The new student deadlines are fast approaching (Image: Getty)
Students across the country have been issued a fresh warning regarding a crucial deadline that is rapidly approaching, with just over a week remaining. During the 2024/25 academic year, approximately 2.86 million students were enrolled at colleges and universities throughout the UK, predominantly in England. This figure includes more than two million undergraduates and nearly 900,000 postgraduates.
According to the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), a record 338,940 UK 18-year-olds applied for the forthcoming academic year by the January 2026 deadline — a rise of 4.8%. For those just starting out, the student finance deadline is now drawing near. It is vital that students submit their applications in time to ensure their funding is in place when their course commences.
A fresh statement on Gov.uk, published as part of an update alert on May 7, reads: “New students starting courses in September 2026 should apply for student finance before the deadline to make sure their funding is in place for the start of term. If they apply late, their money could be late too.”
It further states: “We know new students have a lot going on in the run-up to starting their course. Applying before the deadline means they can plan for costs like rent, books and social activities such as Freshers’ Week, and have one less thing to worry about during exams.”
The deadline for new Student Finance England students is Friday, May 15, 2026. Gov.uk has produced a guide to assist new students applying to university for the first time, along with a guide to help students understand how the application process works. Gov.uk says: “Students should use these guides to make their application journey as smooth as possible.”
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The deadline for new Student Finance Wales students is Friday, May 29, 2026. Students can discover what to expect when they apply, and access further helpful information, on Gov.uk’s Discover Student Finance page, reports the Mirror.
The deadline for new Student Finance Northern Ireland students is Friday, April 30, 2026. Students can find helpful information on our Student Finance Explained page.
Parents and partners of new students should submit their details ahead of the deadline if they are supporting an application. If their information is not received before the deadline, it can delay the student’s funding and potentially reduce the amount they receive. Find out more about supporting an application here.
The deadline for new SFE students is Friday, May 15, 2026 (Image: Getty)
What is student finance?
Student finance in the UK is government funding designed to help undergraduate and postgraduate students cover their university tuition fees and living costs. It primarily comprises loans that must be repaid, including a Tuition Fee Loan paid directly to the university and a Maintenance Loan to assist with day-to-day living expenses. You may be eligible for student finance to support you through your studies at university or college. For instance, you may be able to apply for:
Tuition Fee Loans are paid directly to your university or college. Maintenance Loans are deposited straight into your bank account. Any loan you take out will need to be repaid, though not until you have completed or left your course, and only once your earnings exceed a certain threshold.
Additional financial assistance may also be available to you, for example, if you are on a low income, have a disability or have children. You will generally not be required to repay this additional support. Student finance may still be accessible even if you are not originally from the UK. Check whether you qualify.
Student finance is undergoing changes. If your course begins on or after January 1, 2027, find out what you could be entitled to receive. If you are a continuing student or have already set up an account, simply log in to your existing account.
Once you begin repaying your loan, your monthly repayment amount will be determined by how much you earn, rather than the total sum you owe. Interest will be applied to the loan from the day you take it out.
Student loans do not feature on credit reports and will not have any impact on your credit score. Nevertheless, lenders may take them into account during affordability checks for other forms of borrowing, such as a mortgage.