One change in the higher education funding system that didn’t quite make the headlines is to come into place before the next academic year, prompting fears of administrative problems regarding loan payments.

In recent weeks and months, substantial column inches have been devoted to the introduction of top-up fees and participation targets.

However letters sent out with student loan paperwork are the first many students have heard of another change, which is to be implemented before 2004-2005, the centralisation of all student financial files from individual Local Education Authorities (LEAs) to a central database to be held centrally by "Student Finance Direct" (apparently the new name for the applications division of the Student Loan Company, although the website address uses the name Student Support Direct) in Glasgow.

At present this data is held locally by each LEA, usually part of the County or District Council for each student's permanent home address. However within the next six months, they will attempt to "migrate" all this data onto a single national system, "Protocol."

Students are also being offered the option of applying online, a commendable concept to reduce the time spent completing paperwork provided the system works and the data reaches the correct place on time for the loans payments to be made. However on visiting the website it appears that only students in "pilot areas", who have received login details, can do so at present. Furthermore it raises the question of how much funding is being diverted to the loan company's rebranding, the development of the online system and printing the PR1 form and notes, still being sent to every student and now printed in colour for the first time.

One useful feature however is the online calculator,64184&_dad=portal&_schema=PROTOCOL facility whereby students can obtain an estimate of their financial support immediately.

A letter sent out with the new PR1 (formerly HE2) forms by the Kent County Council Student awards group informs students that "This will have a significant impact on the way your application is processed compared to previous years".

It then goes on to warn students that "Due to the complexity of the implementation of the Protocol Project the Awards Group will not be in a position to guarantee the efficient service that students have received in the past."

While the extent of any resulting delays or mistakes remains to be seen, students are advised that the best way to improve their own chances of receiving next year's payments on time is to complete the forms as soon as possible.

Contact details for your own LEA can be found here.,31483&_dad=portal&_schema=PROTOCOL