Important information for our Romanian and Bulgarian members about their student funding.

Student Finance England (SFE, the organisation that distributes funding to EU (including UK) students studying in England) has suspended certain types of funding for Romanian and Bulgarian students.

There are two types of funding available from SFE:

• Tuition fee loan: available to any EU citizen, regardless of where they live.
• Maintenance loan: available to any EU citizen who has been resident in the UK for at least three consecutive years immediately prior to the start of their degree course.

The UK Government and Student Finance England believe that a number of EU students are accessing the second type of funding despite not satisfying the residency requirements, and have consequently suspended this allowance for Romanian and Bulgarian students in the UK .

All Romanian and Bulgarian students claiming this allowance have been contacted by SFE and asked to provide proof of their UK residency by early January. 

Additionally, next academic year all EU students will be asked to provide proof of UK residency to SFE before their allowance is approved; previously, applicants did not have their residency routinely checked unless there were grounds for suspicion.

Proof of residency can be any of the following:

• Bank statements
• Council tax bills
• Payslips or P60s
• Utility bills (gas, electricity, telephone)
• Work permit or Accession Workers' Card

If you are affected by these changes or have any questions, please contact the Advice Centre on advice@imperial.ac.uk, 020 7594 8067 or x48067 for free, impartial, professional and confidential advice.

The Student Loans Company can be contacted directly on 01325 215 947.