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There is a newer version of this publication available:
Student Support and Benefits Handbook 2021/22

Useful addresses
General sources of information
National Union of Students UK
England
Ian King House
Snape Road
 
Macclesfield SK10 2NZ
Tel: 0845 521 0262
nusuk@nus.org.uk
 
Wales
2nd Floor, Cambrian Buildings
Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff CF10 5FL
Tel: 02920 435 390
 
Northern Ireland
NUS–Union of Students in Ireland
42 Dublin Road
Belfast BT2 7HN
Tel: 028 9024 4641
 
NUS provides information on entitlement to student support, benefits and tax credits, along with other student welfare issues.
Child Poverty Action Group
30 Micawber Street
London N1 7TB
Tel: 020 7837 7979
Advice line for advisers only:
020 7812 5231
(10am–12pm and 2–4pm, Monday to Friday)
advice@cpag.org.uk (for enquiries about universal credit, child benefit and tax credits only)
cpag.org.uk/welfare-rights/advice-services
 
CPAG provides advice, information and training to advisers.
Low Incomes Tax Reform Group
30 Monck Street
London SW1P 2AP
 
The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group provides extensive information on students and the taxation system, including student loan repayment.
The Money Charity
15 Prescott Place
London SW4 6BS
Tel: 020 7062 8933
hello@themoneycharity.org.uk
 
The Money Charity provides general advice on money management, including a free guide: The Student Money Manual.
UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs)
1st Floor, 3–5 Islington High Street
London N1 9LQ
Advice line: 020 7788 9214 (1–4pm, Monday to Friday)
 
UKCISA provides advice and information for overseas students.
Disability Rights UK
14 East Bay Lane
Here East
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
London E20 3BS
Disabled students’ helpline: 0330 995 0414 (11am–1pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays)
 
Disability Rights UK produces a number of booklets and information sheets.
Support for learning
Dance and Drama Awards
Department for the Economy
Student Finance Branch
Adelaide House
39–49 Adelaide Street
Belfast BT2 8FD
Tel: 028 9025 7715
 
Responsible for student financial support in Northern Ireland.
Department for Education
Piccadilly Gate
Store Street
Manchester M1 2WD
Tel: 0370 000 2288
 
Responsible for most student support for higher and further education in England.
Department of Health and Social Care
39 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0EU
Tel: 020 7210 4850
Textphone: 020 7222 2262
 
Responsible for NHS-funded healthcare and social work students in England.
Department of Health (Northern Ireland)
Nursing and midwifery bursaries
Bursary Administration Unit
Business Services Organisation
2 Franklin Street
Belfast BT2 8DQ
Tel: 0300 555 0113
 
Social Work Student Incentive Scheme
Office of Social Services
Bursary Administration Section
Castle Buildings
Stormont
Belfast BT4 3SQ
Tel: 028 9052 0517
 
Provides bursaries for healthcare and social work students in Northern Ireland.
Education and Skills Funding Agency
Student Bursary Support Service
Learner Support Provider Helpline: 0300 303 8610
Students/young parents: 0800 121 8989
 
Funds further education for 16–19 year olds and adult learners in England.
Get Into Teaching
Tel: 0800 389 2500
 
Information on teacher training in England.
NHS Business Services Authority
NHS Student Bursaries
Ridgway House
Northgate Close
Middlebrook
Bolton BL6 6PQ
Tel: 0300 330 1345
 
Provides information on funding and assessments for students undertaking allied health professions courses in England.
 
NHS Wales Student Awards Services
Floor 4
Companies House
Crown Way
Cardiff CF14 3UB
Tel: 029 209 05380
 
Provides information and assessments for students undertaking allied health professions courses in Wales.
 
Social work bursaries
PO Box 141
Hesketh House
200–220 Broadway
Fleetwood FY7 9AS
Tel: 0300 330 1342
 
Administers social work bursaries for all social work students in England.
Health Careers Helpline
Tel: 0345 606 0655
healthcareers.nhs.uk
 
Provides information on careers in the healthcare professions in the NHS in England.
Research councils
UK Research and Innovation
Polaris House
Swindon SN2 1FL
Tel: 01793 444 000
 
Arts and Humanities Research Council
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon SN2 1ET
Tel: 01793 416 060
 
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon SN2 1UH
Tel: 01793 413 200
 
Economic and Social Research Council
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon SN2 1UJ
Tel: 01793 413 114
 
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon SN2 1ET
Tel: 01793 444 000
 
Medical Research Council
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon SN2 1FL
Tel: 01793 416 200
 
Natural Environment Research Council
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon SN2 1EU
Tel: 01793 411 500
 
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon SN2 1SZ
Tel: 01793 442 000
Social Care Wales
South Gate House
Wood Street
Cardiff CF10 1EW
Tel: 0300 303 3444
 
 
Social Care Wales provides bursary support to undergraduate social work students in Wales.
Student Loans Company
100 Bothwell Street
Glasgow G2 7JD
Tel: 0141 306 2000
 
Student loan repayment
Tel: 0300 100 0611(0300 100 0370 in Wales)
 
Responsible for administering the collection of student loans throughout the UK, in conjunction with HM Revenue and Customs.
Student Finance England
PO Box 210
Darlington DL1 9HJ
Tel: 0300 100 0607
 
A part of the Student Loans Company, Student Finance England is responsible for administering applications and payments of government-funded loans and grants in England.
Guides and information leaflets about financial support available for students are available from gov.uk/student-finance.
Student Finance Wales
PO Box 211
Llandudno Junction LL30 9FU
Tel: 0300 200 4050
Minicom: 0300 100 1693
 
Student Finance Wales is a Welsh government-led partnership, responsible for administering student financial support to students who normally live in Wales.
Student Finance NI
Ballee Centre
Ballee Road West
Ballymena
BT42 2HS
Tel: 0300 100 0077 (undergraduate helpline)
Tel: 0300 100 0493 (postgraduate helpline)
Further education grants: eani.org.uk/fegrants
 
Provides financial support to students who normally live in Northern Ireland, in partnership with the Department for the Economy, the Student Loans Company and the five regional offices of the Education Authority in Northern Ireland.
Student Finance Services Non-UK Team
Student Finance England
PO Box 89
Darlington DL1 9AZ
Tel: 0141 243 3570
 
Provides information about applications by European Union students for fee payment support in England, or migrant workers for fee and maintenance support.
Teacher Training Cymru
 
Information on teacher training in Wales.
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
Rosehill
New Barn Lane
Cheltenham GL52 3LZ
Tel: 0371 468 0468 (undergraduates); 0371 468 0470 (performing arts); 0371 334 4447 (postgraduates); 0371 468 0469 (postgraduate teacher training)
Text relay service:
18001 plus relevant number
 
Contact UCAS for information on applying to higher education.
Welsh government (education and skills)
Tel: 0300 060 3300
 
Responsible for education funding in Wales.
Benefits and tax credits
Child tax credit and working tax credit helpline
Tel: 0345 300 3900
Textphone: 0345 300 3909
Department for Work and Pensions
 
Responsible for social security in England, Wales and Scotland. The DWP website has information on general entitlement to benefits and contains the Decision Makers’ Guide and Advice for Decision Making at the links above.
Department for Communities
Benefit Enquiry Line: 0800 232 1271
Minicom: 028 9031 1092
 
Responsible for social security in Northern Ireland.
Other issues
NHS Business Services Authority Help with Health Costs
Bridge House
152 Pilgrim Street
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6SN
Tel: 0300 330 1343
 
The NHS Business Services Authority Help with Health Costs advises students on getting help with their health costs on the grounds of low income.
NHS England
Tel: 0300 123 1002
 
 
For bulk orders of HC1 forms – eg, for students’ union advice centres.
HM Revenue and Customs
For the address of your nearest HMRC office and telephone numbers of helplines: gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact.
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
PO Box 4771
Coventry CV4 0EH
Tel: 0300 061 0614
 
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman can investigate claims of maladministration by local authorities in England.
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
1 Ffordd yr Hen Gae
Pencoed CF35 5LJ
Tel: 0300 790 0203
 
The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales can investigate claims of maladministration by local authorities in Wales in respect of benefit claims or student support applications.
Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman
Progressive House
33 Wellington Place
Belfast BT1 6HN
Tel: 0800 343 424/028 9023 3821
Textphone: 028 9089 7789
 
The Northern Ireland Ombudsman’s Office can investigate claims of maladministration by local authorities in Northern Ireland in respect of benefit claims or student support applications.