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Deadlines for 2010/11 applications

The sooner you apply, the more likely you are to have all your money in place for the start of term

The deadlines have now passed, but it's not too late to apply for student loans and grants.

Don’t leave it any longer. The sooner you apply, the more likely you are to have all your money in place for the start of term.

If you complete your application now - and send in all your evidence - we will do our best to arrange at least partial finance to get you started. Act quickly and we may still be able to get all your money sorted for the start of your course.

Don’t forget, your application is only complete when:

• you've submitted your application correctly
• you (and your parents or partner, if appropriate) have sent in all the evidence that we ask for
• you've signed and returned your 'online declaration' form (if you applied online)

You can download the 'online declaration' form when you login to your student finance account.

Gap-Year Students in 2011/12

New Welsh students from low income households will be eligible for a living costs grant (an Assembly Learning Grant or a Special Support Grant) of up to £5,600 - a maximum Grant of £5,000 is available in academic year 2010/11. Returning students from Wales will continue to get the current National Bursary payment.

What is a gap-year student?

If you're taking a gap-year and commencing a course in academic year 2011/12, you will be considered as a continuing student - so you will get the same fee and maintenance support package as those students who started their studies in academic year 2010/11.

You may be considered a gap-year student if:

• you take up an offer of a place in academic year 2011/12 which you held on or before 1 August 2010 (this can be either a conditional or an unconditional offer).
• you were offered a place on a course for academic year 2011/12 or before 1 August 2010; and your college or university confirms that the subject matter of the new course is similar to your original course. If the original course is no longer being provided, you may take a similar course at a different college or university.
• you had a conditional offer for AY 2010/11 but took up the place in academic year 2011/12 because you successfully appealed your exam results to meet the conditional offer

Statement by the Welsh Assembly Government (Pdf 144kb)

Changes to Higher Education Support for Gap Year Students AY 2011/2012 (Pdf 160kb)

Are you thinking of studying in Welsh or bilingually? Fancy extra funding?

If you choose to study bilingually or just in the Welsh language you could get more money.

Visit the mantais website for further information.

Essential Maintenance

Due to essential maintenance this website will be unavailable between 5pm - 9pm on Wednesday 8th September.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Beware of bogus emails

Student Finance Wales is aware of a number of email campaigns claiming to be Student Finance Wales. These bogus emails (phishing) may ask you to provide your security details. If you receive a suspicious email please forward it immediately to security @slc.co.uk.

Protecting you and your information is paramount to Student Finance Wales. Remember we will never email you asking for login or user details. It's easy to protect yourself online - to find out more about protecting your security, please visit our security information page

Get Safe Online - beware of 'too good to be true' job offers

Internet users and job hunters are being urged to be on their guard against ‘too good to be true’ money earning opportunities during the economic downturn.

According to Get Safe Online, the UK’s national internet security initiative, fraudsters are making use of legitimate channels - including mainstream recruitment websites - to mislead web users into thinking they have a genuine job as a ‘financial manager’, ‘money transfer agent’, ‘shipping manager’ or even ‘mystery shopper’ (purporting to evaluate customer service at high street banks).

Lured by the prospect of substantial earnings for relatively little work, many victims instead end up tagged as criminals, with their bank accounts suspended and liable to repay the full amount of laundered funds.

Get Safe Online week starts on the 16th November. To find out more, visit Get Safe Online

Changes to Student Finance from Academic Year 10/11 onwards

The Welsh Assembly Government is proposing changes to the student finance rules from Academic Year 10/11 onwards. If you start a higher education course in Academic Year 10/11 you will receive the remodelled package of student finance.

If you are continuing with a course you started before 10/11, you will be entitled to the same student finance arrangements as you were in previous years.

If you have an offer of a place before 1st August 2009, but take a gap year and start that course in the academic year 10/11, you will be entitled to the same student finance arrangements as you were in previous years.

However, if you are a continuing or gap year student and take out a new maintenance loan from academic year 10/11, you may be eligible for debt relief.

Please return to Student Finance Wales at a later date to find out more.

Important information if you have recently changed your bank details

Please login to your account and enter your new bank details as soon as possible. This will allow us to pay your next Student Finance instalment to the correct account.

Sending in evidence – passport, birth certificate, P60

If you have been asked to send in evidence to prove your identity or income, you need to do this as soon as possible. You can find out what evidence to send in by logging in to your online account.