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Applying for financial help

To apply for financial help, other than Support Funds, you should contact your local Student Finance NI office external link as soon as possible after applying for your course. Don't wait until you have a firm offer of a place. They will tell you what you have to do to get help in time for the start of your course.

You can find your Education and Library Board, by entering your postcode on the Student Finance NI Website.

If you need Support Funds when you begin your course, you should apply to your University/ College. Further information on Support Funds is available in our booklet Higher Education Support Funds 2010/11

If you are considering a student loan then visit www.studentfinanceni.co.uk external link which helps to give advice to students and their families on the financial support available to them. The site also has the facility for students to apply for their financial support on-line and gives advice on new student support arrangements, which come into effect in September 2011.

If you are planning to study at a publicly funded university / college in the Republic of Ireland you will not be required to pay tuition fees.

However, the college will make an additional charge of €2,000 for registration, examination fees and student services which will be paid for you by your Student Finance NI office. You, therefore, need to apply to your Student Finance NI office so that this charge will be paid even if you do not intend to apply for financial help towards your living costs.

Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) are available to help with the extra costs you may have as a result of your disability. Our booklets Financial support for Higher Education Students 2011/12 external link and Bridging the Gap 2011/12 external link provide more information. For copies of Bridging the Gap booklet, telephone the Student Finance ni Information line on 0845 600 0662.

More detailed information on financial support for full-time or part-time study and assistance with childcare is available in our booklets Financial support for Higher Education Students 2011/12 external link , Financial Support for Part-time Students 2011-12 and Childcare grant and other support for full-time student parents in Higher Education 2011-2012.