Error messages
I get an error message saying I need to try again
later
Please wait a few days then log in again. Error screens are
usually temporary. If you have tried more than once and get the
same error message, please phone us.
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Passwords
I've forgotten my login details
If we hold an up to date email address for you, you can find out
your Customer Reference Number or reset your password and secret
answer.
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Courses
I haven't decided which course I need to study before I
complete my application
You can change which course you intend to study after you submit
your application. Submit your application as soon as possible to
make sure you get your grants and loans on time for the start of
term.
I can't find my course
You can type in the name of your university or college and your
course if you can't find it from our list of courses.
My university says my course fee is £3,465 but in the
online application this is shown as £9,000
If you typed in the name of your course instead of choosing them
from our drop-down lists, you will be shown the maximum tuition fee
for your university. This is likely to be £9,000. We will amend the
tuition fee amount later.
When your application is complete you'll be sent a notification
letter. Check this has your correct Tuition Fee Loan amount. You
can change this amount online if it's wrong.
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Parents and
Partners
What information do you need?
If you apply for finance which includes household income, we may
need your parents or your partner's income details. They can find
this in their P60 or tax return for the tax year 2010-11.
If their income has dropped by 15% since tax year 2010-11 they
can send in a Current Year Income form for us to take their current
income into account. In the meantime, they should support your
application using their income details from tax year 2010-11
My parents are self-employed - where do they enter
this?
They answer 'yes' to the question 'Did you receive any other
income during 2010/11 tax year that you haven't yet told us
about?'
This opens up another screen for them to enter these income
details.
Their 'other sources of income' might include:
- self-employment
- savings and investments
- stock dividends, securities, life insurance policies and share
schemes
- property lettings
- savings
My parents or my partner can't log in
They can find out their Customer Reference Number or reset their
password and secret answer online.
If they're completing their part of your application at the same
time as you, they may need new log in details.
If we've sent them a temporary password such as ABCDEFG12 they
need to use the main student login screen to choose their own
password. After this, they will be able to support your application
online.
My parents refuse to support my application
Unfortunately, you need your parents to enter their income
details if you want to apply for finance which includes your
household income.
If you are permanently estranged from your parents, with no
chance of reconciliation, you can tell us this on your online
application. Later on, we will ask you to send us proof of
this.
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Can't complete your online
application?
I can't decide what to apply for
Try the
student finance calculator.
Household income - why is this important?
You can get a higher level of Maintenance Loan and a Maintenance
Grant if you apply for finance which takes your household income
into account. Your parents or your partner may need to supply their
income details.
The questions are too difficult - I'm stuck
Try asking us for help at
facebook.com/SFEngland
We'll publish answers to the most frequently-asked questions
back in the student zone.
I need a bank account or a National Insurance
Number
Students can submit their application without giving us a bank
account or a national insurance number. We need both of these
things before we can pay you any grants or loans. However, you can
still submit your application without them.
Parents or partners need to provide a National Insurance Number
before we can let them support your application.
How do I submit my application?
Complete all the questions and you will be shown a 'Review your
application' screen.
Accept our terms and conditions and you will be shown a 'Submit
application' button -
Click this to complete your application.
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