How to make your online financial information clear and accessible
It’s important that the student finance information on your website is clear and up to date so students can find out about bursaries and other financial support quickly and easily.
OFFA guidance
Make sure that:
- you update bursary and other student finance information on your website as soon as possible. We recommend that information for the following academic year is on your website by the end of September at the very latest. This means prospective students can do their research before they make their UCAS applications
- your bursary information on the student finance calculator on Directgov is clear and up to date so students can find out about bursaries and other financial support quickly and easily. You can enter, view and maintain the information for your institution using the Financial Information Service (FIS) run by the Student Loans Company
- it is clear to prospective students how to apply for a bursary. This is important even if you automatically assess students for their bursary eligibility using information provided on their student loan application form. If you rely on students agreeing to share their financial information with you, please make this clear.
Other general tips are:
For more information about how best to present online financial information to students, you might want to look at our best practice guide ‘Improving Information: HEIs’ provision of online financial information‘.
- link as quickly as possible from your home page to student finance information. A ‘Fees and Funding’ or ‘Student Finance’ link direct from your home page is ideal
- be clear and concise. Use succinct headings to answer key questions. For example, when talking about bursaries, headings could be What we offer, Are you eligible?, How to apply, When we will pay your bursary and How to find out more
- be consistent. It’s quicker and easier to navigate a site if links and menus are presented in the same format and in the same position throughout the site
- provide advice on budgeting. Examples of average/standard costs are helpful, particularly in the light of surveys showing students underestimate the cost of living. Simple budget calculators can help students work out what they need to allow for
- use case studies /student videos. Students identify with the experience of other students
- give simple explanations of terms such as bursaries, scholarships etc. Some students may not understand that bursaries are non-repayable, and are paid by individual institutions.