Student finance deadline 2026: key dates and checklist

If you’re handling your student finances yourself, you’re already way ahead of the curve.

Make it easy on yourself by getting important deadline dates clear in your mind now, so you don’t miss out on the funding you’re entitled to.

Student finance 2026 deadlines at a glance

You don't need to have a place at university confirmed before you apply. In fact, it’s important that you don’t wait. Your funding application is considered, and later on, when you enrol, your student finance payments will be made.

• Late March: Applications open for Student Finance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Student Award Agency Scotland funding applications are due to open in April
• 15 May 2026: Completed applications for new students need to be submitted to Student Finance
• 30 June 2026: Completed applications for returning students need to be submitted to Student Finance

If you still need to apply for student finance for the term that began back in September 2025, the application is currently open. It’s important you apply for this before the end of June 2026.

What happens if you miss a deadline?

Thankfully, you can still apply for student finance well into the start of your university course (nine months).

If you submit your application later than 9 months into the start of your course, you may not receive any funding until the following term.

Also, if you do miss the deadline, be aware that:

• You probably won’t receive your first payment on time (delay times vary)
• You'll be transferred the minimum funding amount until your application is verified, at which point you’ll receive the remaining balance
• You may have to find other sources of funding for the duration of the term

Types of funding to apply for

Unless you can pay for your tuition and living expenses while you’re at university, you’ll want to apply for the following funding options:

1. Tuition fee loan

This covers the cost of your university tuition. You might have applied to different courses at different universities, but don’t worry. Your tuition fee loan will be paid to the university that enrols you.

1. Maintenance loan

This covers your daily living expenses, including your accommodation, course requirements (textbooks, lab coats, etc.), food and travel.

1. Bursaries

These are funds which you don’t have to repay, and they’re usually awarded on the basis of a lower household income or for students studying a particular subject. You can apply for a bursary within your student finance application.

1. Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded to students based on academic excellence or another merit-based measure. Take a look at whether the university you’re applying to offers one by heading to their website.

Alternatively, search for scholarships on sites like The Scholarships Hub and see which universities, charities or private institutions provide them.

Extra funding for disabled students and parents who study

Disabled students and parents who enrol on a university course might want to apply for additional aid to help cover the cost of their expenses. This money is granted on top of other student funding, and the following options are available:

• Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA): The maximum grant is currently £27,783 per year and this doesn’t have to be repaid.
• Childcare Grant: These are awards to households of a certain income and child occupancy. This grant doesn’t have to be paid back unless your circumstances change.
• Parents’ Learning Allowance: Currently, the maximum grant is £2,024, and this doesn’t have to be paid back.

When will you receive the money?

Your tuition fee loan is paid directly to your university, so you won’t receive any of this money into your own account.

You’ll receive your maintenance loan to the bank account you provided on your application. This will arrive in three instalments across the year:

• First payment: late September or early October 2026 (the start of term)
• Second payment: the following January (2027)
• Third payment: the following April (2027)

These payment times are typical of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Students in Scotland receive monthly payments, usually on the 7th of each month

You won’t receive your first payment until your university has confirmed you’ve enrolled in your course. At this point, it will trigger a payment to your account. If you don’t enrol on your course, you’ll be considered a “non-active student” and you won’t receive any funding from the student finance bodies you’ve applied to.

It could also affect any student accommodation placement you’ve applied for within the university's halls of residence.

What needs to be repaid?

Only your tuition fee loan and maintenance loan.

The cost of these two loans is lumped together and you pay them both back once you start earning a certain amount (currently £27,000).

The money will be deducted straight from your salary each month. The payroll department at your job will sort it all out for you.

If you work for yourself, you’ll need to put some money aside to pay for your student loan contribution. You’ll need to contact the student loans company or log in to your account to see how much you owe each year.

Once you know the figure you owe, you’ll find there’s a space to enter it on your tax return each year. Once you’ve paid your tax bill to HMRC, the student loans company will collect the money you owe from it.

Will any of my student loans be written off?

Student loan debt (your tuition fee and maintenance loan) gets written off after a certain amount of time. The write-off date depends on how many years you’ve been paying off your loan, and the student loan plan you are on.

• Plan 2 loans, taken out from 2012 to 2023, are written off 30 years after the first repayment date
• Plan 5 loans, taken out from September 2023 onwards, are written off after 40 years from the first repayment date
• Postgraduate loans are written off 30 years after your first repayment
• Plan 1 loans are written off once you reach 65 years old, or 25 years after repayment began

Documents you need before you start applying

Nothing slows down progress like trying to hunt down these crucial application documents. Have them handy, and you’ll be able to complete your funding application fairly quickly.

• A valid passport
• Your birth or adoption certificate
• National Insurance number
• Your university name and course details (make sure you have the right course code)
• Your parents' or partner's income details for the last tax year
• Your own bank account details

Warn parents early if you need them to locate your National Insurance card (issued when you turn 16) or your birth certificate. These old documents have a habit of being buried deep in storage boxes or stowed away in an attic space somewhere.

If you’re applying for funding as a parent yourself–DSA, Childcare Grant or other support–you’ll need additional evidence, such as the birth certificates of your child/children in order to complete your funding application.

Services that are there to help you

Reach out to any of the following organisations if you need support with understanding your funding application or your funding options in general.

• Student Finance (go to Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Northern Ireland or Student Awards Agency Scotland, according to the country you live in currently)
• Citizens Advice offers free advice about student funding and budgeting during your studies
• Turn2Us is a charity that helps students facing financial difficulty. They can connect you with organisations that issue student grants and other funding you may be eligible for
• NASMA is a group of university-based student money advisers who can answer your questions about financial aid and eligibility

Universities and colleges often have a student hardship fund which they can dip into to help our students struggling to fund their education.

Make daily expenses easier with UNiDAYS

You’ll want to make every penny of your student funding count. So, why spend on term-time essentials until you’ve seen which discounts you can get?

Find deals on household goods and appliances, personal tech, food and drink (including treat night takeaways), and so much more from UNiDAYS to make this term way easier on your budget.