Student Gap Year

When do I apply if I am taking a gap year?

If you are taking a gap year before the beginning of your course, you should still apply for a loan at the same time as you would have applied anyway had you not decided to take a gap year. Sometime in the spring basically before you're due to start the course is a good time to apply. Most funding bodies now allow you to apply online, so you can apply remotely. If you're unable to get to a computer and you can't get a paper form in either, you can apply right up to the beginning of your course and beyond. So there's no reason to panic if you haven't been applied while still on your gap year. You can apply when you get back. Although the later you apply, the later you will receive your loan - you might not be able to get your money on the first day of the term.

Can I get a loan for a gap year?

You can't usually get a student loan to fund a gap year. Whether you're able to get a bank loan or another type of loan will depend on your present circumstances.