 So if you think you are qualified for a student loan in the UK, it's time to fill out your application form. The basic rule of thumb is to apply as early as possible—that is, as soon as you made your course application. Each year thousands of students are looking to gain some government support for their college education. If you don't step up, somebody might beat you to it. In this section we'll discuss the ins and outs of applying for a student loan in the UK (for both full-time and part-time students), what you need to know before filling out a form, and what to do if you didn't apply for a loan in your first year and wish to apply now. Filling out your PN1 form Any UK student with good grades and a stable credit background can apply for a student loan. In fact you can choose to hold down a job and become a part-time student and still be eligible to apply. Students can apply for a student loan either on paper or online. But take note that online applications are for those applying for the current academic year—in this case, as of writing, the 2008/2009 academic year. So if you are applying for previous academic years, you have to apply on paper. This is true for both part-time and full-time students. Applying for a student loan involves filling out the PN1 application form along with several others, and you are also required to submit documents to support some information. You need to be aware of the following before you start to fill out your application form:
Let's take a look at each in greater detail. Proof of life: What documents are required to support your student finance application. Aside from the PN1 form, you are also required to fill out and submit an identity confirmation form along with some documents—what documents depend on whether you were born in or outside the UK.
These documents must be submitted along with the 2-page identity confirmation form. This form asks about personal details such as your name, date of birth, occupation, phone number, etc. Take note that payment for your financial help may be delayed if you don't provide these documents on time. Where things stand: How your student status and household income are decided When you apply for a student loan in the UK, the Local Education Authority will look in on your form and determine whether you are a dependent or independent student. You must also identify whether you are applying for maximum amount of support available or just the non-income assessed element. To put it in the simplest possible terms, you can expect the LEA to count either your parents' or spouse's income if you are a dependent student. Otherwise the LEA will assess your income as an independent student, including non-earned income such as interest from savings, etc. But what makes a student dependent or independent?
This applies to dependent students. As mentioned earlier, there's a chance that the LEA will require your parents or spouse—called sponsors—to contribute to your financial needs. In this case, your sponsors will need to fill out and submit a few forms and supporting documents of their own. Your profile and your sponsor's profile will be handled separately. So you can't look in on the information they provided. Likewise they don't have access to your files. It is possible for your sponsors to fill out their forms on the Internet, too. They can get a unique ID when they register on the Directgov website. This allows them to log in independently from your account. Fight the odds: How to solicit support if your are disabled or have children Disabled students or those who have children and other dependents are eligible to apply for extra grants and benefits on top of the regular student loan. If you look carefully on Section 1 of the PN1 form, you'll find that there are several finance options available for students with disability and/or dependents. These include Special Support Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance, Adult Dependant's Grant, and Childcare Grant. When you submit your PN1 form, indicate that you wish to apply for extra help so the LEA could send you the right forms. But let's say you took a flexible postgraduate Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course. It's worth mentioning since ITT courses also affect the amount you could get from your student loan. This is determined by the length of the course and the number of weeks you're in full-time study and teaching practice. Here is an overview of how ITT courses work:
Last but not the least... Evidence of time: What if your circumstances change? Things change. But the timing couldn't be worse if drastic changes happen in your life while in the middle of the academic year. When this happens, you need to inform the local authority so they could review your situation and decide whether or not you get to keep your student loan. Here are some financial, marital and home-related changes that could affect your position to keep your student loan:
In addition, here are some changes related to your course:
You need to fill out a change of circumstance form and submit it to your local authority for approval. You should also consult with your university and see what options are available for you from here onwards. For part-time students There are a few extra steps required for part-time students to be able to apply for a UK student loan. For starters, part-time students must apply for the fee and course grant every year of their course. First you must accomplish a PTG1 form, the application form for part-time students, and take it to your college or university when you start the course. The college administration office will then give you two weeks to attend your classes. After this period they will fill out the rest of the form to confirm the following details: You must then send the PTG1 back to your local authority for processing. After your first year But then what happens after your first year? Is the process for application the same? Sadly the answer is no. Students, full-time and part-time, are required to make separate finance applications every year after their first year in higher education. This is so the LEA or the local authority in your country is kept updated on your records and performance in school. This is also a good opportunity to inform them if your circumstances have changed. Full-time students can save time by applying online for the current academic year. But they can also apply on paper if they have no Internet access. They must fill out a PN1 form and submit it along with the necessary documents. Part-time students are required to submit a PTG1 form, and follow application process similar to the one they did in their first year. So your application was accepted and your financial worries are finally covered. Good luck. Try to stay focused on your studies from here on out. Next we'll talk about the ways on how you can repay your student loan. |