It is estimated that more than 1.5 million people will be attending college or university this fall, and the Student Loans Company (SLC) is urging students to apply for student financing well in advance.
SLC’s role is to enable students to invest in their future through access to higher and further education, and new full-time undergraduate students in England have just under three weeks to apply for a funding before the deadline of Friday, May 20.
Students must apply online now even if they do not have a confirmed place at the university. By submitting their application before the deadline, they can ensure that their funding will be in place for the start of the academic year.
Students returning to England must also reapply for student funding each year, and the deadline for applications is Friday 24 June.
Chris Larmer, SLC Executive Director, Operations, said, “Our mission is to create opportunity and we are committed to helping students achieve their ambitions.
“Our application window opened earlier this year, giving students plenty of time to apply before the deadline to ensure they have the best possible start to their college or graduate journey. . We know it can be daunting, especially for new students, but there is a range of content on our website and on social media to help guide students, and their parents or partners, through the process. . Applying early means busy students can tick at least one thing off their list as they prepare for college life.
SLC continues to improve its customer experience and students have access to self-service tools to track their application online and receive updates on their progress.
Chris added: “We continue to invest in providing a digital service that provides the best customer experience for students. Applications can take around six to eight weeks to process and for the vast majority the entire experience will take place online. Students can follow the progress of their application through their online accounts and if we need further information we will contact you directly.
Students can continue to apply for funding throughout the summer, but SLC cannot guarantee that funding will be in place for the start of the term.
