Clearing: Student finance

Clearing and student finance

If you're funding your university studies with a student loan, here's what you need to know to make sure your loan application fits your Clearing choice.

Already applied for student finance?

How to change your application after Clearing

If you've already applied for student finance and you change your course or university through Clearing, you'll need to update this in your student finance application.

This isn't the same as updating your UCAS application – your student finance application isn't linked to UCAS, so make sure to follow the steps below.

If you're from England and studying full-time

1. Sign in to your online account
2. Click ‘Undergraduate student finance applications’
3. Select the application you wish to change
4. Under the heading ‘Manage your student finance’, click ‘View and manage your applications’
5. Click ‘Change your application’ and then click again
6. Click ‘University/college and course’
7. Click ‘Submit’ once you’ve entered and confirmed your changes

Student Finance England will re-assess your application and let you know if there are any changes to the amount you'll get.

If you're from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man

Update your details through your local government or education authority:

• Scotland
• Wales
• Northern Ireland
• Jersey
• Guernsey
• Isle of Man

If you're a part-time student or from the EU

You'll need to complete a change of circumstance form, which you can submit online or by post.

Updating your living situation

If your living situation has also changed, due to the course you've chosen through Clearing, you'll need to update this on your student finance application.

For example, if you originally applied for a university close to home and planned to live with your parents, but your Clearing choice means you'll now be living away from home (or vice versa) – you need to update this on your application.

If you're from England, you can do this at the same time as you update your course or university via Student Finance England. If you're studying part-time or you're from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man of the EU – follow the instructions above for updating your application.

Not yet applied for student finance?

When to apply for student finance

If you haven't applied for a student loan yet, do it as soon as you can – you don't have to wait until you have your results to apply and it only takes 30 minutes.

All you need to enter in your application is your first choice of university. If you decide to change your course or university through Clearing, after receiving your results, you can follow the steps above for updating your application.

This route is much easier than applying on A Level results day – you'll be prepared no matter what the outcome. Just bear in mind that applications take at least 6 weeks to process, so you might not get all your money in time for the start of your course if you leave your student loan application to Clearing. However, Student Finance England does its best to give you some of your loan as close to the start of your course as possible.

How to apply for Student Finance

If you're from England, apply through Student Finance England.

If you’re from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Island or Isle of Man, you can apply for student finance through your local government or education authority – see links above.

Student finance from the UK Government isn't available to non-UK students that don't meet the residency requirements for home fee status, but other funding options may be available.

Supporting your child or partner through their student finance application? The Student Loans company has a great article on supporting them in 3 easy steps.

Need more information before applying?

If you haven't applied yet, our guide to student loans has more advice on the difference between tuition fee and maintenance loans, how you'll repay your loans, and your eligibility.