people to change the course they’re planning to do after getting their A level or other exam results.
If you’ve changed course since applying for student finance, there’s no need to worry: you’ll still get paid and you don’t need to re-apply. Even if your ‘Payment Schedule Letter’ has details of your old course or university, you should still take it with you when you register for your new course.
But you’ll need to report the change – just complete form CO1. You’ll need to return it to either Student Finance England or your local authority, depending on when you started your course. They will then work out whether there’s any effect on the student finance you’re entitled to, and make any necessary adjustments to your payments.
See ‘Contact Student Finance England’ to find out where you need to send your form.
After you’ve started your course
If your personal details change after you apply - or there’s a change in your circumstances which could affect your entitlement to student finance - let Student Finance England or your local authority know.
Reporting a change in your circumstances
Full-time students should use form CO1. There’s a different form for part-time and postgraduate students.
Back to the main page on 'Applying for student finance'
Additional links
Student finance online services
