The Student Loans Company has extended the deadline for full-time returning students to apply for finance, from 12 June (Wales) and from 19 June (England) to 30 June for both.

The date has been changed because many universities and colleges are still to confirm their teaching arrangements for the forthcoming academic year due to Covid-19.

Students can still apply after this date but they may not receive their full maintenance loan for the start of the new term.

Derek Ross, executive director of operations at SLC, says: “SLC recognises that students may still be gathering information on which to base their plans for next year. On that basis, we want to give them more time to complete their application before the ‘returner’ deadline.

“The clear advice to returning students is to submit their funding applications as quickly as possible and by extending the deadline we are providing students with valuable additional time.”

SLC says it does everything in its power to process all applications as quickly as possible, but reminded students that more complex cases take more time.

“Submitting an application as soon as possible is the only way to ensure funding will be in place for the start of next term. For maximum peace of mind, students are encouraged to note the extension to the deadline and submit their applications as quickly as possible,” says Ross.

Applications can be made online at www.gov.uk/student-finance or www.studentfinancewales.com

Information is also available on Facebook.com/SFEngland and Twitter.com/SF_England or Facebook.com/SF_Wales and Twitter.com/SF_Wales

The student finance deadline for new students has already passed but anyone who has missed it can still make an application – the sooner, the better.

Even when someone is not sure of their eventual course, university or college, new students should apply based on their first preference, as there is no penalty for withdrawing an application or amending details later.