Student Funding FAQs
Student Funding Applications
Hopefully you have applied for your student funding. We hope that the information in these 'frequently asked questions' may be useful to you.
Last Updated - 11 July 2011
Access Bursaries
I think I am eligible for the University of Reading Access Bursary but haven't heard anything - what should I do?
When you apply for your student funding to SFE, the information you provide is used to assess you for a Bursary so long as you gave consent to share this information with the University. If you need to check that you have given 'consent to share' you should call the Student Loans Company on 0845 603 4016.
As the Bursary depends on parents/partners income, you will be assessed when your loan and grant funding has been fully assessed. You will receive a letter from the University if you are eligible for the Bursary. The first bursary payment is not made until November, so we have time to address any issues about this.
I've had confirmation of my support from SFE, but have had nothing about the bursary. Does this mean I won't receive one?
There is a slight time delay in your funding being assessed by SFE and the information coming through to us to enable us to check entitlement to the bursary. If you have consented to share your information (see above) then you can expect to hear from us as soon as we can confirm your bursary entitlement.
When will I receive the first payment of the Access Bursary?
Bursary payments are made part way through each term, directly in to your bank account. The first payment will made during the week commencing 14 November 2011. You need to enter your bank account details in the RISISweb Portal to enable us to pay the bursary.
I've been told that I need to enter my bank details, but I've already given my bank details to SFE. Do I need to do it again?
The bursary is paid by the University, so you will need to provide us with your bank details using the RISISweb portal. You don't need to speak to us to do this, you can do it yourself online. Your student loan and grant is paid by the Student Loan Company. We have no access to the bank account information that they hold for you.
I received an email about my bursary but I hadn't entered my bank details. Now I have, but I haven't heard anything more. Is this ok?
Once you receive your award email you should not expect to hear from us again unless there is a change to the level of bursary you are to receive. This will only happen if we receive notification from the SFE that there has been a change to your household income.
You should ensure that you enter your bank details. You will need to do this if your award email shows a blank space for this information, or if you change your bank account between receipt of your initial award email and the payment date of the bursary.
I'm a continuing student. Last year I received a bursary, but haven't heard anything about this year yet. What does this mean?
If you received a bursary last year and there have been no changes in your circumstances or household income then it is likely that your bursary amount will remain broadly the same.
We will email all students eligible for the bursary when we receive notification from SFE about household income. At the moment there is no reason to worry if you have consented to share but have not yet heard from us.
I've had an email saying my bursary entitlement has changed. Why is this?
Before any bursary payments are made we check that all students are on the correct bursary level. If your bursary award has changed this is because the most up to date household income information provided to us by the Student Loans Company showed you to be on the incorrect bursary initially.
Household income updates are passed to us throughout the year, usually when you request a reassessment by SFE, and so your bursary amount may change again if we are informed about a change in your household income. This situation affects very few students.
Student Loans & Grants
Student Finance England website. You can apply online to SFE from there. If you are a returning student and starting the next year of your course you should use the PR1 form and contact SFE. If you completed a course in 2010 and are starting a new one you should apply to SFE on the PN1 form as a 'new' student.
I have applied for, but not yet been informed that I am getting, the tuition fee loan - can I still enrol at University? Will I have to pay my fees myself before I get the fee loan?
Yes, you can enrol. SFE will notify the University directly about your fee status. When you do receive notification about your fee loan you don't need to show us, unless we specifically ask to see it. You will not have to pay fees 'up front'; SFE will pay your fees directly to the University.
When completing the online enrolment, you should indicate that you have applied for a tuition fee loan. If the SLC have not told us about this yet you will be prompted to make a payment. There is no need to do this now, you can select to make the payment at a later date, and you will still be able to complete the enrolment process.
As the term progresses if we have not heard from the SLC then you will receive an invoice for your fees. If you have applied for the tuition fee loan you should contact us to update us on your individual circumstances.
I have received a notification that I will receive the fee loan and a maintenance loan. I expected to receive a maintenance grant as well, and provided all the information about my parents/partners income - should I do anything?
To make sure that students have some money at the start of the academic year, SFE initially process the basic funding - the tuition fee loan and 65% of the maximum maintenance loan (the amount that doesn't depend on parents/partners income). Students can check whether they are getting their full loan entitlement using the information available at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
My circumstances have changed since I applied for my funding - what should I do?
You should contact SFE to let them know and send them a change of circumstances form (CO1). This can be downloaded from the 'forms and guides' section on Student Finance England website.
I want to check on the progress of my funding application with SFE - how can I do this?
You can check your on-line account via the SFE website or telephone 0845 300 5090. See the 'Contact Student Finance England' section on Student Finance England website. If you have difficulty getting through to this number it may be useful to try outside of usual office times eg after 18:00 or on a Saturday. The first place to look should be your online account.
I have applied for a Childcare Grant - how do I make sure I get this?
SFE assess this grant separately to your living costs loan and grant. On the CCG1 form you should give an estimate of how much your childcare will be to make an initial assessment. SFE will write to your childcare provider for them to confirm that you will be using their services. You will need to submit a CCG2 form with evidence of your actual childcare costs, eg receipts, when you have started using the childcare. To check the progress of your Childcare Grant application, call the above number and ask to speak to the Specialist Grant Team at SFE.
I think that SFE have made a mistake in assessing my entitlement, and I would like to appeal. How do I do this?
Student Finance England have an appeals procedure for students that believe that the assessment of their entitlement is not correct. Go to the Student Finance England website and select 'More student finance contacts' on the right-hand side of the page.
I understand there's a Discount Day which means I will get a discount next term if I have paid all the money I owe by that date this term. I'm having problems with SFE and my account shows that I still owe my tuition fees. I have applied for the tuition fee loan. What should I do?
You should contact us to tell us if you think that you fall in to this group. We are aware of delays with the processing of tuition fee loans and assessment of applications and we will make allowances for this where we can.
Scholarships
I expected to receive the Entrance Scholarship based on my excellent entry grades, but I haven't heard anything yet - what should I do?
Student Financial Support are completing the checking process for entrance scholarship winners, and correspondence will be sent to those identified as eligible.
The first payment of the entrance scholarship is made during the week commencing 14 November 2011, directly in to your bank account. If you are eligible you should make sure you have entered your bank details via the RISISweb portal before November.
The Entrance Scholarship is not linked to your tuition fees. There will be no offsetting of Tuition Fees by Entrance Scholarships. Your liability for tuition fees remains the same.
Financial Support
What can I do if I start University with no funding for living costs?
The University's Student Financial Support Team may be able to give you a short-term loan to help tide you over until you get your funding. These are small amounts to help with basic living costs - you repay when your funding comes through. Contact Student Financial Support via the Helpdesk in the Carrington Building, or telephone 0118 378 7430 to make an appointment.
You may need to speak to those people who will be expecting money from you e.g. landlord, childcare provider, and seek financial support from your family.