Breadcrumb Trail
Student Loans
Student loans are available to students who require help with living costs such as accommodation, food, clothes, travel and so on. You have to repay any loans. However you will not have to start paying them back until you have finished or left your course and you begin earning.
From September 2008, around one third of eligible students are expected to be entitled to a full Maintenance Grant of up to around £2,835. Around a further third are expected to qualify for part of the Maintenance Grant. The amount you receive is based on your household income.
If you currently get Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), you're also likely to qualify for a grant to help with your costs if you go into higher education. This grant will not need to be repaid.
If you are a 16-year-old receiving an EMA in academic year 2008/2009, you will be given a firm guarantee of the minimum financial support you can expect to receive if you decide to continue into higher education.
Find out more about these changes on the directgov website
Who is eligible?
Full-time, sandwich-course and part-time initial teacher-training students aged under 60. Previous study - Support will be available for the length of your course, plus one extra year if needed, less any years of previously supported higher-education study.
With the exception of supplementary grants further support will not generally be available to students who have used up their entitlement to funding. Supported higher education study includes: a mandatory award, a discretionary award (from an LA for a higher education-level course or programme of study), an award from a government department such as an NHS bursary and any other public support for tuition fees.
The SLC will usually pay your loan in three instalments - one at the start of each term provided you have a National Insurance number. They will make payments for most students straight into your bank or building society account. However, they may send some students a cheque for their first payment. You will receive a payment schedule from the SLC which tells you how you will get your money.
What if my course is longer than normal?
You can get an extra amount of income-assessed loan to cover each extra week you have to be on your course above 30 term-time weeks (plus the short holidays). If you have to be on the course for 45 weeks or more in any 12-month period, you will get an extra amount of loan as if you were studying for 52 weeks.
What if I'm studying abroad?
If you study abroad for at least 50% of an academic quarter (normally equivalent to a term) as part of your course, you may be eligible for an overseas rate of loan.
Interest on the amount that you owe will be linked to inflation - inline with the Retail Prices Index (RPI). This means the value of the amount you pay back will be broadly the same, in real terms, as the value of the amount you borrowed.
Can I have my documents checked?
Yes. For students not in school or college you can take your application form and original documents to one of the following Access Trafford offices:
Applicants not in one of the schools or colleges being visited by the Student Support team should where possible make a personal visit to one of the above offices where your form will be checked and, original documents verified and given back to you.
Sending documents through the post
Postal applications should only be sent to Sale Waterside.
Please ensure the correct postage is affixed to your envelope. Passports should be sent by Special Delivery and include a Pre Paid Special Delivery Envelope for safe return. Recorded Delivery does not cover the cost of a lost Passport.
Mail not provided with a pre-paid envelope will be returned by second class postage.
The Authority will not be held responsible for lost documents or mail sent without the appropriate Postage cover.
Where to send your documents
Student Support Section
Access Trafford
Ground Floor
Waterside House
Waterside
Sale
M33 7ZF
Email student.support@trafford.gov.uk
Telephone number: 0161 912 1888
Can I check the status of my loan application online?
Yes. If you have applied through Student Finance Direct, you can check the status of your application online
This page was last updated on 11 November 2008
Page content ends
