If you leave or suspend your studies you must: stop your student finance repay any student finance you are not entitled to Your student finance includes: Maintenance Loans Tuition Fee Loans grants and bursaries How much you need to repay and when you need to repay it depends on: what type of student finance you have when in the academic year you leave your course whether you’re planning to return to your course or not If you suspend because of illness or another serious personal reason , you might still be able to get student finance while you’re away.

Stopping your student finance

You must stop your student finance payments as soon as you decide to suspend your studies or leave your course early. This will reduce any repayments you may need to make. Student finance covers: Maintenance Loans Tuition Fee Loans grants and bursaries How to stop your student finance payments You must: tell your university or college that you’re leaving or suspending your course contact Student Finance England if you’re a student from England The way to make contact is different if you’re a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Contact: Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) Student Finance Wales Student Finance Northern Ireland If you suspend your studies you can usually postpone your student finance payments until you return.

Repaying your student finance

How much and when you have to repay depends on: the type of student finance you have when in the academic year you leave your course whether you’re planning to return to your course or not Your university or college will tell your student finance provider the date you finished your studies. Maintenance Loans Your student finance provider will reassess your Maintenance Loan based on the number of days you attended your course. If any of your loan covers the period after you’ve left your course, this counts as an overpayment and you’ll need to repay it straight away. The Student Loans Company will write and tell you how much you must repay. If you cannot repay the full amount, you can ask them to set up a repayment plan. The rest of your Maintenance Loan is repaid in the usual way once you start earning over the threshold amount . Example You get a Maintenance Loan of £1,200 to cover a 12 week term (£100 a week) and you leave your course after 8 weeks. You can keep £800 of the loan (8 weeks X £100 = £800), but you need to repay the remaining £400 straight away as this counts as an overpayment (4 weeks X £100 = £400). You repay the rest of the loan (£800) in the usual way. If you’re planning to return to your studies The amount you were overpaid will usually be taken off your student finance payments when you return, so you do not have to repay straight away. Grants and bursaries If any of your grant or bursary covers the period after you’ve left your course, this counts as an overpayment and you’ll need to repay it straight away. There are exceptions for: childcare grants taken in or after the 2019 to 2020 academic year grants taken in or before the 2016 to 2017 academic year You do not have to pay back overpayments on these grants until you’ve finished your course. Tuition Fee Loans You’ll need to repay at least some of your Tuition Fee loan for the year that you suspend or leave your course. You’ll need to pay back: 25% of the loan for the year if you suspend or leave in term 1 50% of the loan for the year if you suspend or leave in term 2 all the loan for the year if you suspend or leave in term 3 This is repaid in the usual way once you start earning over the threshold amount .

Getting student finance while you suspend your studies

You might be able to get student finance while you’re away from your course if you suspend due to illness, bereavement or another serious personal reason. You’ll need to reapply for funding if you return to your studies in a new academic year. Your funding will restart automatically if you return in the same academic year. If you suspend because you’re seriously ill You might be able to get a Maintenance Loan or any other grants you’re entitled to for 60 days from the date you suspended your course. Your university or college must tell the Student Loans Company ( SLC ) about your situation, including the date you suspended your course. Apply for extra money If you’re having financial difficulties after 60 days you might be able to get more Maintenance Loan or any other grants you’re entitled to. Call Student Finance England ( SFE ) to check if you’re eligible to apply for extra financial help. If you’re eligible, you’ll be asked to complete a financial hardship confirmation form. SFE will then let you know whether you qualify for further help. You’ll need your customer reference number when you call. Student Finance England Telephone: 0300 100 0607 Text relay (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0300 100 0607 Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm Saturday, 9am to 4pm Find out about call charges You’ll need your customer reference number when you call. If you’re a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, contact: Student Awards Agency Scotland ( SAAS ) Student Finance Wales Student Finance Northern Ireland You might also be able to get extra money from your university or college hardship fund . If you suspend for another serious personal reason You might still be able to get a Maintenance Loan or any other grants you’re entitled to while you’ve suspended your studies. Call Student Finance England ( SFE ) to check if you’re eligible to apply for extra financial help. If you’re eligible, you’ll be asked to complete a financial hardship confirmation form. SFE will then let you know whether you qualify for further help. Student Finance England Telephone: 0300 100 0607 Text relay (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0300 100 0607 Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm Saturday, 9am to 4pm Find out about call charges You’ll need your customer reference number when you call. If you’re a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, contact: Student Awards Agency Scotland ( SAAS ) Student Finance Wales Student Finance Northern Ireland

Student finance if you suspend or leave your course

Overview

If you leave or suspend your studies you must:

stop your student finance
repay any student finance you are not entitled to

Your student finance includes:

Maintenance Loans
Tuition Fee Loans
grants and bursaries

How much you need to repay and when you need to repay it depends on:

what type of student finance you have
when in the academic year you leave your course
whether you’re planning to return to your course or not

If you suspend because of illness or another serious personal reason, you might still be able to get student finance while you’re away.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Step 1 Check if you're eligible
1. Check if you're eligible for student finance
There’s a different process if you’re a student from:
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
- Jersey
- Guernsey
- Isle of Man
Step 2 Find out how much loan you could get
Find out the maximum tuition fee and maintenance loan you could get if you're a:
How much maintenance loan you get depends on where you'll study and your household income.
1. Use the student finance calculator to estimate your maintenance loan
You'll have to pay back any loan you get.
1. Find out how much you'll repay
2. Find out when you'll start repaying
and Check if you can get extra help
You might be able to get extra money if you:
You might also be able to get other financial help, for example from your university or the government.
1. Find out about extra help
Step 3 Prepare your application
Step 4 Apply online
1. Apply online
If you're eligible for Tuition Fee Loans, Maintenance Loans, or Maintenance Grants, you can apply online.

You'll need to create a student finance account if you're a new student or sign into an existing account if you're a returning student.

It can take up to 6 weeks to process your application. You might have to provide extra evidence.
or Apply by post
1. Apply by post
If you’re eligible for tuition fee-only funding, you must complete a form and send it by post instead. You cannot apply online.

You can also apply by post if you're unable to apply online.

It can take up to 6 weeks to process your application. You might have to provide extra evidence.
Step 5 Update your details if your circumstances change
You must update your application if your circumstances change. For example if you:
- change your course through clearing
- change where you're going to live - for example with your parents instead of halls
1. Find out how to update your application
Step 6 Make sure you can be paid
After you register at your university or college you'll usually get your maintenance loan paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term.

Use your student finance account to:
- update your bank details - for example if you open a student account
- check how much you'll be paid
- check when you'll be paid
1. Sign in to your student finance account
Step 7 Check what to do while you're studying
You'll need to reapply for student finance for each year of your course.

You must keep your details up to date throughout your course because some changes can affect your loan payments, for example if your household income or bank details change.
1. Check how to update your details
2. You are currently viewing: Find out what to do if you suspend or leave your course
Step 8 Check what to do when you stop studying
When you stop studying the Student Loans Company (SLC) will create a student loans repayment account for you.

The log in details will be the same as for your student finance account. You should check your contact details are correct.
1. Sign in to your student loan repayment account
You must update your employment details if:
- you leave the UK for more than 3 months
- SLC asks you to update them
1. Update your employment details
Step 9 Repay your loan
1. Find out how much you'll repay
2. Find out when you'll start repaying

Student finance if you suspend or leave your course

Overview

Step 1 Check if you're eligible

Step 2 Find out how much loan you could get

and Check if you can get extra help

Step 3 Prepare your application

Step 4 Apply online

or Apply by post

Step 5 Update your details if your circumstances change

Step 6 Make sure you can be paid

Step 7 Check what to do while you're studying

Step 8 Check what to do when you stop studying

Step 9 Repay your loan

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Student finance if you suspend or leave your course

Overview

Part of Get undergraduate student finance: step by step

Step 1: Check if you're eligible

Step 2: Find out how much loan you could get

and Check if you can get extra help

Step 3: Prepare your application

Step 4: Apply online

or Apply by post

Step 5: Update your details if your circumstances change

Step 6: Make sure you can be paid

Step 7: Check what to do while you're studying

Step 8: Check what to do when you stop studying

Step 9: Repay your loan

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Step 1 Check if you're eligible

Step 2 Find out how much loan you could get

Step 3 Prepare your application

Step 4 Apply online

Step 5 Update your details if your circumstances change

Step 6 Make sure you can be paid

Step 7 Check what to do while you're studying

Step 8 Check what to do when you stop studying

Step 9 Repay your loan