Frequently Asked Questions

No. There's no upper age limit. 

If you meet the residency criteria, you'll be eligible to apply for a loan.

Once you've decided on the qualification you wish to do, you'll need to contact the college who will be able to confirm whether there are places available on the course. The college will provide you with a Learning and Funding Information letter, which provides all the information you'll need to make a loan application.

You will use the information from the college to complete an application via www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan

Yes, applying online is quick and easy. You can register and apply online now at: www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan

You can also download an application form. 

You will need to provide details about your course and the fees, which will be provided to you in Learning and Funding Information letter from the college. 

You will also be required to provide your personal details and evidence to confirm your identity. For UK passport holders this will be your valid UK passport details. 

IF you're a UK national but don't hold a passport, you'll be asked to provide another form of evidence such as a UK birth certificate.

If you're not a UK national, you'll need to provide physical evidence, as well as evidence that you're a permanent resident inside the UK.

You'll also need to provide a valid National Insurance number in order for the loan to be paid to the college on your behalf.

A National Insurance number is required in order for the loan to be paid to the college on your behalf. This may mean that you'll need to arrange an appointment with your local Job Centre to have one assigned to you. 

Yes. As long as your course started on or after 1 August this year. It's possible to apply for a loan at any time during your course, but not after you've completed it. 

Applications submitted online that don't require any further supporting evidence (because you've provided your valid UK passport details) should be processed within two weeks. If you don't apply online or don't send the evidence required, the application process will take longer. 

If you decide before the start of your course you no longer want to undertake your course or you don't want to take out a loan for the course, log onto your online student finance account and follow the instructions. Your loan application will be cancelled and you won't have any loan to repay. 

No loan payments will be made to your college on your behalf until you've attended the course for at least two weeks. If you leave the course after more than two weeks, you'll be liable to repay the loan payments made to the college on your behalf, for the time you have been on the course.

It'll depend on how much of the course you've undertaken. If you've done less than two weeks you can simply cancel the loan and this will not count against you. 

Before making this decision you should speak to the college, as it may be possible to transfer to the new course under the same loan rather than having to apply for a new one. 

The Advanced Learner Loan only covers the tuition fee you're being charged by the college for your course. However, the college may be able to provide financial support for course related costs for those facing financial hardship. 

Yes. Previous qualifications you've achieved won't affect your ability to apply for your first loan. However, you might not be able to get another loan to do the same type of course at the same level. 

Repayments will start in the April after you complete or leave your course, if you are earning more than £27,295 a year. However you can make voluntary repayments at any time in order to pay off your loan quicker. 

You'll need to consider whether it;s the best value loan for you in your circumstances. If you want impartial advice on managing your money contact the Money, Advice Service at: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

Yes. If you go abroad the Student Loans Company (SLC) will make arrangements with you to collect repayments whilst you are outside of the UK tax system. However, if you move abroad the repayment thresholds will vary according to price level indices for that country. You will be required to pay a fixed instalment to be calculated by the SLC.

Some of the interest on your loan will be based on inflation (Retal Price Index (RPI)) +3% during the period of study and up until the end of April after you leave the course.

From this point interest is linked to earning and will be:

• RPI for those earning less that#n £27,295 a year
• One a sliding scale between RPI and RPI +3% for earnings between £27,295 and £46,305 a year
• RPI +3% for individuals earning more than £40,305 

The Retail Price Index (RPI) is a measure of UK inflation. It measures changes to the cost of living in the UK. The UK government uses the rate or RPI for many purposes, including setting the interest rate charged on student loans.