Money

More on financial support

What you need to know

In July 2007 the government announced some changes to the student finance package. These will affect you if you are planning on going into higher education in September 2008 or later.

This includes Honours Degrees, HNCs, HNDs, Foundation Degrees and so on. Full time and part time students can get help, but different packages of support apply.

More people will now be eligible for support so it's important that you find out if the changes will affect you. Going on to higher education can be quite expensive with the cost breaking down into two main areas: your tuition fees and the actual cost of living whilst studying.

This is the main reason why the changes have been introduced to allow you to continue your education whilst getting financial help to make it easier.

What you can do

• Visit the DirectGov website and their section on student finance for at this web address: www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance.
• The DirectGov site also contains a bursary map which details additional finacial support available across the country: http://bursarymap.direct.gov.uk/.
• Phone the Student Loans Company Customer Support Office on 0845 607 7577 (8am to 8pm Mon to Fri, 9am and 5:30pm Sat and Sun) for any general questions about student finance.
• If you have more detailed questions about student finance, including eligibility, you can call the Student Support Helpline on 0845 602 0583 (10am to 4pm Mon to Fri).
• You can contact a Connexions Direct Adviser for information, either by phone on 080 800 13 2 19, by text on 07766 4 13 2 19, by textphone 08000 968 336, by adviser online or by email.

• Read full article on 'More on financial support'
• Who can help with 'More on financial support'?