1. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (with notes)
Student Finance is available so that students can make the most of their time at university or college without having to worry about money.
However, in order to receive any Student Finance all students must be able to meet a number of eligibility criteria or conditions.

2. What determines eligibility for student finance?
Personal Eligibility – Residence / Age
Previous Study
Course
University or College
Other conditions
There are a number of areas that Student Finance NI must look at to determine if a student is due any financial support to follow a full time higher education course. Personal eligibility is normally decided at the beginning of the course, and continues through to the end of the course, or until the student leaves the course.
So the first condition is Personal eligibility. This means that the student has to comply with residence and age criteria. To be considered as a UK student, every student must fulfil certain residence requirements. The student also has to be under 60 on 1st September if they want to apply for the Maintenance Loan.
Should the student have studied a higher education course in the past, this too may affect their eligibility for student finance.
Then there’s course eligibility – so the course has to be a course of higher education that attracts funding from public funds. The most common include a First degree, such as a BSc, a BA, a BEng, a Foundation degree or the Higher National Diploma or Higher National Certificate – more commonly known as the HND or HNC. Eligible courses also include a Postgraduate Certificate of Education or what we call a PGCE and also some Initial Teacher Training, also known as ITT courses.
Student Finance NI also has to consider whether the student’s proposed university or college is publicly funded and in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland, or if it is a privately funded institution which runs individual courses that also receive government funding.
If you have any concerns you can make contact with your local Student Finance Office who will be happy to give you any advice and guidance.

3. Was living here for the three years immediately before this date; and
Residence
The student normally lives in Northern Ireland and is living here prior to the first day of the first year of their course; and
Was living here for the three years immediately before this date; and
Has settled status – meaning the student can live in the UK without the Home Office placing any restrictions on them.
At times determining residence eligibility can be confusing for students and parents alike.
However, where the majority of school leavers have always resided in the United Kingdom and their permanent home or family address is in Northern Ireland, they will meet the basic residence criteria.
For those applications that are more complex, the staff at the Student Finance NI office will look at the student’s details in full and, in some cases, request additional information such as documentation from the Home Office, working visas, work contracts, etc.

4. Age at 1st September of 1st year of course
Under 60 to apply for a Maintenance Loan
No age limit to apply for –
Tuition Fee Loan
Maintenance Grant / Special Support Grant
Dependants Grants
Disabled Students Allowance
Travel (if applicable)
The student has to be under 60 on 1st September of the first academic year of their course if they want to apply for the Maintenance Loan, otherwise known as the loan for living costs. But there are no age restrictions in relation to the Maintenance Grant. It is worth noting, that an applicant who is over 60 may qualify for the Special Support Grant instead.
Again, the age criterion does not apply to entitlement to the tuition fee loan, nor does it apply to any of the dependants’ grants, including childcare grants, nor to the Disabled Students Allowance or travel grant.
You will find more information on the different Loans and Grants in our other Presentation called “What Financial Support is Available”.

5. Previous Study
Previous study may affect eligibility for student finance, for example -
Students who hold a qualification and decide to study another course may be restricted in the student support package for their new course
Only some degree courses attract funding if a student decides to study a second degree course
If the student has studied a higher-education course before and received funding they may not get any financial help for a second course. As a general rule, Tuition Fee Loans are available for the full length of the student's course, plus one extra year if needed.
Some supplementary grants may also be available to those who have previously studied in the UK or Republic of Ireland.
Students who have attained (for example) a Higher National Diploma or Foundation Degree through full time study are not eligible for fee or grant support for the first year of a degree course. Full financial support would normally be available for the second and later years of study.
From the academic year 2014/15 all students who have a Level 4, 5 or Foundation Degree / Higher National Diploma or Certificate obtained on a PART TIME basis will be eligible for FULL STUDENT SUPPORT in year 1 of a full time first degree.
However, the Student Support Regulations make an exception for students taking courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, architecture, social work and postgraduate Initial Teacher Training (ITT). The Social Work degree must be studied at a NI HEI to be considered for support. Students will continue to be eligible for loans for living costs, even if they already hold a degree. But they will (in some instances) be responsible for payment of their tuition fees to the institution for the duration of their new course.
If you have previously studied and are unsure of the support available to you, please contact your local Student Finance office.

6. The most common types include –
Course
For the course to be eligible it must be of a certain type and be leading to a recognised HIGHER EDUCATION qualification
The most common types include –
First Degree (BSc, BA, BEd, MEng, etc)
Foundation Degree
Higher National Diploma / Certificate
Diploma of Higher Education
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Only designated courses will attract student support. For the majority of students commencing higher education in September the full time courses they are considering attending will be approved for financial assistance within the current Regulations.
The most common types of course are the First Degree – this could be a BSc, a BA a MEng. There also are the other full time programs such as the Foundation Degree, Higher National Diploma or Certificate otherwise known as the HND or HNC.
Eligible courses also include the Postgraduate Certificate of Education or PGCE and some Initial Teacher Training, known as ITT courses.
It’s worth mentioning that if the student is ‘personally eligible’ but their course is not a course that attracts public funding then no financial support can be approved by Student Finance NI.
However if a student who is ‘personally eligible’ changes to a different course which does attract public funding then a student could reapply.
As always, you can obtain accurate advice by contacting the staff at your local Student Finance office.

7. University or College
The university or college must be publicly funded by the Government and be located in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland OR
Privately funded but running individual courses that receive public funding
The majority of students will attend a recognised University or College in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland. You will know some of these - the Ulster University, Queen Margaret University Edinburgh, Queen’s University in Belfast, University College Cork, Belfast Metropolitan College. These are only a few.
The rules around privately funded institutions can be quite complex but there are some instances where a course at a private institute can be specifically designated for support so the student can apply to Student Finance NI for funding. Fees may be greater for a private institution and an eligible student will only be entitled to receive the maximum tuition fee loan at the NI rate, ie £4,030 (2017/18).
If, for any reason, a student thinks that their Institution may not fall into the normal criteria to be considered as eligible for finance, they should still make application in the normal way and the staff at their local Student Finance NI office will check the eligibility.

8. An application must be submitted within the required time
Other conditions
Eligibility must be demonstrated before Student Finance NI can make an assessment
Eligibility is only checked once - at the beginning of the student’s studies
An application must be submitted within the required time
Applicants must not be in arrears with Student Finance NI / Students Loans Company if the student has previously taken out a loan – all repayments must be up to date
As you are now aware all students must be able to meet a number of eligibility criteria or conditions and this eligibility check is the first focus of staff at the Student Finance NI office. The good news is – it is only checked once at the beginning of a student’s application process.
It is worth noting that there are a number of deadlines to be met. It is very important that we receive your application with all the appropriate evidence by the published date. This means you can be confident that you’ll receive your first payment at the start of term. Please remember if the deadline passes we do our best to process your application as soon as possible, however your first payment may not be available at the start of term.
The application should be sent within 9 months of the start of your academic year, otherwise you may lose your full entitlement to student finance.
If you are behind with repayments on a previous loan, you may not be able to apply for student finance until you have resolved this issue. We would recommend that you contact the Student Loans Company for accurate advice to enable your application to be progressed.

9. Other Support Available
Help to cover 2 main expenses i.e. tuition fees and day to day living costs
Help for students with children
Help for students who have a disability
Assessed through Student Finance NI
Specific queries should be directed to the student’s local Student Finance Office
Financial support is available for students to help meet their two main expenses of tuition fees and day to day living costs.
There is additional financial support available for students who have children and for students who have a disability. You can find more information about additional financial support in our other presentations and on our website.
Use the Education Authority finder on our website to get the telephone number and address of the local student finance offices.