Students who are heading to university in September have been told that an important deadline is approaching
Students across the nation have been issued a new warning about an important deadline that is fast approaching, with just over a week left. In the 2024/25 school year, around 2.86 million students were enrolled at colleges and universities in the UK, mostly in England. This number includes over two million undergraduates and nearly 900,000 postgraduates.
According to the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), a record high of 338,940 UK 18-year-olds applied for the upcoming academic year by the January 2026 deadline – a 4.8% increase. For new starters, the deadline for student finance is approaching. It’s important for students to submit their applications before this deadline so that they can have their funding ready when their course begins.
A new statement on Gov.uk as part of an update alert issued May 7 reads: “New students starting courses in September 2026 should apply for student finance before the deadline to make sure their funding is in place for the start of term. If they apply late, their money could be late too.”
It adds: “We know new students have a lot going on in the run-up to starting their course. Applying before the deadline means they can plan for costs like rent, books and social activities such as Freshers’ Week, and have one less thing to worry about during exams.”
The deadline for new Student Finance England students is Friday, May 15, 2026. Gov.uk has created a guide to help new students applying to university for the first time, as well as a guide to help students understand how applying works. Gov.uk says: “Students should use these guides to make their application journey as smooth as possible.”
The deadline for new Student Finance Wales students is Friday, May 29, 2026. Students can find out what to expect when they apply, and access more useful information, on Gov.uk’s Discover Student Finance page.
The deadline for new Student Finance Northern Ireland students is Friday, April 30, 2026. Students can find useful information on our Student Finance Explained page.
Parents and partners of new students should provide their details before the deadline if they are supporting an application. If we don’t receive their information before the deadline, it can delay the student’s funding and potentially reduce how much they receive. Find out more about supporting an application here.
What is student finance?
Student finance in the UK is government funding to help undergraduate and postgraduate students cover their university tuition fees and living expenses. It mainly includes loans that need to be paid back, such as a Tuition Fee Loan that goes directly to the university and a Maintenance Loan that helps with living costs.
You may be eligible for student finance to help you study at university or college. For example, you may be able to apply for:
- a Tuition Fee Loan to help pay the course tuition fees charged by your university or college
- a Maintenance Loan to help pay for things like rent, food, books, travel and other living costs
Tuition Fee Loans are paid directly to your university or college. Maintenance Loans are paid into your bank account. Any loan you borrow needs to be paid back, but not until you’ve finished or left your course, and you earn over a certain amount.
You might get extra financial help on top of this, for example if you’re on a low income, are disabled or have children. You do not usually need to pay back this extra help. You may be able to get student finance even if you’re not from the UK. Find out if you’re eligible.
Student finance is changing. If your course starts on or after January 1, 2027, find out what you could get. If you’re a continuing student or you’ve already created an account, log in to your account.
When you start to repay your loan, the size of your monthly repayments will depend on how much you earn, not what you owe. You’ll be charged interest on the loan from the day you take it out.
Student loans do not appear on credit reports and do not affect your credit score. However, lenders may consider them during affordability checks for other types of borrowing, such as a mortgage.
