Student Finance for the 2026-27 Academic Year

The Student Loans Company portal for 2026/27 online applications is scheduled to open on Monday 23 March 2026. Pupils can access it via the Student Finance NI website www.studentfinanceni.co.uk. This website contains extensive information for both students and parents as well as forms and guides which can be downloaded as required.

The closing date for applications this year is 30th April 2026, although we recommend that applications should be submitted as soon as possible. Course changes can be made after an application is submitted and assessed if required, so applicants do not need to wait for their results or firm choice before applying.

Pupils who receive EMA already have an account with the Student Loans Company and must apply for Student Finance using their EMA Customer Reference Number (11-digit number). They should not create a new account, or their support will be delayed.

All pupils should apply using either the name on their EMA account or the exact name on their passport or birth certificate. Pupils with a UK passport can input their passport details online. All other students must submit identity evidence to their local Student Finance office. Surnames should not contain spaces e.g. O’Neill, McGovern etc.

Parents should complete their details online as soon as the student’s online application is submitted to enable an assessment of financial support to be carried out. They must include their National Insurance (NI) number, as Student Finance will use the NI number to check parental income for the 2024-25 tax year directly with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). This allows us to gain the most accurate financial information and means that most parents will not be required to send evidence to their local Student Finance office.

If parents do not have a NI number or if they live or work outside the UK, then they must complete a separate form and send full evidence of their financial details for the 2024-25 tax year to their local Student Finance office by e-mail in support of the application. Information relating to what is required is provided on the application. If pupils apply online but we do not receive identity verification and parental information to enable us to assess household income, their applications are regarded as incomplete and will not be fully processed. Please ensure, therefore, that all pupils are aware of the consequences of submitting applications without valid identity and income details.

There is additional support available to students with disabilities (Disabled Students’ Allowances). Pupils who wish to apply for additional support should complete the online question relating to the Disabled Students’ Allowance which will direct them to the relevant form for completion and return.

Students who may potentially be eligible for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) should be encouraged to apply as early as possible. Early applications help ensure that any support funded through DSA can be arranged in time for the start of the academic year. Delaying an application until after exam results in August or late submission of evidence, means that essential support and equipment is not in place for the start of the course and can be delayed until later in the Academic Year.

Students who wish to apply for Part-Time Higher Education support can make their applications from late May.

A series of short information videos for pupils to view is available on the on the EA Student Finance home page https://www.eani.org.uk/help-available/student-finance/studentfinance-videos

If you have any enquiries about any aspect of Student Finance arising from the above or from the videos please do not hesitate to contact your local Student Finance NI office. Full details can be found here: https://www.eani.org.uk/help-available/student-finance