1. Go Further, Go Higher CPD Conference 2019
University of Sheffield – June 26th 2019
Student Finance 2019/20
Kevin McMullan
Funding Information Team
Student Finance England
Students and their parents/partners can find out more about student finance, and all the topics covered in this presentation on:
SFE’s student finance zone at
SFE’s space on UCAS at
Gov.UK at
There’s more information and resources available for practitioners on our practitioner website at

2. CONTENTS The numbers... How does 2019 compare?
LETS HAVE A LOOK AT…
The numbers...
How does 2019 compare?
What is available for students starting in 2019/20?
(Know all the various sources of funding)
The Application Process – What is different?
(How is it different for Care Leaver’s, Estranged Students or Young Carers?)
Helping People understand Repayment
(How it all works)
Student Resources
(Some light, bedtime reading)

3. IN NUMBERS
CARE LEAVER AND ESTRANGEMENT APPLICATIONS (NEW)

4. IN NUMBERS
CARE LEAVER AND ESTRANGEMENT APPLICATIONS (RETURNERS)

5. STUDENT FINANCE AY 2019/20
WHAT IS AVAILABLE?

6. STANDARD ‘CORE’ SUPPORT
TUITION FEES AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT
Tuition Fees
Universities are currently allowed to charge a maximum of £9,250 per year
This figure confirmed for 2019/20 – no announcements on subsequent years
These fees go directly to the university to help them deliver courses and university facilities
Most of our 1.8 million applications choose to take out the full loan
For a factsheet to share with students and their parents/carers, please, all about the Tuition Fee Loan, click here...
Maintenance Loans
Care Leaver students will automatically be entitled to maximum support
Estranged students will automatically be entitled to maximum support
Ignore the tables, the charts and the calculations – take note of the maximum amount only

7. HOW MUCH MAINTENANCE LOAN?
NO FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT – MAX SUPPORT AWARDED
Household Income
Home
(£58,215)
Elsewhere (62,212)
London
(£69,888)
£25,000 & under
£7,529
£8,944
£11,672
£30,000
£6,895
£8,303
£11,020
£35,000
£6,260
£7,661
£10,367
£40,000
£5,626
£7,019
£9,714
£45,000
£4,991
£6,377
£9,062
£50,000
£4,357
£5,735
£8,409
£55,000
£3,722
£5,093
£7,756
£60,000
£3,314
£4,452
£7,103
£65,000
£4,168
£6,451
£70,000
£5,812
Students on household incomes of £25,000 or less qualify for the maximum loan for living costs at the respective Home, Elsewhere or London rate of loan.
Home Rate: Students with household incomes above £25,000 lose £1 of loan for every complete £7.88 of income above £25,000 until the amount they receive reaches 44% of the maximum amount (indicated in the table above), at which point there is no further reduction. London Rate: Students with household incomes above £25,000 lose £1 of loan for every complete £7.66 of income above £25,000 until the amount they receive reaches 49.8% of the maximum amount (indicated in the table above), at which point there is no further reduction. Elsewhere Rate: Students with household incomes above £25,000 lose £1 of loan for every complete £7.79 of income above £25,000 until the amount they receive reaches 46.6% of the maximum amount (indicated in the table above), at which point there is no further reduction.
Care Leaver Students and Students Estranged from their parents will be automatically entitled to maximum support

8. TUITION AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT
PAID IN 3 INSTALMENTS, FIRST DAY OF EACH TERM…

9. STUDENT FINANCE 2019/20 SFE DISABLED STUDENTS ALLOWANCES DSAs Support:
Is available in addition to the standard student finance package,
Does not have to be repaid,
Looks at the specific needs of the individual student
Can be specialist equipment, travel allowance, non-medical help
A package of support compiled with recommendations for SLC and University
ELEMENT OF DSA SUPPORT
(as recommended in the Needs Assessment Report)
MAXIMUM
DSA AMOUNT
Non-medical personal helper
22,603
Major items of specialist equipment
5,684
Other disability-related expenditure
1,899
Travel Allowance
Uncapped
Childcare Grant
Helps with childcare costs for dependent children aged under 15 at the beginning of the academic year (or under
17 if they have special educational needs) in registered or approved childcare. For more details on what childcare
qualifies, visit
Parents’ Learning Allowance
This allowance can help with course-related costs for students with dependent children.
Adult Dependants’ Grant
The grant can help if a student has an adult who depends on them financially. This can’t be the student’s grown-up child or other adult who gets student finance.
Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) help pay for extra costs a student might have as a direct result of their disability including a long-term health condition, mental-health condition or specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia or dyspraxia. DSAs are additional support available to students who may otherwise be prevented from attending a higher-education course because of a disability.

10. DISABLED STUDENTS’ ALLOWANCES
BREAKDOWN OF CONDITIONS

11. Get additional support
GRANTS FOR DEPENDANTS
THE NEW CALCULATIONS
Childcare Grant:
Based on 85% of actual registered/approved childcare costs, subject to a
maximum of:
£ per week for one child £ per week for two or more children
Parents’ Learning Allowance:
Help with course-related costs for students with dependent children, the
amount received will be between £50 and £1,716
Adult Dependants’ Grant:
Normally for the student’s partner or other adult financially dependent on
the student where the adult’s net income is not more than £3,796 p.a.
The maximum grant available is: £3,007
Are you a Young Carer?
Get additional support

12. SFE INCOMES vs EXPENDITURE Travel? Food and Lifestyle Study Materials
CONSIDER ALL THE COSTS - AND SUPPORT…
Accommodation
Travel?
Food and Lifestyle
Study Materials
SFE
Bursaries
and Scholarships
Part Time Work
Local Authority Care Leaver subsidy?
NHS Learner Support Fund
Students doing NHS courses including nursing and midwifery should visit to find out more about the Learner Support Fund

13. APPLICATIONS – HOW TO APPLY
APPLICATION AND EVIDENCE

14. STUDENT FINANCE APPLICATIONS
BEST PRACTICE
We have received 817,601 full time applications for 2019/20 so far – don’t leave it too late
Students don’t need a confirmed place at university or college to apply. Online at
Get an application in – you can change any details later if needed
Do not include your income – we don’t include your part time work in our assessments
Remember your additional evidence – either with your initial application or at a later date
Read, understand and agree to the loan Terms and Conditions
EU Students still need to download and complete a paper application form!
Other notes of importance for students;
Make a note of your account log-in details and keep them safe
Agree to share information from your application, this helps apply for many bursaries and some scholarships
Make sure any evidence and information needed to support your application is supplied first time (yours and your parent/partners’)
Submit your application even if there is a delay in getting income details from your parent/sponsor so some funding (Tuition and Maintenance Loan) will be available when you start your course
If SFE ask you to send any additional evidence or documents to support your application use recorded delivery!
Before starting the application, students should have the following to hand:
• Passport - SLC can check identity using valid UK passport details for most students
• University and course details – Remember apply with your first choice initially so your application can be assessed as soon as possible
• Bank account details
• National Insurance number
• Parent’s or partner’s National Insurance number and income details

15. STUDENT FINANCE APPLICATIONS
SCREENS TO LOOK OUT FOR…
EU Students still need to download and complete a paper application form!
Other notes of importance for students;
Make a note of your account log-in details and keep them safe
Agree to share information from your application, this helps apply for many bursaries and some scholarships
Make sure any evidence and information needed to support your application is supplied first time (yours and your parent/partners’)
Submit your application even if there is a delay in getting income details from your parent/sponsor so some funding (Tuition and Maintenance Loan) will be available when you start your course
If SFE ask you to send any additional evidence or documents to support your application use recorded delivery!
Before starting the application, students should have the following to hand:
• Passport - SLC can check identity using valid UK passport details for most students
• University and course details – Remember apply with your first choice initially so your application can be assessed as soon as possible
• Bank account details
• National Insurance number
• Parent’s or partner’s National Insurance number and income details

16. STUDENT FINANCE APPLICATIONS
EVIDENCE FOR CARE LEAVER STUDENTS
An independent eligible student is an eligible student who has been looked after by a local authority (within the meaning of section 22 of the Children Act 1989(79) throughout any three-month period ending on or after the date on which the student reached the age of 16 and before the first day of the first academic year of the course (“the relevant period”) provided that the student has not, at any time during the relevant period, been under the charge or control of the student’s parents). The Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011; Schedule 4, paragraph 2(f).
In everyday language...a letter from a social worker/support worker confirming the student was in legal care of the LA for a 3 month period can be used as evidence of status

17. Estrangement Assessors
STUDENT FINANCE APPLICATIONS
EVIDENCE FOR ESTRANGED STUDENTS
An Estranged Student is defined by SLC as a student who has limited/sporadic
or no contact with either of their biological/legally adopted parents.
Evidence received from 3rd party, and should explain that he/she was aware of
the difficulties in the student’s family and their subsequent estrangement
A letter from a social worker
A letter from an advice worker, personal tutor or teacher
A letter from a doctor, counsellor, organisation, employer or a charity
A statement of incident from the police
A letter or statutory declaration signed/stamped by solicitor
A signed and dated Estrangement Declaration form
Estrangement Assessors /

18. STUDENT FINANCE APPLICATIONS
SUBMIT, MONITOR, CHECK YOUR NOTIFICATION

19. STUDENT FINANCE UPDATE AY 2019/20
REPAYMENT

20. STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS
THE ‘NEW’ PLAN 2 BASICS
Students won’t make repayments until their future income is over £25,725 annual,
£2,143 monthly and £494 weekly
If they study full-time, students will be due to start repaying in the April after completing or leaving/withdrawing from their course*
They’ll repay 9% of any income earned over £25,725 and if employed, deductions will be made from their pay through the HMRC tax system
If their income falls to £25,725 or below their repayments will stop
Any outstanding loan balance will be written off 30 years after entering repayment

21. STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS
ICR PLAN 2 REPAYMENT THRESHOLD COMPARISON
Monthly Repayment Amounts - :
Annual Gross Income
Monthly Repayment
£25,725)
£25,000 £0
£30,000
£32
£35,000
£69
£40,000
£107
£45,000
£144
£50,000
£182
Income Contingent Student Loans
Undergraduate loans 
Income Contingent Student Loans for pre-2012 (Plan 1) loans
From 1 September 2018 until 31 August 2019, the maximum interest rate that can be set for the existing Income Contingent Repayment Loans will be 3.3%. However, the low interest cap will be triggered, and therefore the rate to be charged from 1 September 2018 will be 1.75%.
From 6 April 2019, the repayment threshold for pre-2012 (Plan 1) loans will rise to £18,935.
Income Contingent Student Loans for post-2012 (Plan 2) loans
The repayment threshold for post-2012 (plan 2) loans will rise to £25,725 from 6 April 2019 to 5 April 2020.
Postgraduate Loans
From 1 September 2018 until 31 August 2019, the interest rate for borrowers in England taking out a Postgraduate Masters or a Doctoral loan will be 6.3% (RPI + 3%).
The repayment threshold for Postgraduate loans continues to be £21,000.
Mortgage Style Loans
From 1 September 2018 until 31 August 2019, the interest rate for mortgage style loans will be 3.3%
The deferment threshold for mortgage style loans will be £30,737.
Any queries from borrowers who have mortgage style loans should be addressed to their loan administrator.

22. i £ £ £ £ % % % % STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS THE ‘NEW’ PLAN 2 BASICS
Income linked ICR Plan 2 interest rates with £25,725 repayment threshold:
During study until
entering repayment
Interest Rate:
Retail Price Index +3% %
Interest rate is:
Set at RPI Only
Income:
Under £25,725
Interest Rate:
RPI Only %
Income:
£25,725 to £46,305
Interest Rate:
RPI + up to 3% %
Income Contingent Student Loans
Undergraduate loans 
Income Contingent Student Loans for pre-2012 (Plan 1) loans
From 1 September 2018 until 31 August 2019, the maximum interest rate that can be set for the existing Income Contingent Repayment Loans will be 3.3%. However, the low interest cap will be triggered, and therefore the rate to be charged from 1 September 2018 will be 1.75%.
From 6 April 2019, the repayment threshold for pre-2012 (Plan 1) loans will rise to £18,935.
Income Contingent Student Loans for post-2012 (Plan 2) loans
From 1 September 2018 until 31 August 2019, one or more interest rates may apply to you: 
Your circumstances
Interest rate
Whilst studying and until the April after leaving the course
RPI + 3% (6.3%)
If you come into repayment from April 2019
Variable interest, dependent upon income 
RPI (3.3%), where income is £25,725 or less, rising on a sliding scale up to RPI + 3% (6.3%), where income is £46,305 or more 
If you lose touch with SLC or do not send them the information they require
RPI + 3% (6.3%), irrespective of income, until SLC have the information they require 
The repayment threshold for post-2012 (plan 2) loans will rise to £25,725 from 6 April 2019 to 5 April 2020.
Postgraduate Loans
From 1 September 2018 until 31 August 2019, the interest rate for borrowers in England taking out a Postgraduate Masters or a Doctoral loan will be 6.3% (RPI + 3%).
The repayment threshold for Postgraduate loans continues to be £21,000.
Mortgage Style Loans
From 1 September 2018 until 31 August 2019, the interest rate for mortgage style loans will be 3.3%
The deferment threshold for mortgage style loans will be £30,737
Income:
Over £46,305
Interest Rate:
RPI +3% %
The interest rate is updated once a year using the RPI figure from March which is carried forward and applied in September i

23. SFE RESOURCES www.facebook.com/SLCRepayment
REPAYMENT SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS

24. STUDENT FINANCE UPDATE AY 2019/20
SFE RESOURCES

25. SFE RESOURCES WWW.THE STUDENT ROOM.CO.UK/STUDENTFINANCE
Articles and information from The Student Room Zone can be shared across
social media channels by clicking the relevant links:

26. SFE RESOURCES nnecl.org NNECL.ORG Click image to go to page!
The National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) was established in June 2013 by higher education institutions and national organisations committed to the progression and support of Care Leavers in higher education.
Working together NNECL aims to transform the progression of young people in or leaving care into and through further and higher education, by championing the continuous improvement of local practice, multi-agency partnerships and national collaboration.
Anyone working with Care Leavers in higher or further education can sign up to receive the NNECL newsletter, attend the annual event and to feed into the network or local and regional forums that support NNECL.

27. SFE RESOURCES www.propel.org.uk PROPEL Click image to go to page!
Where to find information and advice: the Propel website
To find the support offered by individual universities and colleges across the UK please visit the Propel website. 
Propel is an extensive online resource providing information and advice on how to apply to higher education and how to access support. It also lists other organisations that might be able to help with advice or advocacy. Propel is run by The Who Cares? Trust and will be live from late September 2015.

28. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

29. Kevin McMullan
Funding Information Partner Account Manager