This session will cover undergraduate students studying in academic year 2026/27 covering information updates for both Student Finance England (SFE) and Student Finance Wales (SFW) and will be delivered by the Funding Information Services Team.

Detailed information covering areas relating to eligibility, entitlement and policy enhancements for the upcoming academic year 2026/27. In addition to 2026/27, we will look at the importance of right first-time applications and focus on targeted groups such as vulnerable students and DSA and the importance of practitioner engagement to these groups.

Drawing on commissioned research by The London Foundation for Banking & Finance (LFBF), as well as the wider literature, this session will give an overview of the research base around financial capability in the UK. Focusing on young people’s financial capability and also touching on the findings of a recent LFBF report around young people’s attitudes and behaviours towards cryptocurrencies, the session will try to explore the key and emerging questions around financial capability in the UK.

This workshop introduces the key principles of student funding across the UK’s four nations. It supports participants to understand how eligibility is determined, including the concept of ordinary residence, and how this influences the funding arrangements available to individual students.

Participants will gain a clear overview of the main undergraduate and postgraduate funding systems in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, highlighting both similarities and differences. The session also explains the range of student loan repayment plans in operation, helping build confidence in discussing repayment expectations with students.

Finally, the workshop signposts where to access reliable, up to date information and guidance from each funding authority, enabling participants to continue developing their knowledge and provide accurate advice.

<p>In November 2025, the Students’ Union launched Essentials, a cost-of-living initiative to help students cover their basic needs. The services we offer are open to all UoM students. We launched our food & hygiene pantry and our financial wellbeing programme, with plans to launch more support later this year. In the session we’ll review our aim of being a proactive rather than a reactive service, which cohorts of students we have seen a high levels of engagement with our services, the challenges we faced and overcame, and our plans to build on the work we do going forward. We’ll also cover our collaborative work with the University’s financial support team to support students experiencing financial hardship and how we’ve made financial support more accessible. </p>

This sessions will provide a “back to basics” overview of the funding schemes administered by SAAS including residency and previous study.

This sessions will be suitable for staff across the organisation including new staff, or those who would like a refresher and will allow staff an opportunity to ask questions which will enhance your engagement with students.

During the session we will:

• explain the funding available from SAAS for students planning to undertake higher education courses (HNC/HND/Degree courses); and
• provide advice on our general residence eligibility and previous study arrangements; and
• answer any questions attendees have about assisting students with their application and the funding available;
• provide advice on how students can provide the necessary supporting evidence for their application.

AI is enriching professional services, and NASMA members have told us they want to explore its potential. Join this open discussion forum around AI in student money advice, facilitated by Matthew Townsend (Senior AI specialist at Jisc), to build on the inspiring AI session at last year’s conference and share practical ideas, challenges, and good practice. 

You don’t need to arrive with polished answers or technical knowledge. Curiosity is enough. Sharing an example, a concern, or even something that didn’t work is hugely valuable.