Frequently asked questions

No. Our guidance is free for students. We are paid by the institutions we work with, so you never receive a bill from us for choosing a course, applying or arranging Student Finance.

Yes. Many of the students we support are returning to education after years of work or raising a family. A large number of our programmes accept mature applicants on the basis of experience, an interview and a short written task rather than recent exam results.

Eligible home students can usually apply to Student Finance England for a Tuition Fee Loan, which is paid straight to the institution, and a Maintenance Loan for living costs. We will check your eligibility with you and help you complete the application step by step.

Normally a valid passport or national ID, proof of your current address, your National Insurance number if you have one and, if you are not a British or Irish citizen, a share code showing your immigration status. Certificates and a CV help but are not always essential.

Most of our partner programmes have three intakes a year, in January, May and September. Some postgraduate and research programmes have one or two intakes. Each course page lists its own start dates.

We can explain the Student visa route, check that your documents are in order and guide you through the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) stage. We are not immigration lawyers, so for complex cases we will tell you clearly when you need regulated legal advice.

A straightforward application can be completed in a week. Interviews, assessments and Student Finance usually take a further two to six weeks, so we recommend starting at least two months before the intake you want.

Yes. Documents you upload are stored in a private, access-controlled area that is never publicly reachable, sensitive numbers are encrypted, and only authorised admissions staff can see them. You can read the full details in our Privacy Policy.