THE Students’ Loan Bureau has announced changes in its application and processing dates which will also “make it easier for applicants to take care of their student loan needs long before the new semester begins,” the bureau says.

Previously, the loan application period opened in April each year and closed in August.

“But what we found happening was that people were tardy in coming in with their guarantors and other important information, and some would come in as late as during exams,” Natalie Gollab, spokesperson from the bureau told the Education Observer.

The bureau will now be accepting loan application submissions from January 14 to April 30 and processing will take place between June 3 and August 30 each year.

Application forms are the same and will be made available this Friday at the offices of the bureau at the original cost of $250 per application.

“The deadlines for application and processing are final,” Gollab said. All required documentation must accompany the application; incomplete applications will not be processed. She said students awaiting acceptance to the approved institutions will be allowed to submit applications until they receive acceptance letters.

Last year, the bureau approved and disbursed 4,835 loans and declined 622. Some 2282 students with particular needs also received grants of $30,000 each.