Help With Student Loans - HERE!

devildog

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@educ/documents/digitalasset/dg_200470.pdf

Page 13 if you want to be absolutely sure

SteveT_11

Hello,

Please can anyone advise on the following scenario that faces my daughter.

She started a fulltime couse at uni September 2011. The course was an alternative the uni offerred as she didn't obtain the grades necessary for her original choice.

Having almost completed the first year of her course, she now has the opportunity to start the course she originally wanted (a full time course) and would stay at the same university.

The university has advised that the new course would come under the new fee structure (£8,500 p.a.). However, Moneysavingexpert says:

"Changing course
If you start a course before 2012, and then change, provided it's to an equivalent (ie, full-time to full-time or part-time to part-time) degree even at a different university you should be able to continue on the same fee structure and not move to the new system. Always double-check with the institution beforehand."

I appreciate it says to check with the institution first but is there any way she can start the new course by remaining on the old fee structure?

Any help/advice gratefully received.

devildog

I have just taken a quick look on the Direct Gov website and it says

Changes to your course or place of study - after you’ve started

If you change university, college or course after you’ve started your studies, you may be able transfer the financial support you get.

It then goes on to say

If you change course after the start of the second year - or if you’ve changed courses before - you may have to pay your own tuition fees for part of the new course.

So it appears that it is possible. It could be something to do with the 'one false start' that they allow students.

Taiko

Or could be down to a greedy university.

I don't think the SLC will entertain them charging higher fees, unless of course they didn't transfer her, instead opting to have your daughter withdraw from the old course, and do a new application for the course she wants.

Savvy_Sue

[STRIKE]I wonder if the key thing is that she is starting a different course, at the start of year 1? But I don't find it entirely clear, TBH.[/STRIKE]

I cross-posted with Taiko, who knows a lot more than I do!!!

getting-sorted-sarah

Hi, I hope someone can help. My daughter is at the end of her first year of a Foundation Degree in Early Childcare Studies, studying Part Time due to ill health. She intends to continue and complete the full degree.
In her first year her fees were paid by the LEA, but this year they have withdrawn funding. So - I googled and found out that this year for the first time part time students can apply for loans for fees - hooray we thought, problem solved. But when my DD called Student Finance this morning she was told she could only apply for a course starting in 2012, because she is already on the course she can't apply.
This is crazy! Is there any solution?

monxton

So, on page 24 of the 2012/13 Student Finance Guide, it says there are allowances of:

• £1,130 for any child other than you who is totally or mainly financially dependent on them,
• £1,130 if the parent is also a student

BUT there is nowhere on the form where it asks if the parent is a student. Of couse they know if the parent is a student receiving or applying for student finance. But what if they are not?

Alwaysinatizz

Please can someone help regarding completing the student loan form for this September? DD is going hopefully in September & the DirectGov site asks for our income as parents for 2010/11, but it doesn't say if we have to include interest from ISAs? I know these aren't taxable, but the site does ask for taxed & untaxed interest from banks & building societies, so do we include our ISA interest?

Many thanks.

Helix

Alwaysinatizz wrote: »

Please can someone help regarding completing the student loan form for this September? DD is going hopefully in September & the DirectGov site asks for our income as parents for 2010/11, but it doesn't say if we have to include interest from ISAs? I know these aren't taxable, but the site does ask for taxed & untaxed interest from banks & building societies, so do we include our ISA interest?

Many thanks.

No you don't include ISA interest. If you click the help button next to the field it explains this.

Alwaysinatizz

Thanks, I clicked the button & this is all it says:

Quote:
"Only give the amount of interest you gained from savings and investments during the 2010-11 tax year, not the actual amount of savings or invested sums you had.
Give the amount of untaxed UK interest (amounts that have not been taxed)
If you did not declare any savings and investment income to HMRC, refer to your bank or building society statements for these figures.
If you completed a self assessed tax return you can find the amount you should declare:
Online tax return - refer to your saved online tax return for your these figures.
Paper tax return - SA100 TR3 Box 1 or SA200 Box 5."


No mention of ISAs at all?

Also does it mean to put the Gross interest down, before tax of all savings?