The United Kingdom (UK) government has officially announced the opening of applications for student finance for the 2026-27 academic year.
The Student Loans Company (SLC) made this announcement in a press release. The SLC said the UK student finance applications for 2026-27 are now open for full-time undergraduate students in England and Wales.
Starting this week, prospective and continuing students can log into their online accounts to secure funding for the upcoming academic year.
The government has confirmed a significant shift in funding for this cycle. To keep pace with rising costs, maintenance loans and tuition fee caps have been increased by 2.71%, aligning with inflation. For the 2026-27 period, the maximum tuition fee for standard full-time courses has risen to £9,790.
The statement reads: “Full-time undergraduate students from England whose course starts between 31 August and 31 December 2026 can now apply for student finance.
“SLC is encouraging students to apply before the deadline of Friday 15 May 2026 to ensure their funding is in place for the start of their course. Students can apply even if they don’t yet have a confirmed university place, they can select the course they are most likely to study and update their application later if their plans change.
“Applications can take up to six to eight weeks to process. Students do not need to contact SLC to check their application status, they can track progress through their online account and will be notified if any further information is needed.
Tips for applying:
- Apply now even without a confirmed university place, you can update your course details at any time.
- Have your National Insurance number, passport, and bank details to hand before you start.
- Submit any supporting evidence requested through your online account.
Helpful resources are available on the SFE campaign page, including a student guide covering everything you need to know about Student Finance England, advice on preparing your application, and self-service support for common questions.
“Students from England whose course starts from January 2027 onwards will apply for funding through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).
“Applications for the LLE are expected to be available from September 2026. Find out more about the LLE on GOV.UK.
“Full-time undergraduate students applying for a Tuition Fee loan only can also apply now for 2026 to 2027. More information is available on GOV.UK.
Student Finance Wales
“Full-time undergraduate applications for 2026 to 2027 are now open for students from Wales. SLC is encouraging students to apply before the deadline of Friday 29 May 2026 to ensure their funding is ready for the start of their course.
“Students in Wales can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover fees and a Maintenance Loan to help with living costs. A Welsh Government Learning Grant, which does not need to be repaid, may also be available.
“Visit the Discover Student Finance page for guidance on how to apply, what to expect throughout your student finance journey, and details of the funding available.
Student Finance Northern Ireland
“Full-time undergraduate applications for 2026 to 2027 are now open for students from Northern Ireland. SLC is encouraging students to apply before the deadline of Thursday 30 April 2026 to ensure their funding is in place for the start of their course.
“A range of financial support is available to students from Northern Ireland. Visit the Student Finance NI guidance page to find out what you may be eligible for.”
