Know Where to Look

A quick-reference and signposting guide to trusted, independent sources of information and advice for UK Higher Education students. 

If in doubt, your university's Student Support / Advice Service should always be your first port of call, they know your specific circumstances and institution's rules.

Funding & Student Finance (by nation)

Nation	Funding Body	Notes
England	Student Finance England	Apply, manage, and check your loan/grant entitlement
Northern Ireland	Student Finance NI
Wales	Student Finance Wales
Scotland	Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
All nations (repayment)	Student Loans Company	Manages repayment once you graduate

Regulations & guidance (for advisers or anyone who wants the detail):

●       Education (Student Support) Regulations ~ current year — regulations are reissued annually, so search rather than link a fixed year

●       SLC Practitioners' guidance & information notices

●       GOV.UK Funding and Finance For Students

Specific Student Groups

Group	Where to look
Disabled students	Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) — Gov.uk · PIP · Citizens Advice · Disability Rights UK · your university's Disability Support Service
Students with dependants (children/adult dependants)	Your national student finance body (above) offers dependants' grants — check their site for the current forms
NHS-funded students (nursing, midwifery, allied health)	NHS Business Services Authority ~ NHS Bursary/Learning Support Fund
Social work students	Gov.uk ~ Social Work Bursaries
Trainee teachers	Get Into Teaching ~ funding & bursaries
International & EU students	UKCISA the definitive independent source on fee status, visas and post-Brexit rules · British Council ~ Study UK
Postgraduates	UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) · Prospects ~ funding postgraduate study · Gov.uk ~ Postgraduate Loans
Distance learners	Open University  most universities also offer distance learning options; check individual sites
Care leavers	Become (formerly The Who Cares Trust) · Coram Voice · Children's Commissioner · Gov.uk ~ leaving care
Estranged students	UCAS Students without parental support · ask your university's Advice Service (ask specifically about estrangement support and hardship funds)
Scholarships & bursaries	Check your specific university's website · Office for Students ~ Access & Participation

Money, Banking & Debt

Topic	Where to look
Student bank accounts	MoneyHelper ~ student & graduate accounts · Money Saving Expert ~ student accounts
Budgeting	MoneyHelper ~ budget planner
Debt worries	National Debtline · StepChange · Citizens Advice ~ debt & money
Welfare benefits	Gov.uk ~ benefits · Turn2us · Citizens Advice — benefits
Charities, trust funds & hardship grants	Turn2us grant search · Family Action · Helena Kennedy Foundation (bursaries for care leavers/estranged/asylum-seeking students) · your university's Hardship Fund / Access to Learning Fund
Tax & working while studying	Gov.uk ~ student jobs & tax · Low Incomes Tax Reform Group · HMRC

Housing

Topic	Where to look
Tenancy rights & advice	Shelter · Unipol (student-specific accreditation & advice)
General housing/benefits crossover	Citizens Advice
Also check	Your university's Accommodation/Advice Service — many will check a private tenancy agreement before you sign

General & Independent Advice

●       Citizens Advice  free, independent, covers almost everything

●       MoneyHelper  the government-backed successor to the Money Advice Service, covers budgeting, debt, and student money

●       National Union of Students (NUS)

●       Your own university or students' union advice services are often the fastest route to help that's specific to your situation