Student Finance applications on track for term start

With just a couple of weeks to go before term starts, Student Loans Company statistics show that more than 730,000 people who have applied to Student Finance England are ready to be paid once they have registered at their university, that’s 49,000 (7%) more than this time last year, from an application total that has increased by 2% (from 936,000 to 957,000).

December 06, 2011 at  12:45

The company is currently processing applications to ensure students get funding at the start of term. The deadline dates for student finance applications were in May and June.

For another 18% (166,000 as at 31 August), the Student Loans Company has done all we can to get these applications prepared for payment and are either awaiting a signed declaration form or further evidence. We have been regularly prompting students and sponsors to send us these details.

Application statistics for 31 August (published 8 September) can be found:

For press enquiries please contact SLC press office:

Notes to editors

  • Student Finance England is part of the Student Loans Company, a non-profit public sector organisation owned by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and Scottish Ministers. The company supports students by paying loans and non-repayable grants for living costs and tuition fees.
  • Last year we paid more than £5.5 billion in student loans and grants to 1.3 million customers. And we paid £2.7 billion in tuition fees directly to universities and colleges on behalf of customers.
  • The deadline dates for student finance applications were: 31 May for new students and 30 June for returning students.
  • Not all applicants will ever reach payment stage as some may not be granted a university place or decide not to attend. Some applicants do not fully complete their form or send in further evidence in these cases. Last year more than 125,000 submitted applications for student finance were not progressed by applicants.
  • The number processed weekly varies depending on the number that are straightforward and those that go through automatically.
  • We are keeping students and sponsors updated regularly with the details we are working on and running daily student finance surgeries on Facebook and Twitter to help guide them through the application process. Follow Student Finance England at facebook.com/SFEngland and twitter.com/sf_england