Help with tuition loan

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I started a degree 07-08. Unfortunatly, throughout the year, I had health problems & issues with the property I live in. This affected my ability to study and I was unable to take any of the summer exams. The uni allowed me to take a year out & sit the exams summer 09 with the view to starting the 2nd year in October on condition I passed the exams.

I have since decided not to sit the exams & instead leave Uni. I am still recovering from the stress of my first year, & don't think it's the right time to attempt to return to Uni. I really feel I need to re-evaluate things. I haven't required any student finance this past year, so I only have what I borrowed in 07-08 to be concerned about. Does anyone have any experience or know if my Uni fees could be waivered since I wasn't able to fully complete my 1st year of study?

Thanks in advance.

bitsandpieces

The norm has been to refund if you leave early in the year. You completed most of the year, from the sound of it? I doubt you would have a right to a refund of fees - though you could try asking for a refund on compassionate grounds, as you left due to illness. The Student Union at the university could very likely advise on the best approach. I wouldn't be particularly optimistic about any refund, though...

That said - can you ask to defer another year on health grounds? If you would still consider going back, it would be a shame to have to start from the beginning again...

MarzipanFish

I'm a bit confused whether you're asking if you can not pay the fees for the year you wont be taking next year (should be fine). There should be info on your university's webpages but from what i've read about it you won't have to pay unless you actually begin the year with 1 installment for the first half paid of the year paid straight away and another if you're still there half way through.

Or is it if you can claim back the tuition fees from first year which you did some but not all of? It would be very unlikely as your place on the course was there and unable to be filled by anyone else. It was costing the university money through your share of lecturers & building costs even though the year wasn't completed.

Or was it different fees, like exam fees which would depend on the university too much to help...

MrsManda

If you are enquiring about getting the tuition fees from your 07-08 year the answer is likely to be no as you had the tuition. The university would have to agree to waive the fees as you didn't complete the year and repay them to the student loan company. Then presumably you'd just have to pay back the interest. But it is unlikely the university will be willing to do this.
The best people to talk to about this is likely to be your teaching office and the university finance office.

Did you pay tuition fees for your exams 08-09?

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I am talking about the Uni refunding the student loans company for fees between 07-08. I haven't had to pay exam fees for either the coming exams or the exams in 07-08.

As for deferring another year, to be honest, it's my own advice that I've decided to drop out. I have no professional back up for this choice. However, I did have professional back up when I had to defer 08-09 year of study. I'm not sure the Uni would allow me to defer again.

MrsManda

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

As for deferring another year, to be honest, it's my own advice that I've decided to drop out. I have no professional back up for this choice. However, I did have professional back up when I had to defer 08-09 year of study. I'm not sure the Uni would allow me to defer again.

As you haven't paid any fees for being put into your exams for this year then it's highly unlikely your university will be able to refund your fees from two years ago.

In terms of deferring again because of being ill, this is purely your university's decision but I wouldn't rule it out if it's something you think you'll want to do.
When I went to university in 03/04, I failed my end of year exams due to being ill all term, passing out in the exams then landing myself in hospital. I spoke to my personal tutor and he organised my repeating the year in 04/05, I did one month then ended up being seriously ill again. I missed too much to catch up (I had a mainly lab based course) so spoke to my personal tutor about dropping out. He allowed me to defer to 05/06. Unfortunately I ended up getting even worse and took the decision in July 05 not to return.

I have now started at another university doing the same subject (I got married and moved away from my old university city) after being well for over a year and my old personal tutor wrote my reference so if you still want to do your course, it is possible but, your health must come first.

Why are you concerned about getting your fees repaid?
Good luck x

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I'm not particularly concerned about getting the fees refunded. I was more concerned about accessing student finance in the future if I decided to do another course. Also, obviously, I want to reduce the already large sum I will have to pay back to student finance. I hadn't actually considered asking about refund, it was a friend who suggested it to me.

I have only met my personal tutor once. He is very elusive to say the least, so am unsure what he would do with regards to deferring again. I must admit, due to my health issues & other personal stuff, I have unfortunatly lost a great deal of the confidence I had when I first started my degree. I'm seriously having trouble regaining the confidence to return.

bestpud

I'd say you have no chance of reclaiming the fees as you clearly attended a good portion of the year.

They would not have allowed you to sit the exams had you only attended a few weeks!

Don't worry about future funding as there is an extra year available for mishaps, so you should be able to do a three year degree at a later date.

Plus, keep all evidence of you illness and any letters etc regarding your deferral as it is possible you may get it discounted on those grounds if you need four years funding in the future.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

bestpud wrote: »

I'd say you have no chance of reclaiming the fees as you clearly attended a good portion of the year.

They would not have allowed you to sit the exams had you only attended a few weeks!

Don't worry about future funding as there is an extra year available for mishaps, so you should be able to do a three year degree at a later date.

Plus, keep all evidence of you illness and any letters etc regarding your deferral as it is possible you may get it discounted on those grounds if you need four years funding in the future.

I would say my attendance was very sporadic after Christmas & pretty much non existant 2 weeks before easter onwards.

MrsManda

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

I'm not particularly concerned about getting the fees refunded. I was more concerned about accessing student finance in the future if I decided to do another course. Also, obviously, I want to reduce the already large sum I will have to pay back to student finance. I hadn't actually considered asking about refund, it was a friend who suggested it to me.
.

Don't worry about future funding. Extenuating circumstances providing it's evidenced - you went through the official channels at uni to drop out and have medical letters backing it up, means that you can get all the funding for a new course once you are better - that's why I was able to go back this time

whitfreak

I'm sorry to hear that medical issues prevented you from completing your degree. However, most univeristy's have quite clear policies relating to dropping out and payment of fees. And the ones I've come accross do not give you a chance of a refund in this situation.

However, as the others say, keep all your documentation to ease the way for future funding. There will be no problem there.