The application process explained

The following guide should help you understand what part you play in the application process, who is responsible at each point and how long you can expect the process to take.

The process follows a number of steps:

• Step One: Making your application
• Step Two: The application is supported
• Step Three: The application is assessed
• Step Four: Support is confirmed and prepared for payment
• Step Five: Your attendance at your course is confirmed
• Step Six: Your student support is paid
• Your ‘Application Status’ explained

Step One: Making your application

a) new students

Who is responsible?

Students who have not yet commenced their studies

What happens?

You can obtain an application form by :

• logging in and applying online
• dowloading one from this site
• Asking for Form PN1 and accompanying guidance from your Education and library Board (ELB)

Parents or partners of students

Once you have completed your application you can nominate your sponsor(s) if you are a dependent student (i.e. you depend upon a parent, carer or partner for financial support). they can then submit their details online or complete a paper application form.

National Insurance Numbers

It is extremely important that you provide us with your National Insurance Number since this will be required to enable the collection of Student Loan repayment deductions from your salary when you enter repayment.

SLC will not make any loan payments until your National Insurance Number has been verified by the Department for Works and Pensions. If they cannot match or/trace your details, then SLC will contact you to explain what to do next.

If you do not have a National Insurance Number, SLC may release your first payment if proof is received that you are actively trying to obtain a National Insurance Number.

Send in evidence

You will be required to supply a range of documentation to support your application. If you were born in the UK or ROI you will be asked to provide your original birth certificate (or adoption certificate) with an identity declaration form or your passport. If you were born abroad you will be asked to provide either:

• your original birth certificate (or adoption certificate) with an identity declaration form; or
• your passport.

If you were born abroad you will be asked to provide your current passport or a letter or other documents filled in by a responsible person, confirming information about your birth.

The PN1 form will provide details of the supporting evidence required from you and your family. Depending on your circumstances your ELB may request further evidence from you.

If you apply on paper, you should send the application form plus accompanying evidence of identity and / or income (as outlined to you on your application) to your ELB. If you apply online, you should send your evidence with your Customer Reference Number to your ELB.

You should be careful to double check you have enclosed all required evidence – if you do not, processing of your application may be delayed.

b) continuing students

Who is responsible?

Students who are continuing with their course of study

What happens?

You must apply for support every year of your course. Details of how to apply will be automatically issued to you. For this reason it is vital that you keep us up to date with your contact address.

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Step Two: The application is supported

Who is responsible?

Parents or Partners who are providing Financial Support for a new or continuing student (sponsors)

What happens?

When your eligibility for support is being assessed, the Education and library Board (ELB) will take into account the Household Income, that is, the income of the student and their parents or partner. If your parents or partner do not provide details of their income, you may not receive help with your fees, a grant to which you are entitled, or the maximum amount of student loan available to you.

When your sponsor provides details of their income they will also be invited to submit original documentation as proof of income, but what they are required to send will be explained when they are providing household income details.

Your sponsor can obtain an application form by :

• downloading one from this site
• submitting an application here online
• Asking for Form PFF1 or PFF2 (depending upon whether they are supporting a new or continuing student) and accompanying guidance from your ELB
• Adding their details to your PN1 or PR1

The ELB will look at your sponsors’ income for the previous financial year, but if there has been a significant drop in income (5% or more), it is possible that they will review their likely income for the current year.

If the ELB decides that they should make a contribution towards your tuition fees and living costs, they will tell them directly.

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Step Three: The application is assessed

Who is responsible?

Your Education and Library Board

What happens?

The information submitted by you and your sponsors will be reviewed and a decision will be made regarding how much, if any, grant you receive, how much loan you are entitled to borrow and the tuition fees you will be expected to pay.

How long does this stage take?

If you have supplied all necessary information with your application, you can expect to be advised of your support entitlement between six and eight weeks after you have submitted it (see Step four).

You can check the progress of your application by registering and accessing your profile on this site. An explanation of Application Status titles is set out in the table below.

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Step Four: Support is confirmed and prepared for payment

Who is responsible?

Student Finance ni

What happens?

Once your ELB have reached a decision regarding your entitlement to Student Support, Student Finance ni will write to you to confirm what will be paid to you and when (this will happen approximately two weeks before your course begins). It is important to note that the dates given in this correspondence are dependent upon you registering on your course in time and ensuring we have your most up to date bank account details.

How long does this stage take?

If you have supplied all necessary information with your application, you can expect to be advised of your support entitlement between six and eight weeks after you have submitted it.

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Step Five: Your attendance at your course is confirmed

Who is responsible?

Your University or College

What happens?

When you register on your course, you should take your Financial Assessment and your Payment Schedule Letter (sent to you by Student Finance ni as outlined above) with you.

Your place of study will then send a message to Student Finance ni confirming your attendance there. We will then release payment of the first instalment of your loan and / or grant.(providing you have supplied a National Insurance Number and we have verified your National Insurance Number with the Department for Works and Pensions.)

How long does this stage take?

As long as it takes to register at your place of study. Student Finance ni will be advised of your attendance on the same day you register.

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Step Six: Your student support is paid

Who is responsible?

Student Finance ni

What happens?

As soon as Student Finance ni receives the confirmation referred to in Step five, we will release payment of the first instalment of your loan and / or grant.

How long does this stage take?

Payment is released automatically when your confirmation of attendance is received. It usually clears in your bank account within three – five working days.

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