DS in Y13, should we doing anything now re Uni finance?

[MonkeyTennis34]

That’s it really.
He’s about to sit his A levels, has his offers but obviously doesn’t know where he’s going yet.

As school/sixth form not given info on this? We’ve just done the talk for our year 12 parents.

He will need to apply for student finance by May 15th. Lots of info available online: Tuition Fee Loan gets paid directly to the university and the Maintenance Loan which is means tested gets paid directly to the student and is used to cover living expenses etc.
www.gov.uk/studentfinance

Yes! He needs to start on application. Don't assume that this can be done in a hour online the night before. If he has the misfortune to have the same surname and date if birth as another applicant, which happened to my DC, he'll need to submit a paper form. Wild given the birth rate of twins, and the existence of NI numbers, but true.

I don't know about online applications but the paper one needs a wet signature from both parents.

Blimey!
15th May?!?!
No idea why his school hasn’t informed us.
Or maybe I’ve missed the email…
Thanks all 💐

No parents evening? Has your DC been asleep? Other dc must be talking about it!

Actually it’s 15 May NEXT year technically…. But I assume the uni he ends up at will want their fees paid, and he’ll want the maintenance loan as soon as he starts - so get on it now!

I've got to do DS's over the next week. I've been looking at UCAS tab on my phone for about a month and been putting it off until I'm quiet and get my head around it.

Why would it be next year when he’s doing his A levels now?

As I said, it’s TECHNICALLY next year. As in, as long as he applies before 15 May 2026 for fee and maintenance funding for the 2025/6 year, SLC will still process the application and make the award.

As I also said, realistically it needs to be done now so he has money for when he starts.

Oh dear, this is v helpful! Dd is frozen with fear about the next move. I/she/we also need to apply for DSA and she freezes everytime I talk about it.

Get it done now, before completely immersed in exams etc. Then he can forget about it until August.

If he is only eligible for the minimum maintenance grant, it is comparatively quick to do.

As well as the school, I'm surprised whatever university he has chosen as his first choice has not sent reminders. Actually I suspect he has had reminders but may be ignoring them. Could be worth checking whether this is because he is having second thoughts about university?

He should apply now. Put one uni in but easy to switch. If he will only get min loan then there’s an option just to apply for minimum it is really quick and easy no need to contact parents for wage info.

Just checking he knows he needs to firm and insure his offers by June? Keep in top of accommodation deadlines too.

If she has specific accommodation needs relating to her disability, it's worth looking at what her chosen university requires in terms of "evidence". DD had to get a medical professional to fill in a form to support hers, but I'm sure all universities have their own process. Just another thing that takes some time and planning!

You can apply for DSA at any time so all is not lost if it doesn't go in soon.

@TizerorFizz
DS is a man of few words!
He’s just informed me that it’s “in hand” and he knows what he’s doing….hmm, well he won’t know our salaries so I’m going to need to be involved!

@MonkeyTennis34 Well “in hand” is better than nothing. Ask him what he needs to complete it.

He doesn't need to know your salaries. He will provide your name, address and emails and then you will be sent a link by SFE. You used to then have to fill in all your income details but the last couple of years they just get it from your NI number.

Most universities will have a talk on the open days but they won't necessrily send reminders. The same for schools/colleges. They probably covered it in a talk but they won't be reminding students.

The date in May is the date that SFE guarantee that if you apply by that date, you will get your money for the start of term. If you apply late then your payment may be delayed. May 2026 is the last date you can apply to be funded for the 25-26 academic year.

Will he be getting more than minimum loan? You need to put a university name down but that can be changed once you know he is going.

Once he has set it up you should get emails. SFE now liaise with HMRC which makes it easier

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/student-loans-decoded/

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-register-login
https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/
https://www.saas.gov.uk/
https://www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/

4 UK countires have different places to apply.

DS - Y13 applied already - with first choice as uni - but that may change dependent on results and may have to change his bank account - if he then gets a student account.

It's been covered by college - so he knew he had to apply - then we got e-mails -we'd set up accounts for DD1 few years ago - so had to go into our accounts and give data for both.

It went though very fast this time - with DD1 she wasn't yet 18 late Aug birthday so they had to be prelim agreement as under 18 can't enter into contracts. They are aware changes can happen with uni going to and accounts can change.

DD1 uni couldn't apply for accomodation till a bit later - DS already open and done.

@Comefromaway Isn’t it a bit late for open days? He’s got his offers. Open days were last year.

DS2 is going to an Offer Day at Liverpool next week..he didn’t go to the Open Day.

@MonkeyTennis34 Offer day might have a student finance session too. Are you going with him?

I'd advise getting on it with DSA asap. DD had a problem with hers that wasn't resolved till second semester!