Withdrawing from university HELP

sugarshakes

I'm really sorry if this isn't the right place to post this but I couldn't find anything else student/university related.

I really need help!
I've been withdrawn from university and I need to know what happens now, in terms of paying back the money. I was in my third year of a four year degree. Will the students loan company demand all their money back in one go?! They've just paid a payment into my account on the 5th of Jan, will they claim that back now as I'm not a student?!

My head is all over the place, it's only just happened a few hours ago and I have yet to tell my mum as I know she is going to be so disapointed in me!

Basically I hated my course, and I mean really hated it, and so I stopped going, I was handing in all the work, but I couldn't bring myself to face my lectuerers and everytime I did I felt ashamed that I had no idea what was going on and I was so out of my depth.

My mum has money problems so I've lent her most of my student loan to help her pay back some of her debt, only now I'm not a student I'm scared they are going to demand it back all in one go and go into my bank accound and try and take money that's not there!!!!
Please don't mis-understand me I have no intention of running away from my student loans, I sincerely intend to pay them off make no mistake. I'm just petrified they are going to demand £17 000 back off me all in one go or the £2000 they just paid into my account.

Please can someone give me some advice!!!!! I think I'm going to cry!

debtdesperado

Hi Sugarshakes

First off - go and make yourself a cup of tea as it sounds as if you are in shock.

If you aren't a student, you are technically unemployed, so the student loans company won't ask you for your money back until you start earning, so don't worry about that right now.

Unfortunately employment prospects are not so good, so being at uni is probably the best place to ride out the recession. I would suggest (and this is only my personal opinion) that you have a look at other courses that you might be interested in at your university. This time, think about what you are interested in, and not what might get you a good job. It's far, far better to have a degree in theatrical make-up (for example) than it is to have half-finished a law degree (ie, no degree).

Have a few options, and then go and have a chat with a sympathetic tutor about transferring the credits you have obtained on your degree so far onto another course. See what is feasible, and be open to suggestions. You've come so far that it really would be crazy not to get a qualification!

If you really don't want to finish uni (and I have to say, withdrawing from uni without a degree but with loads of debt is probably the worst thing you can do.. sorry, but there is no way of sugaring it), speak to someone at uni to see whether you have earnt enough credits to get a diploma or certificate in your subject (this was an option about a decade ago when I was at uni, not sure if it is still possible).

Once you know whether you are going to stay at uni or leave, then you need to contact the student loans company and let them know. Then you'll need to register at the job centre for jobseekers allowance.

Also don't forget that you'll need to contact your council re council tax as if you aren't a student you won't qualify for the discount - this is not worth skipping out on as councils can track you down in the future for payment, which by then includes admin costs and interest.. just not worth it.

Best of luck - it will all be ok.

Voyager2002

Some good advice from #2.

Do register as unemployed sooner rather than later, since JSA and other benefits to which you may be entitled cannot be backdated. A successful claim for income-based JSA would give you access to Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit, so your rent and council tax would be paid.

I know that the Open University could give you credit for any courses you have passed at your current university, so you might eventually be able to graduate from them.

sugarshakes

Hi debtdesperado,

I've taken your advice with the cup of tea thanks

I actually want to finish uni. On friday I contacted my PAA (personal academic advisor) to see if there was anything I could do in terms of maybe moving to a joint honours or something but she hasn't replied to me and isn't taking my calls and then this morning having found this letter on my door step I'm now to scared to speak to the uni.

At the end of the letter is says "this does not prevent you applying to, and studying at the university in the future. Should you with to study in the future then you need to re-apply though our admissions office. You should quote the student number on this letter in any application"

So you think I could re-apply to start for Feb as my uni starts courses in feb, and maybe I could apply for joint hons or something? I just want to finish my degree and then never think about it again, but I feel as though as soon as I try to make an attempt in getting my education sorted they've just shut the door on me!

Also because I lent my mum that money the student loans thing about them coming in and just claiming back firstly the last payment they paid, and secondly all the money.

Also I do have a job, I work as a bar tender, 16 hours a week and take home £111 a week which just covers my rent (I live in London, and it's far to bloody expensive!)

I'm sorry to be bombarding everyone with my problems I'm just really confused and worried!!!

P.S I've contacted the council and they are sending me out the forms I need. As their are three of us in the flat and we where all students until about 10am this morning xx

cardiffforthefacup

Sorry to hear that you have left, did they offer you a leaving award, surely you should get a diploma at least. As for the loans you won't pay anything back until you have a job earning over £15000 then you pay back a percentage. You need to tell the SLC that you have left so they don't pay you the next installment. If you have been given grants for this semester you may have to pay them back but they would take installments, someone with more knowledge will surely give you the details. You should go and see student services, finance centre for help with regards to dealing with your current issues and the careers advice for where and what you should do next. If it was just the course that was bothering you maybe you could join another next year, might be worth considering.
I don't want to be critical but I don't think you should be helping fund your mum's debt as now you have a large debt of your own, I wouldn't expect that sort of help from my daughter as I realise that all the funds you get barely cover your own living expenses, will she help you now that you have to eventually start paying this debt, if the answer is no then I would seriously consider not lending in the future. You need to investigate what you would be happy doing degree wise before completely giving up on the idea as I am sure some of the problems weren't course related but life related, when you are happier with your choices you have more focus.

annie-c

Hugs for you and well done for coming on here and facing up to this.

You've told us so far that you have not been going to lectures and have 'been withdrawn'. You told us something from the end of the letter. What did the beginning of the letter say? That would help us understand better what has happened.

I work in a Uni and would recommend that you go to Student Services ASAP taking the letter with you - they will help to untangle things for you.

sugarshakes

I wasn't offered anything, in the letter I recieved this morning it made it sound as though I'd been in, spoke to them and then made the decision that I wanted to leave and they have then wrote to me to confirm my decision.

That would be good if I only had to pay back this semester in installments and then the rest after I get a job over £15000 as I don't think I could handle them telling me they wanted any of it back in one go.

I tried to speak to student services at the university this morning but they told me as I was no longer a student they couldn't help me and that I should speak to a professional careers advisor.

I'd been thinking about going back to study a different degree, I used to want to be a doctor but I didn't think I could get into that degree so I choose my stupid course instead, I would have to go back and get the right A levels as I didn't study biology or chem as you need both of those to get onto a medical course at most universities. However today's expierance makes me think I'm just being to flightly and the same thing is going to happen all over again! :S

My mum won't be able to help me out no because she's still struggling with her own debt. I know mine is only student debt and that it isn't the same as having a credit card and oweing them money but it's still debt and I still need to pay it back... I'm really sorry to be burderning everyone with this, only I didn't really know what else to do.

By the way Cardiff will win the FA cup this year, this year is our year (off subject completly for a sec, but thought I'd put it in there)

sugarshakes

Hi Annie,

The letter says;

"Our records suggest that you have stopped attending the university following your enrolment for the 2008/9 academic year. Furthermore, at the time of writing we have received no formal notification from you either requesting permission to suspend your studies or withdraw from your course.

The universities academic reulations (section C1) state that 'if the academic registar determines to his or her satisfaction that a student is not attending tuition and has no valid reason for not attending, the students status as a a student shall be terminated'. On this basis the university is terminating your status as a student and withdrawing you from your course with effect from 13/Nov/2008

Whist you remain formally liable under the university's academic regulations for the full year's tuition fee, we have revised the fee due in light of your non attendance. We have decided that no further fee is required.

If you come under the goverment's student support arrangements we will be notifying your local authoiry of your withdrawal.

If you have been attending, and for some reason this has not been reflected in the university's records, the we will need a confirmation from your course leader that you have been attending. This should be sent to the address below marked for my attention or by email to [EMAIL="enrolment@**********.ac.uk"]enrolment@**********.ac.uk[/EMAIL]
and should be received no later that 31st January 2009

Similary if you have been attending, it would help if you contacted your UG/PG center to discuss any issues you may have in respect of the above.

Should you be withdrawn at this point, this does not prevent you from apply to, and studying at the university in the future. Should you wish to study in the future then you need to re-apply through our admissions office. You should quote the student number shown n this letter in any application.

Yours sincerely,
Git.

That's the entire letter. It's dated the 21st Jan 09 but I only recieved it this morning

Does that help???

bluegorilla

Don't worry is the main thing - your university needs you as well. I'm sure you will be able to change onto a course that is right for you and, as recommended in an earlier post, college/uni is a safer place at the minute than in the working world.
I didn't get a degree and am now finding work even harder to come by, as everyone seems to have one. Think long-term before deciding to quit uni - I wish I had.

Valley's_girl

bluegorilla wrote: »

Don't worry is the main thing - your university needs you as well. I'm sure you will be able to change onto a course that is right for you and, as recommended in an earlier post, college/uni is a safer place at the minute than in the working world.
I didn't get a degree and am now finding work even harder to come by, as everyone seems to have one. Think long-term before deciding to quit uni - I wish I had.

Good advice I hope you manage to sort everything out.
best wishes
ally x

whitfreak

The only thing they might try and reclaim are any grants that required you to finish the year/term. As long as your income doesnt go over 15k you dont need to worry about your loans, although inform them of whats happened so you do not get your third installment (presuming you dont reenrol).

Not knowing your course or university I have no idea of how easy it would be to switch etc. I switched between a physics/chemistry degree to just physics but that was between my 1st and 2nd year but I had done all the prerequists for the 2nd year modules. But all courses are different. If its an undergraduate masters, there should be an option to finished after 3 years and be awarded a bacholors. Not ideal but you're nearly there by the sounds of things.

If the work you've been submitting has been passing without lecturers then your grasp of the subject is know where near as bad you as you think.

Find someone in the know at your university and make sure you get something out of it.

Good Luck