Fees and Finance

​Your application for student finance should be made according to the country you live in. These instructions are for English students, though the process is very similar for all countries in the UK.

1. Create your online application at gov.uk/studentfinance and use the Student Finance Calculator to check what you are entitled to. The application system is open from February each year. You should apply as soon as possible so you can be fully assessed for financial support. You do not need a confirmed place at university in order to apply. Before you start your application, make sure you have:
   • The course details of your first choice course (you can change this later if necessary)
   • Details of the University you have applied to
   • Your passport or birth certificate
   • National Insurance Number
   • Your bank details.
2. You will be issued with a separate customer reference number which your parents will then use to log on and complete details of their income.
3. Student Finance England may contact you or your parents to request copies of any further financial evidence they require.
4. Applications will usually take 4-6 weeks to process. You can track the progress of your application by logging back in.
5. You will be sent a student finance entitlement letter which will set out exactly what support you can receive. You should sign and return the declaration form.
6. Any support you are entitled to will be paid to you once you have arrived at university and shown your student finance entitlement letter to the staff at enrolment.

It’s important that students apply for support in a timely manner to ensure student finance is available for the start of their course.

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Why not check out this helpful guide to Student Finance provided by the Student Room

If you are studying for a postgraduate qualification at University Campus Oldham, there are options available to help you fund your studies.

Find out more about by calling our Admissions Team on 0161 344 8800 or emailing info@uco.oldham.ac.uk. 

As a mature student you are entitled to the same Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan or Grant as any other student. You may also be entitled to additional support to help with the additional responsibilities you might have. Student Finance England offer a Childcare Grant (CCG), Parents’ Learning Allowance (PLA) and Adult Dependants’ Grant (ADG). Your eligibility, and the amount you are entitled to, depends on your individual situation. Once you submit your finance support application, the student loans company will assess your eligibility for this support, and may request some additional information from you. You can find out more from their quick guide to Dependants’ Grants.
A Special Support Grant (SSG) is available for students who can claim income-related benefits. The amount you are entitled to is dependent on your situation and will be assessed as part of your application. The grant replaces the maintenance grant for qualifying students.

Depending on your needs, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). We can provide you with support in completing your application for the DSA which is provided by the government, and does not need to be repaid. The allowance is not dependent on your income, only your needs, and is paid on top of your other student finance support. It is available to all students including part-time and mature applicants. You can find out more information on the government website for the DSA.

You will only start to repay your tuition and maintenance loan after you have left higher education and your annual income is at least £25,000. You will only start repaying in the April after you leave higher education, even if you already earn over £25,000.  Details of how much your will repay can be found here Repaying Your Student Loan.

These amounts will be deducted automatically from your pay through the tax system if you’re in employment, and if for any reason your income falls below £25,000 your repayments will be suspended. Separate arrangements will be made if you are self-employed, move overseas or are retired.

What’s more, there will be no charge for graduates repaying their loan early.

Caring for Children is expensive. However, we don’t think this should prevent you from going into higher education, especially as there are a number of schemes that could help.

Student Finance England offer a Childcare Grant (CCG) and Parents’ Learning Allowance (PLA). Your eligibility, and the amount you are entitled to, depends on your individual situation. Once you submit your finance support application, the student loans company will assess your eligibility for this support, and may request some additional information from you. You can find out more from their quick guide to Dependants’ Grants.

For students to be eligible for funding from Student Finance England, they must be studying on an eligible course at a provider registered with the Office for Students (OfS).  The OfS is the new independent regulator for Higher Education in England and all Higher Education providers need to register with the OfS for their students to be eligible for student support in the 2020/21 academic year.  The OfS will start publishing providers on it Register from July 2018.  The Oldham College (University Campus Oldham) was registered with the OfS in December 2018.  Visit www.officeforstudents.org.uk/ for more information.