Couple of Questions about student visa/loans

Hi,
Just need some advice for my boy if possible
Basically, because of some issues, we’ve had to leave his new application for study pretty late (i.e. he spent 9 months applying for a course he wasn’t eligible for funding for) but he managed to get a UCAS form in on time (just) and has a confirmed place at Brighton uni without a foundation year (result!) he’s got a new SCF, MPN from FASFA, and as soon as he pays the uni his £1,000 deposit, he’ll be looking to secure funding for his tuition etc.
I’ve just got a couple of questions –
•   Assuming he gets his loan, is right to work 20 hours a week automatic or does he have to request it from the admittance officer?
•   I know he has to prove that he can survive here without working, which he thinks he can do with Loans, Credit Cards money promised from his parents etc but working would make things so much easier (especially as he wants to be here for 4years)
•   What sort of information is best to include in his Visa application? Pay slips, credit card statements, letters from his parents
•   He’s planning to move into my flat and effectively won’t be paying any rent, but I don’t own the flat, would a letter from my letting agency saying he’s got secured free accommodation with me help? Or should he avoid all mention of us being a couple etc? Could I just say we’re friends (it’s a two bed)

I really REALLY hope he’s not turned down for a loan or for a visa  especially as now he’ll lose this £1,000 deposit as well as just the heartbreak of getting this close to living together.

For clarity :
This is what my boyfriend is planning to do, I don’t know if he’s going about it right though :/
Tuition at Brighton is £9,500 a year ~ $20,000.
His FASFA says his EPC is really low as he’s an independent student.
He says he’s eligible for $4,500 worth of Stafford Loans.
He plans to get a private loan for Sallie Mae to cover the cost of tuition.
He doesn’t believe he’s eligible for any other money to cover cost of living etc.
So he plans to use money from his parents and work whilst he’s here to live, plus help from me.

I think that we’ve misunderstood the FASFA process….sorry to be so stupid! Can someone please please help, I’ll be eternally grateful.

if he can get a private loan to cover tuition, he can get a private loan to cover living expenses- student loans take into account the total cost of attendance, which includes money for rent, food, travel, etc in addition to tuition.

Credit cards and credit card statements are not valid as proof of funds- bank statements or loan letters or payslips.

If his parents (or you) are helping him out financially, they need to write letters saying that and include their bank statements as proof that they can afford to do so.

He absolutely needs to be able to prove that he has enough money to pay tuition and live on without working.  But if he can do that, the student visa alone is sufficient for him to work 20 hours per week during term.

I'm a bit confused about the FASFA thing generally, I thought that the university determined teh cost of coming to uni for 1 year, including housing, books etc, and they then minused the EPC from that.
(total cost) - (EPC) = amount eligible to borrow.

As his EPC is about $2,500, that would indicate he could borrow quite a lot, but apparently he's only eligible to borrow about $4,000 in stafford loans, has he hit some form of cap?

His credit history is less than good, I'm worried about his eligibility for private loans, especially as he doesn't have a co-signer :/

(thanks for all your help, I think I'm working myself up into a mess)
 

yes, there are caps on Stafford loans, and for undergraduate students (even independent ones) the caps are quite low- I think the maximum allowed is $7,000 or so for independent undergrads.

If his credit history is less than good, you're right to be worried- most private loan companies don't like lending money to first-year students who don't have co-signers (unless they have good, extensive credit histories.) I hope it works out though.