Student finance: 6 common myths debunked Once I've applied for my tuition loan, when do I have to get the money over to my uni? You don't. Taking out a tuition loan with the SLC doesn't involve much "taking out" at all. As a way to avoid students with wayward tendencies making good on their Vegas dreams, the SLC hand the money over to your university or college directly at the start of each term. You never need to pay anything up front. I think I'm eligible for a maintenance grant. Does this just arrive with my maintenance loan? If you're unsure what money you can apply for, make use of the extremely helpful student finance calculator. Bear in mind that maintenance grants (which needn't be repaid) don't come as a lump sum piled on top of the maintenance loan. Split comparably between three terms, for every pound of maintenance grant you're entitled to receive, 50p is deducted from the total student loan you're eligible to apply for. This may seem slightly duplicitous ("are they trying to help me or not?") but it ultimately means you'll be borrowing less and consequently owing less. I'm worried getting these loans will affect my credit score. Good news - there is no such thing as a "universal credit score." Despite the term being well embedded in the public consciousness, each lender looks into different things in a borrower's past and despite your misgivings, there isn't a leather-bound book out there with unhappy faces scribbled next to your name. With any future borrowing you do need - a mortgage, perhaps - a lender is very unlikely to consider your student loans when they decide if you're a suitable customer or otherwise. If I take the loan, what will I have to pay back? Is the interest just inflation? Unfortunately, some well-meaning but misinformed soul reassured everyone they'd only be paying back the loan with interest equal to inflation. And while the loan terms are unrivalled - no bank would offer anything close - during your course you'll still accumulate interest charged at three per cent above the rate of inflation. The amount of interest you'll pay once you've graduated is dependent on your income and explained here. I plan to move out of the UK after graduation and have been told to claim everything I can because once abroad, I won't have to pay a penny. What's the deal? Whether you're planning to live at the expense of embassies the world over or just hope to survive tip-by-tip behind some tropical bar, a la Tom Cruise in Cocktail, you'll need to keep in touch with the Student Loans Company by phoning and letting them know your plans. For those staying abroad for longer than three months, there is an Overseas Income Assessment Form, which can be filled out prior to leaving or during your time away. Put simply, leaving the country doesn't invalidate your loan contract and you will have to make repayments. As Kevin O'Connor, Head of Repayment at the SLC, warns: "Where borrowers move overseas and do not notify the SLC, they may have to pay the costs of any trace agents employed by SLC to obtain a valid address. The SLC will make every effort to trace borrowers who move overseas and fail to notify SLC of their whereabouts or make arrangements to repay their loans. The SLC will consider legal action if necessary to collect outstanding arrears where this is appropriate. Missed the National Student Money Week surgeries? From this week you can use Student Money Saver's "Ask your money question" service, where anyone can ask a student money question and receive a plain-speaking reply, usually within twenty-four hours. More from Telegraph Education's Student Finance section Student Loans Company's Guide to National Student Money Week Student finance: your student finance questions answered Student finance: adding up the true cost of university Student finance: Advice for starting university