Student Finance phone number cheatsheet

You don’t want to be spending hours on the phone trying to get your student finance sorted. There are exciting activities, fun socials (and maybe a bit of studying) to plan. So, to get through to the right person and have your questions answered as quickly as possible, here are some useful numbers and tips.

Why might you need to call Student Finance?

Whether you’re applying for the minimum maintenance loan or getting full tuition support alongside subsidies and grants, you’ll need to deal with Student Finance.

Although much of the application and repayment process can be managed online, you might need to call Student Finance if:

• Your loan hasn’t been paid into your account at the expected time
• Your circumstances have changed, such as your address or course
• Your details change, especially if you switch bank accounts
• You’re repaying your loan and are leaving the UK for more than three months
• Your partner or parent has a question about your finances (you’ll need to give them consent before they call)

Dealing with the above situations can be stressful, but it’s important that you get into as calm a mindset as possible before you call. That way, you can get the best result out of the time you spend on the phone.

Student Finance phone numbers

First up, it’s important that you’re calling the right phone number for your needs. Each country in the UK has its own student finance organisation, so you need to call the one in the region where you live.

To check the progress of your application or ask general questions about your undergraduate student loan, call the number most appropriate to your region:

• England: 0300 100 0607 or 01325 215194 to bypass the automated system
• Wales: 0300 200 4050 (or 0141 243 3570 to talk about tuition fees)
• Scotland: 0300 555 0505 (for your application) or 0300 100 0609 (for post-application queries)
• Northern Ireland: 0300 100 0077 or contact your local office

Note that the opening hours for the phone lines are:

• England - Monday to Friday, 8am – 7pm
• Wales - Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm
• Scotland - Monday to Friday, 8am – 7pm
• Northern Ireland - Monday to Friday, 8am – 7pm

If you’ve completed your degree and want to talk to the Student Loans Company about repayments, then you should call:

• England, Scotland and Northern Ireland: 0300 100 0611
• Wales: 0300 100 0370

Tips for saving time on the phone

Unfortunately, there are no cheat codes for getting to the front of the Student Finance queue (trust us, this isn’t our first rodeo). But there are a few ways you can prepare to get the most out of your call quickly.

Have your details handy

To deal with your question, the agent on the phone might need the following information, so have it to hand before you pick up the phone:

• Customer reference number (CRN): this can be found on letters or emails from Student Finance and by logging into your account
• Date of birth
• National Insurance number
• Course and university details
• Password and secret answer, especially if you can’t get into your online account

Make notes of each call

Take note of the agent’s name, the date and time, and key points that you spoke about. This will help you keep track of where your application is at, remember any tasks you need to do or documents you need to send, and it means you can follow up more easily if needed.

Having a few notes written down before the call can also help you get the most out of your time on the phone.

Call early or late

Peak times for these phone lines are in the middle of the day, so calling in the first and last opening hours could help you get through faster. Certain times of year can also be busy, such as just before the academic year in September and after instalment payments are due. So get ahead of the game or wait until the rush is over before calling.

Wait or ask for a supervisor

Looking at the forums, lots of students have said that if you ignore all the automated options, you’ll be immediately diverted to a human adviser. On the other hand, some have said that the line hangs up if you wait too long on it.

Alternatively, if you’re really struggling with an agent who isn’t resolving your situation, ask for their supervisor. It’s likely they’ll have more experience and can deal with your problem, particularly if it’s a complex issue.

Don’t call at all

No joke, this is the easiest way to save time on the phone. Instead of calling Student Finance (or if you’re struggling to get through), try the following options:

• Online chat: most student finance companies offer an online chat or email option. This is helpful if you need a written record or if your issue isn’t urgent
• Read the FAQs or social media: you might be able to find a solution to your problem on Reddit, X, or the relevant student finance website, so make sure you check them all before you call
• Try university advisers: each uni has a student advice office that can support you with finances. Even if a loan instalment is late, they may be able to lend you some money as an emergency fund

Hopefully, by following the tips above, you can get through to Student Finance and resolve your loan questions or problems. Then, all you need to think about is how to spend it…

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