student-finance.service.gov.uk Reviews 

The structure of the system means borrowers can repay substantial amounts while seeing no reduction in their balance, which feels fundamentally unfair from a consumer perspective. It's the "somehow legal" equivalent of the government loan-sharking its own top-performing citizens.

I am extremely frustrated with the student loan system and how interest is applied and communicated.

Over the past year, interest rates on my loan have reached around 7–8%, resulting in hundreds of pounds being added to my balance each month. Despite making significant monthly repayments, my total balance has continued to increase.

This is deeply discouraging and not something I feel was clearly explained when taking out the loan. In particular, the scale of interest, the impact of compounding, and the fact that interest accrues from the point funds are issued (including during study) were not made sufficiently clear in a way that reflects the real financial impact.

In addition, accessing support has been very difficult. After navigating an automated system, I was faced with a long wait time just to speak to an advisor.

Overall, the lack of transparency and difficulty in accessing support makes it very hard for borrowers to understand and manage what is, for many, a very large financial commitment.

I have been waiting for a telephone link to their advisors now for 56 minutes with intermittent messaging that they knew that I was waiting to speak with them. The latest message now is that they would be closing at 7 pm and it is now 6.52 pm. This is not the way to treat customers or users of the SFE service. The SFE is painfully irresponsible and unworthy of the duty the government or whoever has asked them to perform. It is a useless setup.

Student Finance England, together with institutions like Elizabeth School, have contributed to a situation that is seriously damaging for students. What should have been a support system has instead become a source of stress, confusion, and financial instability.
Funding was approved, payments were made, and students were led to believe everything was in order. Based on that, people made real decisions—renting accommodation, paying bills, and trying to focus on their education. Now, they are being asked to return that money, often without clear explanations or consistent communication.
The impact of this goes far beyond paperwork. It affects students’ mental health, financial security, and trust in the system. When both funding bodies and educational institutions fail to provide clarity and stability, students are the ones who suffer the consequences.
This situation highlights serious flaws that cannot be ignored. There needs to be accountability, better oversight, and real changes to prevent more students from being put in the same position.:((

The staff member's name was Vanessa and the customer service was great, she was kind and straightforward and I was struggling with my student finance and she helped me and my mom throughout the whole process and ensured it was quick and simple.

Absolute scammers.
I work overseas and am asked to update employment details annually. They refuse to accept my updated employment details and now are charging me the maximum monthly repayments when it should be less. I've emailed them, no response, called them, still unhelpful. I even thought about not making repayments until they correct the payment calculation, but was then told it would go to arrears. I then asked, would the refund be automatic, they responded I would need to call again and ask for a refund. Living abroad, it is not the cheapest thing to call a UK number and be put on hold for 30 minutes. Some callers are helpful but the last guy was unbelievable. I hope your socks are wet everyday.

I am on plan 2 and postgraduate arrangements. I graduated with my undergrad 10 years ago, and my postgrad 1 year ago. The cost of my study was £55k (including maintenance loans and without interest). After working and paying out of my paycheck for 10 years, I owe £73k. The rate of interest means I won't ever complete paying off the loan - it seems like an unfair taxation on people who have no other option to pay off university fees.

Considering I will likely be paying this off for the rest of my life, the consistent pay cut doesn't seem worth the weight of the university degree.

At the age of 17, I was not fully equipped to understand the financial impact this would have on the rest of my life. It was sold as the only way to earn enough to have a better life - I would urge the kids of today to look at all the options available to them! University is not the only way to succeed.

Mafia run organisation. Interest rates are complete rip off of your savings and hard earned money.
Can't believe gov won't step in but probably they're part of it.

ZERO STARS

They have given me wrong information multiple times, are unresponsive. I am still getting rude demanding letters despite providing evidence about income, updating location details as asked, and being told its all being sorted out.

This is the worst company in the world. I hate dealing with them, and clearly no one knows what they are doing. On top of that, the rates and policies make them worse than loan sharks. It's designed to keep you in debt and frustrated. I cannot explain the utter hatred I have for this company. And if anyone works there, they should gain a conscience and leave.

Just for clarity if there was a zero rating I would have selected this option.
Student Finance provided a full and final settlement figure. This amount was paid in full. Student Loans have contacted twice more changing the amount owed and stating that there was errors in the original calculation. Student Finance provide a new figure but cannot provide evidence of how any of the settlement figures were calculated or why additional amount(s) may be owed and how this has been worked out.
Attempting to speak to the service is dire and no-one seems to have any idea of what they are doing. A callback is promised but never materialises.
This service is shockingly unresponsive, unaccountable and not fit for purpose.

I’m general a lot of stress it’s not worth the money you get a lot of people looking at you weird and frustrating comments and a lot of complaints from negative people

I used to think student finance was great the first time I attended university, however I restarted at a different university and that's where it all went down hill. I applied as a new student for 2025 with a different course, everything was fine I received my first payment. The first thing that was strange was that I hadn't been able to speak to someone about my DSA, I finally called somebody and they alerted me that my finance had been blocked and cancelled(at the end of my first semester) I was not informed this had happened, if I hadn't called I wouldn't have known at all. I then try to through the process of it all again but to my luck find out it has to be done on paper and sent by post. I managed to do this but a week after I sent the form I get a new form saying the didn't add everything I needed to send. Fast forward to today I still haven't heard back from them and haven't received my finance.

Impossible to reach anyone, all they do is sending you links and keep moving in circles.

Why can’t trust pilot start with a zero? 3 months in, no full level loan yet provided. No way to contact them, no progress updates. Daughter has started uni but doesn’t know if she can stay due to not knowing if she can get the full loan amount. 3 months of waiting and dreadful service.

Purely incentivised to take all your money and keep you in debt -BE CAREFUL.

Been transferred about 5 times as I have an incorrect overpayment amount. Like trying to catch a shadow.

Stay away from UNI, AI will be taking all the jobs anyway!

Shocking, absolutely shocking!!! Student Loan company does not recognise my course despite my university providing a reference number. I have checked my account and the course title is correct!!!! Don't understand what the problem is?? I am about to be locked out of my online course because Student Finance has still not released the first payment! Have just tried to speak to someone, who is working from home with a screaming child in the background. Her accent is so strong and she clearly couldn't help me despite putting me on hold. Student Finance is a dreadfully run, and those who are on high wages overseeing this shambles should be sacked and replaced by a bunch of toddlers who would do a better job!!!

Would give a minus rating if I could. My son has asked me to sort out his application because it has been so stressful for him and because he has not got the time to sit on hold all day.
He has filled in his application several times due to nobody at slc ever being able to find his online application.
I called them Weds to be told it was all sorted and his finance would be paid next week. Called again this morning and was told he would be paid next but he will have to reapply for Jan 2026 payment. I called again 10 minutes later to be told that he would not be paid next week as he has filled in an incorrect form which they had sent him.
I asked to escalate to an independent assessor to be told it wasn't necessary.
I insisted it was so I was just told to email a complaint.
How are these people even in jobs? They are the most incompetent bunch of idiots I have ever encountered.

Terrible customer service. Only one gentleman tried to help me a few months ago. Every year it’s the same — no one answers the phone, and my website is never updated with my reference.

The worst I’ve ever experienced in my entire life,they will kill your dreams.

I applied for my masters funding in August 2026 for it to start in September. When my finance was awarded they had awarded it for next January? I don’t know why as the start date was the 15th of September but now it’s up to me to sort it out. I had to submit a change of circumstances form even though it was student finances error which they lost but I had to wait a full 17 days working days before I could forward another form. I sent another form then requested that I sent them a handwritten letter telling them where I’d lived from 22 to 23 even though this was actually on my change of circumstances form. The handwritten letter was received on the 29th of September and now I’ve got to wait a full 17 working days again before it gets looked at. Meanwhile, student finance send me emails once a week reminding me that they need this letter. Of course customer services are about as useful as a chocolate strike and although they keep trying now as it takes 17 working days for a reply. Even for them to tell me they haven’t received a letter which wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve lost again. I haven’t got 17 working days I’m already two months behind on my fees all this because student finance made a mistake. This system hasn’t improved since I last it 18 years ago when the local authorities handled it and then it went over to student financing England and I don’t think it could get any more horrific than it is. Thank God It’s easy to approve your children’s finance otherwise none of mine would’ve gone to university at this rate.