Student Finance Tips (Own Experience)..

MoneySavingStudent_2

Well its that time of year again! Student Finance time! exciting the first time you do it, but if your like me and your in the 2nd+ year and you've just realised like me, that you have to do it all again.. then its a bit of a stress!!

I think my main tip for people who are applying for the first time is proberbly to apply online. Its easy to do, less formal, they send you the information via post etc and general its just easier and doesnt give you hand cramp!

Finding out where your local finance office is etc is also good, because any forms you need copying etc you can take them down yourself and have them copied there and then instead of waiting afew days for them to send ucas letters etc back which can be rather annoying when you need the letters for something else your applying for!!

Sooooo in this thread would fellow moneysavers be so kind as to write their top tips for student finance down? Mainly from own experience would be good, as not everything is in the so called 'help notes' you get given from your college or elsewhere!

Thanx!

Broke_Student

1. Apply online as selecting certain options will remove questions which are irrelevant to the outcome of your application. The paper form asks you to fill out alot more questions.

2. Take your own documents to the LEA to be photocopied. I never have felt too comfortable sending financial documents and an original passport by mail in the same envelope.

3. Apply early:
- To ensure you do not miss the deadline,
- To allow you to budget better for the upcoming year,
- To allow time for when the LEA screws up (they often do),
- It's just good practice to apply early!

4. Check the tuition fee for your course for NEXT year. 2006 had a £3000 maximum fee. 2007 had the maximum fee increase to £3070 but many students missed this and applied for a £3000 tuition fee loan. Getting this changed involves more paperwork...
I believe the max fee for £2008 will be £3150.

5. If you require an income assesed lpan then apply for an income assesed loan, and not a non-income assesed. Same goes for the other way round. It's amazing the number of people who mess this up!

6. If you are stuck use the online help service. It's a chat room type thing with customer services. It's quite useful unless you apply close to the deadline when there are VERY long ques.

Lokolo

The maximum tuition fees this year are £3145

MoneySavingStudent_2

Lokolo wrote: »

The maximum tuition fees this year are £3145

I know and it sucks because my uni seem to like charging the maximum!! :mad:

Helix

MoneySavingStudent wrote: »

I know and it sucks because my uni seem to like charging the maximum!! :mad:

I think there is only something like 5 unis which don't charge the maximum for normal degrees. I remember reading something about it when I was looking at unis last year (so it might have changed this year).

BruceyBonus

Broke_Student wrote: »

2. Take your own documents to the LEA to be photocopied. I never have felt too comfortable sending financial documents and an original passport by mail in the same envelope.

My LEA is 35 miles away from my home - so quite difficult to take the documents there. Instead of sending my passport, I will be sending my birth certificate and declaration. I'm happy sending financial documents in the post, as let's face it, there were most likely sent to you in the post anyway!

System

My tip: DO NOT MAIL IN YOUR PASSPORT/ID - go in and arrange to get it copied in the office.

Bruceybonus - we're not talking about it getting lost in the mail - but the LEA 'losing' it or claiming they haven't received it.

They 'lost' my IDs so many times which not only meant I had to cancel a holiday, but I also missed the first payment, and almost didn't get any funding at all.

If not send them via 'signed for' delivery. It costs about £3 but is completely worth it.

With P60s and Birth certificates, it costs money and takes up to 3 months to order a new one, it's better to spend £3 of 'signed for' delivery so you can claim any losses off the Post Office or the LEA (and you'll have proof that they received it too).

Both myself, my family and friends have had similar experiences, particularly with grants , they'll find any excuse not to process your application. Just get it in early and get proof of it, so you have time to sort yourself out if anything goes wrong.

MoneySavingStudent_2

Hello,
Ive just completed my student finance form for 08/09!
Although i am having problems with the support an application bit of the page! My mum needs to give evidence etc and for some reason when i put in the alias ID and dob and relationship and click add it just wont do it! I then also try just clicking next, but it says u have to add the student info! so i do but it wont add!!
I did this to us last yr but i cant remember what we did, i think they sent us a letter and sorted it out a different way.. Anyone else having problems with it? x

System

does anyone know whether you need a p60 (proof of income) from this year or last year? my brother used a 2007 P60 but was told he had to use a 2008 P60, which isn't issued until late April ...?

Helix

You have to use this years one. That's why they make the income assessed deadline later to give time for the documents to come through.

MoneySavingStudent_2

Ahhh righto that might solve my problem too!
cheers! =p