Student Finance help

[Abbie]

I thought we could do with one of these threads since a lot of us are students or going to be soon and could discuss stuff. And then if those members who arent students can give us tips and the like that would be great
And we can use this thread to discuss loans and acomodation and just money in general!

I know we already have a thread for Univerisity but that thread is very general and in a way is kinda light and has some good and some funny tips I think we should keep in that way.
But I have a feeling this thread could get very long on its own



Right well Ive started on the direct gov website and im confused about something
I went on the caluclator thingy and it told me how much I would get in loans and then a maintance grant. My grant would be £93.
So ive set up an account on the wesbite to fill in details and im up to the point where it asks me to say yes or no about whether I am entilted to the Special Support Grant.
I clicked help and it gives a list of why you put be entiled to it but in the list it doesnt mention the bands of household income eventhough it does in the intro bit, well all it says is : "This grant pays up to £2,906, depending on your household income, and is intended to help with additional course related costs such as books, equipment, travel or childcare. The Special Support Grant entitlement is calculated using the same household income figures as the Maintenance Grant. The amount you receive will not affect the amount of Maintenance Loan you may be entitled to receive."

So can I say yes, or do I have to say no, cos on the list im not entiltled to it.
Here is the list it says:
Actaully here is the whole thing lol

You may be eligible for a Special Support Grant to help with costs such as books, equipment or travel. For the categories of eligible students, please read the help content.
Do you wish to apply for Special Support Grant?

If you are eligible to receive a Special Support Grant you will not be eligible to receive a Maintenance Grant.

This grant pays up to £2,906, depending on your household income, and is intended to help with additional course related costs such as books, equipment, travel or childcare. The Special Support Grant entitlement is calculated using the same household income figures as the Maintenance Grant. The amount you receive will not affect the amount of Maintenance Loan you may be entitled to receive.

You may be able to receive a Special Support Grant if you:

* are a lone parent
* have a partner who is also a student and one or both of you is responsible for a child (or a young person aged under 20 who is in full-time non-advanced education)
* have a disability, and qualify for the disability premium or severe disability premium
* are deaf and qualify for Disabled Students’ Allowances
* have been treated as incapable of work for a continuous period of at least 28 weeks
* are from abroad and are entitled to an Income Support Urgent Cases Payment because you are temporarily without funds for a period of up to six weeks
* are waiting to go back to a course having taken agreed time out from that course due to an illness or caring responsibility that has now ended
* are aged 60 or over.

Im confused!


Any help?

[Abigail]

If you don't fulfill any of the criteria on the list then you don't qualify for the special grant, so tick no.

[Abbie]

Ok so you know that thing on the finance calculator where you put in the household income from both parents?
When I did it, before I started the account, it came up with the loans I would get and the maintance grant

Is the maintance grant and the special grant 2 different things?

[Abigail]

Yes, they are.

Everybody whose parents (or themselves) earn under 60k a year is entitled to a full or partial maintenance grant.

The special grant is only for people who are single parents, people with dependants or disabilities and those over 60. You can't get the special grant and the maintenance grant.

The special grant is slightly more than the maintenance.

[Abbie]

Oh phew! thats good, I was getting dead confused, I already ticked no anyway and completed the next page and then logged out cos I need my mum.
I was just getting worried, I know I'll only get £93 but still I want that money sine I dont have to pay it back!

[Layne]

Student finance is deffo confusing - i qualify for that Special support grant thing - the forms are pretty darn confusing! I also qualify for a bursary from my Uni but i think i have to talk to my local council because they have to means test me - or check or something. AhhhhH!

Also not really student finance - but accomadation wise, Nottingham Trent it seems you have to pay £200 deposit for accomadation, but its my 2nd choice and i can't really afford to just give them £200 when i might not even be going there!?!

[Abbie]

Yeah we might as wel use this thread for accomdation cos its still money we are talking bout


Thats seems unfair, maybe you dont have it since its your second?

[Layne]

Yeh thats what i thought, i need to look into it - i should apply for accomodation for there really!

[Abbie]

What do you mean?


I can apply for mine now, since my mind is pretty much made up
Its soooo expensive though!

[Abigail]

Student finance is deffo confusing - i qualify for that Special support grant thing - the forms are pretty darn confusing! I also qualify for a bursary from my Uni but i think i have to talk to my local council because they have to means test me - or check or something. AhhhhH!

Your LEA should automatically do the checks for your bursary when they process your loan entitlement. Once you send your application in, the LEA will do everything related to tuition fees, loan, grants and bursaries.

I got my first bursary in February. When I enrolled in September the university scanned my entitlement letter (the LEA will send you one when they decide how much you'll get). They then use the information to decide how much bursary you get. Each university has a different policy bursaries.

You have to tick the box on the last page of the form to allow the LEA to release your financial details for them to process your bursary.

Also not really student finance - but accomadation wise, Nottingham Trent it seems you have to pay £200 deposit for accomadation, but its my 2nd choice and i can't really afford to just give them £200 when i might not even be going there!?!

Don't send them any money yet. Most universities only guarantee accommodation if you put them down as your firm choice. You should apply for accommodation for your firm choice. If you have to pay a deposit now and don't get in in August then it should be returned.


Halls of residence are a huge rip off. It does depend on where you go but generally it's cheaper to live in private rented housing off campus. I'd recommend halls in the first year to get to know people, have parties and do things that you won't get away with in private housing though.

Think carefully about the accommodation you apply for and the price of it. You don't want to be left with not much money after you've paid rent if you don't get much loan.

If you haven't already, you need to set up a student account. You'll get better rates than on a standard current account and the banks will be more flexible and sympathetic if you get into difficulty. HSBC offer a 0% overdraft for all students, which can be increased in your second and third year. Shop around, don't go for the banks that offer free ipods; they usually have the worst deals.