Date published:4 November 2008

Student finance information for entry in 2009

On 29 October, the Secretary of State for Innovation Universities and Skills announced a change to the student finance policy that governs how much new full-time students in England will receive from 2009/10.

This means that new full-time students cannot apply for financial support until the new amended student support regulations for 2009/10 have been considered by parliament and are in place.

It also means that the launch of Student Finance England and the opening of applications is delayed until early February 2009 to ensure the changes to the student finance package are accommodated.

More information about the student finance package for 09/10 and the opening of student finance applications will be available on www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance. Please check this site regularly for any updates.

Also check the Student Finance England website for any updates or contact the Student Loans Company on 0845 300 50 90, www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk.

Although applications for student finance for new full-time students are opening later than planned, this remains significantly earlier than in previous years. If students apply for their student finance in good time they can still expect to receive their payments at the beginning of term in autumn 2009.

Returners to higher education should continue to apply to their Local Authority for their student finance as in previous years. Students who are applying within the pilot areas should continue to apply to SLC's central unit in Darlington, as in previous years.