About us

What we do

We work in partnership with schools, colleges, universities, the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS),Student Finance Direct (SFD) and the Student Loan Company (SLC).

Using national regulations, guidelines and processing systems, we assess student support applications for students whose normal home address is in Hampshire. We decide who is eligible and calculate how much grant, loan and tuition fee support students are entitled to. The Student Loan Company is responsible for making payments.

We provide an important information service to secondary schools, sixth form colleges, local universities and colleges.

Customer service

Judith Archer and her 24 strong team have for many years administered a high quality loans and grants service to around 23,000 university and college students from Hampshire. In addition, Judith has played a key role in developing the national student award process as well as the national IT system for processing student support - successfully piloted by her team in 2003 ahead of it being rolled out nationally in 2004.

The Student Support Unit first obtained Charter Mark (awarded for excellence in the provision of customer service) in 1997 and has had it continually renewed. The award was further renewed in February 2006 but expired in February 2008. In view of the changes that will occur over the next few years that are beyond our control we will not apply to have our Charter Mark renewed. However, during this period of change, we will continue to be committed to the highest standards of service and customer care.

In January 2005, Judith Archer received the MBE for services to higher education for the work she and her team have done both locally and nationally in supporting students receiving student loans and grants.

The future of our service

In line with the government’s time table for gradual centralisation of student support services, Local Authorities (LA) will not deal with the administration of new students, who will be starting university from September 2009. Instead, these students will have their applications administered by Student Finance Direct (SFD).

We, Hampshire Student Finance, will continue to administer applications for renewal applicants who started university before September 2009. As the number of renewal students reduces over the next three years, so the size and structure of our unit will change.