Student finance - your options

There's no doubt about it, whether your in your first year or the last year of your university course, the amount of financial support available to you will have a strong bearing on almost every aspect of your time as a student.

The good news is there are quite a few sources of financial support available. Check out some of the areas we have detailed.

As a first step, make sure you understand the options for Government Student Loans through the Student Support Scheme. In real terms you only pay back what you borrow and you can virtually ignore interest rates. Disabled students, moreover, have an addition pool of non-repayable government grants available for their needs.

However, borrowing isn't the only option. Many key employers work closely with universities and offer paid sponsorship and placement opportunities. We list over £50 million of such support on the Everything You Wanted to Know website with links directly to the companies involved if you wish to apply or seek out additional information. But before you rush anywhere, look at the advice in our Sponsorship section.

Universities themselves have additional scholarships, grants and funds directly available to students. They also work closely with employers and many departments hold lists of companies which offer placements and sponsorships in conjunction with their courses.

Grants, too, are available from charities and professional bodies for students who fall into their sector of interest.