Parents & Carers - Applying For Help
The information on this page is intended for parents and other advisers of young people who are thinking about going into higher education in 2004.
Step 1 - Get hold of an application form
Your Local Education Authority (LEA) may have already sent your child an application form (for new students this is called a PN1. For continuing students it is called a PR1).
If they have not sent your child a form you should contact them to get one.
The LEA contact for SURREY is:
Surrey Education Services
Student Support Service
County Hall
Penrhyn Road
KINGSTON UPON THAMES
KT1 2EX
020 8541 8800
Online applications - from late April you will be able to apply on-line by visiting the Student Finance Direct website at www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk.
Your child can also download a copy of the form. Please note - we are unable to send you a copy of the form through the post.
To help you and your child complete the form, a set of downloadable guidance notes will be sent to you by your LEA. The forms and notes are also available at: www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/formsandguides/for_forms.shtml.
Step 2 - Fill in an application form
You and your child should complete the application form and return it to your LEA by post (or send the on line version through the web site at (www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk) giving all the details you are asked for. This form will also ask your child to say whether they wish to take out a student loan.
Step 3 - Notice and payment
Your LEA will be able to tell your child whether they are eligible to receive help and if so, how much. They will also tell you if you will have to contribute towards your child's fees and living costs. Payments are normally made at the start of the term.
Timing of applications
We strongly recommend that if your child wants their first installment of financial support to be available at the start of term, they should return their application form as soon as possible. They can apply from March 2004, but must return their form no later than 2 July 2004 (new students) or 28 May 2004 (current students). Late applications may result in late payments.
Before completing their application form, we suggest you, and your child, read 'Financial Support for Higher Education Students in 2004/05'. This is available from your LEA or from our Guides page.
Change of circumstances or details
If you or your child's circumstances change at any stage your child must tell your LEA immediately. They can use the Change of Circumstances form (CO1) to do this.
Further information
Further details of how student support works and how much help is available can be accessed from our Financial Help page.