How to apply Loans

 

 

How to apply

How to apply for your student finance, step by step.

1. Set up a RealMe verified identity

You need a RealMe login to apply. If you have a RealMe verified identity you will be able to share your identity information without having to send in your passport or birth to confirm your identity.
Setting up a RealMe verified identity:

1. Go to the RealMe website to create a login.
2. Verify your identity online by using your passport or Citizenship certificate. You can also use a birth certificate but you may need to provide another form of identification with a photo.
3. Go to a PostShop and have your photo taken

Find out how to reset your username and password, and change other details on our RealMe login information page.
You can still apply for your student allowance and loan online without a verified identity. If you apply without a verified identity you will need to send us evidence of your identity, like your passport or birth certificate.
We recommend that you use Internet Explorer or Firefox for our online services.

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2. Log in

If you're applying for the first time:

1. Click on ‘first-time student’.
2. Answer the question flow in regards to “Do you have a RealMe login?”
3. Create a RealMe login or Login with your existing RealMe username and password.

These steps take you to ’Start new eligibility test’ and then onto to the application.
If you have a RealMe login and access to MyStudyLink:

1. Click on ‘MyStudyLink login’.
2. Enter your RealMe username and password.
3. Click on ‘Login’.

These steps take you to MyStudyLink, where you can apply as a returning student.

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3. Eligibility test (if you're applying for the first time)

As part of the application you will complete a eligibility test to find out what student finance you could to get.
After you have logged in:

1. Click on 'Start eligibility test’.
2. Check what student finance you may be able to get.
3. Check that you’ve answered all the questions correctly before clicking ‘Continue to apply online’ – you can’t go back to the eligibility test without losing all your answers and having to complete it again.

If you have access to MyStudyLink, you do not need to complete this step unless you want to test your eligibility or check what you can get if your circumstances have changed.
If you don't want to find out what kind of help you are elibible for, make sure you login to MyStudyLink to make your application, under the returning student heading.

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4. Apply online

When you’ve completed your eligibility test, you can apply online for your student finance.

1. Select the assistance you want to apply for and click ‘Apply Online’.
2. Make sure you read and understand your obligations before you click on ‘Agree’.
3. You can save your application form for up to five days before submitting it.
4. Submit your application and log out.

If you have a MyStudyLink account, you can apply using the Returning Student Application in MyStudyLink. Your application will be pre-filled with most of your details.

1. Login to MyStudyLink.
2. Click ‘Returning Student’ in the left-hand menu.
3. Select what type of assistance you are applying for.
4. Check and update your details.
5. Tick the ‘confirmed’ box for each section and then submit.

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5. Confirming your information

The first time you apply online for student finance, you will be set up with a secure online account with StudyLink - MyStudyLink.
When we’ve processed your application, we send you a letter asking you for the documents we need to verify your identity and to support your application.
If you have applied with a verified identity and asked for your identity information to be shared with StudyLink, then you will not need to provide us with your identity documents.
We also tell you whether you can get the student finance you’ve asked for.
If you’ve applied for a student loan, we also send you a student loan contract.
When you’ve received our letter, sign and return it with anything else we need.

1. Check, correct and update any details we ask you to.
2. Provide the documents we need to verify your application:
   • your birth certificate or passport – to show your date of birth
   • your passport or citizenship papers – to show your residency status
3. Provide the documents we need to support your application:
   • a pre-printed document from your bank with your account name and number – to show your bank account details
4. We may need to ask for more documentation. If we do, send it to us as soon as you can.
   Go to the Documents supporting your application page to find out about sending documents using connect and verifying original documents.
5. Sign and return the student's form and your student loan contract.

When we’ve verified your identity, we’ll email you to confirm you can use MyStudyLink to track the progress of your application.

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6. Checking on your application

When you’ve got access to MyStudyLink, you can login to MyStudyLink and:

• check your application’s progress
• check if your documents have been received
• view and accept your student loan contract – if you’ve had a student loan before.

We check your study details with your education provider. Make sure you’re fully enrolled so that your provider can confirm these details.
We use your confirmed study details to assess your application.

• If your student allowance is approved, we send you a letter letting you know how much you will get and when payments start.
• If your student loan is approved, we send you a ‘loan entitlement advice’ letter letting you know what you can borrow.
• If your application is declined, we let you know why.

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7. View payments

When we’ve assessed your application, you can login to MyStudyLink and manage your student finance online.

• Check when your payments start.
• View details of next payments and previous transactions.
• Apply for course-related costs.
• Change the amount of your living costs.
• Tell us about any changes in your income.
• Tell us about any changes to where you live or who you live with.
• View and update your personal details.
• Get your mail.