Help With Student Loans - HERE!

studenttobe_2

My son received a letter from student finance yesterday explaining that as he has been funded for a 2 year HND course, he is not eligible for tuition fees support for the first year of his degree. Not only that but he is also classed as a new starter so the fee he has to find is £9000.

I phoned SF and explained that I could pay off the fees for the HND which are considerably less at around £2250 per year (so a total of£4500). Customer Services told me that this was acceptable and would wipe clean his account and then he would be eligible to claim funding for each year of his degree. I was given the repayments dept number, but when I contacted them, I was told that I had been given the wrong information and this was not possible. I was told even if I zeroed his account this would still not entitle him to the full tuition fees for the degree course.

I asked to speak to the manager, but was told that none was available, and it didn’t matter as I would be told the same thing. I pointed out that I had already been given very conflicting advice. I am still waiting for a call back from Student Finance.

I am devastated as I just don’t know how I’m going to be able to fund the full £9000 fee. We are not eligible for help with grants etc as we are just over the household limits.

Have other students found themselves in this situation?

Lokolo

Is there any reason why he isn't topping up his HND to make a degree rather than starting a course afresh?

studenttobe_2

The plan was that he did the HND then would go straight to 2nd or 3rd year degree. However, on applying for courses it quickly became apparent that universities didn't rate the HND and only offered 1st year or foundation year places to him. He will continue studying the same subject at degree level.

If he wasn't classed as a new starter then it would have been a lot easier to fund his place. I'm just panicking about having to find £9000 from somewhere

laurenweird

Hello, I am thinking of applying to university to study teaching (a three year course that ends in QTS) at a nearby college. I will be living at home (rented with my partner)

As it stands at the moment I am out of work (I volunteer my time at a local nursery) and my partner claims jobseekers for the both of us. We are trying to arrange an interview with the jobcentre about my going to university and how this may effect us but no such luck so far....

I am also a mother to two young children (4 and 1 years at the moment) - does this affect my finance situation at all?

Anyway, the main thing I want answering is - at what point do I apply for Student Finance? Before I apply? After and if I get a place? How do I go about doing it....?

(I am 23)

Taiko

Studenttobe, are they completing the HND and going straight on to year one of the course?

A-me

Hi Taiko

I am studying Dentistry and I am in my third year now. I live with my partner and have done for 5 years. However, I am under 25 (I'm 23) and have no earnings of my own to be classed as independant.

Before I stated University I was advised that i could apply for student loan through my partners income not my parents as I am dependant upon him. However, when i got to Uni I was told this was not true and so the student loan went off my parents income meaning I only get some loan and no grants or bursaries. (Really upsetting as I got the 4 As at A-level so I could get £1000 a year from my university for good grades!)

I did appeal to student finance but they said that they wouldn't consider my partner unless we were married, which is frustrating as I have no money to get married and we wanted to wait until I graduated. He already gets working tax credits for me so I don't understand why the student finance company don't see me as dependant upon him when the government do.

I was talking to another student who told me the rules are changing this year and said I may be able to include my partners income. I have tried to look for this but can't find anything.

My partner earns under the £25000 per year threshold and I earn nothing so he has had to pay the mortgage, bills etc and support us both. Is there anything that we are entitled to? I'm on a good course for future earnings but that is no help when we have no money now!

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance,
AH

Taiko

SFE are correct, and there have been no changes to those rules. I'm afraid your friend is mistaken.

Yoda, I honestly cannot answer that. You really need to speak with SFE in this situation.

Savvy_Sue

A-me wrote: »

I did appeal to student finance but they said that they wouldn't consider my partner unless we were married, which is frustrating as I have no money to get married and we wanted to wait until I graduated.

Seriously, how much does it cost to get married? It need not cost a lot and there is a whole sub board devoted to it. If you want to be treated as married, why wait?

Savvy_Sue

LittleYoda wrote: »

I have rung SFE and the lady I spoke with couldn't tell me whether the Emergency Passport would be sufficient evidence. She mentioned it would be up to the assessor.

Would you advise writing a further letter enclosing a copy of the foreign birth certificate to support the application?

I just don't want this to delay things.

I am not an expert in this area, but I'm thinking that what SF will require is proof that you have had a child. I am not sure that the emergency travel document provides that - it establishes that there was a baby who needed an ETD, but does it 'prove' that this was your child?

On that basis I'd get a certified translation of the birth certificate - because it won't be the last time you or your child need it!

studenttobe_2

Taiko, re your reply (I've only just seen it - apologies) on 5 July...
My son has completed an HND at college (started 2010) and funded it via student finance (we hadn't realised that this would affect funding for his degree). He starts his degree at a different univeristy this year - the university offered him first year entry only. To add to our problems my son received a letter from SFE today advising that the tuition fee we have to pay to his university is £3465.00. They will pay £0.00. The university have stated that their fees are £9000.00. SFE confirmed that he is eligible for tuition fees for years 2 & 3, but I'm worried they will only pay the £3465.00 they have advised, per year. I'm really confused and feeling poorer by the minute! Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.