With Student Loan NI, Northern Ireland students or ‘NI students’ are not just students from Northern Ireland. Your nationality is important but is not the only consideration. You’re an NI student if you’re any of the following:

• a UK or ROI national who has been living in Northern Ireland for 3 years before the start date of your course
• an EU national who has been living in Northern Ireland for 3 years before the start date of your course
• an eligible exception residency type such as a refugee, stateless person or humanitarian protection

If you’re not able to identify as a Northern Ireland student you may still be eligible for funding as a European Union student.

European Union student (including ROI)

EU students are from the European Union, including the Republic of Ireland (ROI), European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and all of the following:

• not able to identify as a Northern Ireland student
• lived in the EU including the Republic of Ireland, EEA or Switzerland for at least 3 years before the start date of your course
• will live in Northern Ireland on or before the first day of the first term of your course.

If you’re not able to identify as either a Northern Ireland student or European Union student you may not be eligible for funding from Student Finance NI. Your university or college may be able to tell you about possible alternative sources of funding.

Find your local Student Finance NI office

Following recent Government guidance, we’ve had to restrict public access to Student Finance NI offices temporarily. This means you won’t be able to contact us via phone or visit the office. However, you can continue to email your local Student Finance office with your queries / attach any documentation you need to send us. Use the postcode search to find the email address for your local office. Please note, with limited office resources, it will take a number of days before you receive a response.

More information about Student Finance NI offices is available on nidirect.gov.uk.

Search for your local office

General enquiries

Return a form or evidence

If you want to know where to return a form or supporting documents, check the form, or request for evidence, first – it normally has the return address on there.

If not, you can use the Return Addresses page to find out where to send your documents.

Undergraduate helpline

For help with Student Finance NI undergraduate queries including full or part-time or if you’re receiving funding for funding for an Initial Teacher Training Course (ITT) or Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Tell us about a change to your information or circumstances

Keeping your account information up to date is important. The quickest way to do it might be in your student finance account, check this before you call.

Call us

If you’re calling on behalf of a student – read about our Consent to Share process before you call.

Further information about call charges can be found on nidirect.com.

Your local Student Finance NI office

Use our Postcode search to find address and contact information for your local office.

Request communications in alternative formats

All our forms are available in alternative formats like Braille, large print format or audio. You can make a request by emailing our alternative formats team with:

• your name
• your address
• details of the format you need

You can also call 0141 243 3686 to make a request.