February Start Students

Are you a full time February start student?
If so, have you applied for your student loan yet?
It's very important that you do so asap, as it can take about 6 weeks to get assessed (even longer if you are like my friend who forgot to send his passport and had to wait over 2 months).

If you haven't done so already, what you need to do is go to www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance and register yourself with them. Write you log in and password down in a safe place. DO NOT LOSE THEM! You will need them frequently whilst you are a student. Tattoo them on your forehead, if necessary!

You can then apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, a Maintenance Loan and Maintenance Grant online. The form you need is called a PN1 form. PN1 form. PN1 form. PN1 form. (!!!)
Fill it in.
Send it off.
Don't forget to send off all the information they request too: e.g. your passport or birth certificate (send it recorded delivery so you are covered if it goes missing in the post)

If you are under 25, your parents/ guardians will need to provide their financial details for the last year. They can send in payslips, a P60 or benefit statements.
If you are over 25 (or under 25 and married/ with kids), you will need to provide these for yourself.

Once you have been assessed, you will be sent 2 pieces of paper in the post. A FN (Financial Notification) and a PS (Payment Schedule). The FN tells you what you are entitled to and the PS tells you when you can expect your money into your bank account. DO NOT LOSE THESE OR YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR MONEY!

You will not receive your loan until you have brought your FN and PS into university to be scanned. The university needs to check that you are fully enrolled. Once this has been checked, your loan will be authorised. It should take about 5 working days to come into your bank account.

Don't spend it all at once!