Sorting out your finances early will help make your student journey much smoother.
If you are an international student, please visit our dedicated web page.
Applying for funding
If you're eligble, you can apply for student finance even if you haven't decided where you'll be studying or living. The online application is quick and easy—it takes less than 30 minutes!
As an undergraduate, you may be eligible to apply for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance to cover your fees.
You may also be able to apply for a government maintenance loan to help with living costs. Unlike the tuition fee loan, the amount you receive depends on your household income. Additionally, you might qualify for extra financial support, such as grants or allowances, if you have a low income, a disability, children, or caring responsibilities.
If you haven't applied yet, you can do so at gov.uk/student-finance before the deadline. This website also provides detailed information on eligibility criteria.
If you want any advice on what you can apply for you can also contact our student support advisers.
Some postgraduate courses come with funding that covers tuition fees, living costs, or both—for example, PGCE and pre-registration healthcare courses such as MSc Nursing (Adult/Mental Health). You may also be eligible for government bursaries or grants.
If you haven't applied yet, you can do so at gov.uk/student-finance before the deadline. This website also provides advice and guidance on eligibility criteria. For further support, our student support advisers can help you explore your funding options.
For information on funding for other postgraduate courses, please visit the Finance and budgeting as a postgraduate.
Top tip!
Please ensure that you use exactly the same name to apply to the University as you do to apply to Student Finance. Any difference between the names used could cause delays in the processing of your payment.
In order for your payments to be released to you, your information with the Student Loan Company must match the information held by the University: your names, date of birth, year of study (e.g. Foundation Year, Year 1 etc), and the correct title of the course you are studying.
Any information that does not match could cause delays in the processing of your payment.
If there is a mismatch, you will need to contact our Student Record Team and/or the Student Loan Company to provide evidence of the correct information.
Your Student Support Number (SSN)
Your Student Support Number (SSN) is a unique identification number given to you by Student Finance. We use your Student Support Number if we need to contact Student Finance on your behalf.
Your SSN usually consists of 13 digits: four letters, followed by eight numbers and another letter (e.g. letter (e.g. SFDU00000000A). You'll find it on documentation sent to you by Student Finance, or by logging into your student finance account.
If you contact the i-zone or the Fees Team regarding your student loan, please make sure you quote your Student Support Number.
Please note: Your Student Support Number is not the same as your Customer Reference Number (CRN), which is given to you by the Student Loans Company when you first set up your account and usually consists of 11 letters.
How to use your Student Finance online account
Student Finance has created a helpful series of explainer videos on the common processes you’ll need to complete when applying for student finance and take you through them step-by-step.
When will I receive my maintenance loan?
A key part of budgeting is to know when you will receive your maintenance loan.
If you are entitled to an Undergraduate maintenance loan and you are fully or temporarily registered up to 7 working days before the start of your course, you should receive your first payment on the scheduled instalment date as per your Financial Notification from Student Finance. This is usually the start date of your course. (Once you've registered, you can check your start date in MyRecord under 'Your Course Details'; in most cases, it's also listed in your Course Essentials.)
If, however, you register close to or after your course start date your loan will be paid within 7 working days. So, you’ll need some money to last until your first instalment is paid.
If you do not receive your finance after these timeframes, please contact the i-zone.
You may notice that it continues to say 'awaiting confirmation' on your Student Finance England portal, even after you have completed registration. This is perfectly normal as it usually takes 24-48 hours for your status to be updated once we have confirmed your registration. Any information that does not match (e.g. your names, date of birth, year of study and course title) could cause a delay in the processing of your payment.
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Student Finance payment statuses |
What this means for you |
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Checking details |
The Student Loans Company (SLC) need to check your National Insurance number before they can pay you. Go to ‘Your actions to complete’ in your student finance account to make sure it's correct. |
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Scheduled |
SLC have scheduled your payments. Before they can pay you, we will need to confirm to them that you’re registered on your course. We’ll do this one you are temporarily or fully registered on your course. |
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Awaiting confirmation |
SLC are awaiting confirmation from us that you are registered on your course (either fully or temporarily). SLC will pay you after they get this. You may notice that it continues to say 'awaiting confirmation' on your Student Finance England portal, even after you have completed registration; this is perfectly normal as it usually takes 24-48 hours for your status to be updated once we have confirmed your registration. However, if any information that we supply to SLC doesn't match their own records (e.g. there is a discrepancy in terms of your name, date of birth, year of study or course title) your payment could be delayed. |
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Ready to be paid |
SLC don’t need anything else from you or us. Your payment will be made on the date shown. |
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Payment in progress |
Your payment is on its way. It can take up to three working days for it to appear in your bank account. |
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Paid |
SLC have made a payment to your bank account. |
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Blocked |
SLC cannot pay you. You should already know about this. |
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Cancelled |
SLC have cancelled your payment. You should already know about this. |
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Failed |
Your payment has been returned to SLC. Go to ‘Your personal details’ in your student finance account to check your bank details. |
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Suspended |
SLC will not make any more payments to you at this time. This is because you’ve suspended your course. |
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Withdrawn |
You’ve withdrawn from your course. This means the SLC will not make any more payments to you. |
Self-Funding
If you are self-funding and paying your tuition fees yourself (this includes family members making payment on your behalf) you will be given the opportunity to pay in full or set up an instalment arrangement (if applicable) when you complete your Online Registration.
If your school or employer is paying your fees you must complete a Sponsor Request via MyRecord and upload evidence of the funding (Purchase Order or a funding letter). Please note: if you are applying for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance you do not need to complete a Sponsor Request.
For any queries please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
Opening a student bank account
Once you are either fully or temporarily registered, you can get a Bank Letter to prove you are a Canterbury Christ Church University student. Simply click on the 'My Letters' tab in MyRecord and follow the instructions.
If you are registered but can't see the 'My Letters' tab in MyRecord, you may need to click the '+' to reveal any additional hidden tabs along the top menu.
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