At the start of term, we receive many queries relating to student finance and funding, including what to do about late loans or when Halls rent is due. Here is a list of the most typical questions – with answers – to help you while you study with us.
My loan is late, what should I do?
Has your application been fully assessed yet? Log onto your online account or contact Student Finance to check that you have submitted all of the relevant information and your signed declaration form.
After enrolment, it can take up to five working days for the first instalment of funding to be paid. If you’ve been fully financially assessed and are still waiting after this time, contact Student Finance to check they have received confirmation of your attendance from the University. This may sometimes be an issue if you are studying part-time while repeating modules.
If you have not yet been fully assessed or your first instalment of funding is delayed, you may be eligible to apply for a Bridging Loan of up to £250 to help cover your essential costs and/ or a Childcare loan of up to £500 to help towards your childcare costs.
Have you applied for a student bank account? These often have an interest-free overdraft facility (terms and conditions apply). Further information is available online from Money Saving Expert and Save the Student.
I’m living in Halls – when is my rent due?
You can check your rent payments by logging into the Accommodation portal – this link will have been emailed to you when you applied for a room in Halls. Please check your emails for details, and contact the Accommodation team if you have any queries.
I can’t afford to pay my rent, what can I do?
Don’t ignore the problem – contact the Income team if you are living in Halls, or your landlord / letting agency if you are renting privately. Discuss with them when you expect to be able to pay. If you cannot afford to pay the outstanding amount in one instalment, consider suggesting a payment plan, but be realistic about how much you can afford.
If you are having difficulty negotiating with your landlord, guidance is available from the Private Sector Housing Officer, as well as Northampton Citizens Advice .
You may be eligible to apply for the Financial Assistance Fund or EU Hardship Fund (eligibility criteria apply) for help towards rent and other living costs.
For details of part-time work opportunities, contact the Changemaker Hub.
Our Money matters blog and National Student Money Week (NSMW) page have lots of information and links about budgeting and money management (as well as increasing your income).
Have you applied for a student bank account? These often have an interest-free overdraft facility (terms and conditions apply), further information is available online from Money Saving Expert and Save the Student.
I can’t afford to pay my tuition fees, what can I do?
Are you eligible to apply for funding from the government? Check online for further details.
Contact the Income team to discuss when you expect to be able to pay. If you cannot afford to pay the outstanding amount in one instalment, consider suggesting a payment plan, but be realistic about how much you can afford.
You may be eligible to apply for the Financial Assistance Fund or EU Hardship Fund (eligibility criteria apply) for help towards living costs; please be aware that tuition fees are not included within assessments.
Consider getting a part-time job – for details of opportunities, contact the Changemaker Hub.
Think about ways to cut down on spending – our Money Matters blog and National Student Money Week (NSMW) page have lots of information and links about budgeting and money management (as well as increasing your income).
Have you applied for a student bank account? These often have an interest-free overdraft facility (terms and conditions apply), further information is available online from Money Saving Expert and Save the Student.
Am I eligible for a bursary/ scholarship?
Details of bursaries and scholarships including eligibility criteria and payment dates can be found on our website.
We hope you found this helpful! If your question is not answered here, you can contact us through this blog, by email money@northampton.ac.uk , phone (01604) 893299, or come to a Drop-in.