Website of the UK government

How to apply for finance after your first year

You must make a separate student finance application for every year you are in higher education.

Student Finance Direct will automatically send you information about how to apply for the new academic year, so ensure that you keep them up to date with your contact details.

If you don’t get this information, you can still apply online - or contact Student Finance Direct and ask them to send a form to you.

It’s best to apply as soon as possible – but you can still apply up to nine months from the first day of the academic year.

If you’ve applied for student finance before, you won’t have to send in any further evidence to support your application unless there has been a change in your circumstances - for example, to your household income or your marital status.

• Contact Student Finance Direct

Full-time students: applications for academic year 2009/2010

It's not possible to apply for the 2009/2010 academic year yet - applications are expected to open from mid February 2009.

Full-time students: applications for academic year 2008/2009

Apply online

Full-time students can save time by applying online for the 2008/2009 academic year. All the relevant information from your previous application will be available online, even if you applied on paper last time.

• Apply online for Student Loans and grants

Apply on paper

Alternatively, you can download and fill in application form PR1. For some types of extra support, you’ll need to complete a separate form on paper.

• Download application form for continuing students (PR1) 2008/2009 (PDF, 1222K)
• Download notes to help you complete application for continuing students (PR1 notes) 2008/2009 (PDF, 442K)

Part time students

You must apply for financial help for each year of your course.

To apply, fill in the application form for part-time student finance (PTG1) and take it to your university or college when you start your course.

The college administration office will complete the rest of the form - you should then send it to your local authority.

• Download application form for part-time students (PTG1) 2008/2009 (PDF, 1239K)
• Download guidance notes for part-time students 2008/2009 (PDF, 317K)
• Contact your local authority (student finance applications) Opens new window

If your circumstances change while you are studying

Changes to your circumstances while you are studying could affect how much financial help you get.

You must let your local authority know as soon as possible if:

• your marital status changes
• your income, or your household income, goes up or down
• you change your course or institution 
• you repeat or defer a year of your course 
• you leave your course early

For more information, see 'If your circumstances change while you are studying'.

• If your circumstances change while you are studying

What happens to your application

Once you have submitted your application, it follows a similar route to your original application for financial help. But it’s generally more straightforward since you will usually have supplied much of the information before.

• What happens to your student finance application - after your first year of study