Help! Denied loan for tuition fees!

Viikatron

I usually use The Student Room but I've been told this is a good place to get help on these kind of things! :]

I just spoke to someone from Student Finance England who has informed me that they won't loan me money to pay for my tuition fees! I'm shocked and confused..

I withdrew from my first year of uni 2 months in. I notified Student Finance - paid back the grant money and I paid for the tuition fees myself.

As I am returning this September to take up a different course I was concerned about making sure I would be able to get funding for the next 3 years and I was assured by the many people I spoke to at SFE that my withdrawal would not disrupt my new application for funding.

So I've completed my new Student Finance application online and it tells me I need to produce "evidence of personal compelling reasons" for leaving my previous course. I've just called Student Finance asking what exactly qualifies for this and the person tells me I need a doctors note (which I don't have as I withdrew because I didn't like my course) or they won't loan my anything to cover my tuition fees.

Thankyou in advance for responses.

Taiko

Should be eligible under Previous study rules:

Length of new course + 1 - previous study = entitlement.

Won't need compelling personal reasons, and should receive support. The regulations have not changed in regards to this.

TSR probably sent you here as I'm the ex-mod for their Money & Finance forum, and most people on there would rather my advice than the people they got to replace me, who don't actually know anything at all on the subject.

Viikatron

Thanks, this is what I have been lead to believe for the past 4 months lol ..until now!

Having spoken to a different advisor, they are now saying I get full funding for years 2 and 3 of my new course but that I won't get the tuition fee loan or maintenance grant for year 1. Apparently the government has changed things recently so that people can't keep starting new courses without finishing them.
They have also suggested that I have my parents write, basically, a sob story letter to appeal for funding.

So I've made my application online but it says that I must send them this evidence of compelling personal reasons before they process my application, how do I move my application along?

student_advisor

the information you have been given by SFE is completely and utterly incorrect!

I recommend you contact your student services/student union centre and get them to help with this, they will be able to make sure you get all the funding you are entitled to.

as Taiko says, you are entitled under the current rules. They haven't made any recent changes to the rules.

Taiko

If you have times that you called, I'd suggest maybe making a complaint. Anyone who accesses your account, which they'd have to to advise you like this, leaves their details in there. If you know the time, it can easily be traced.

Silly season has already started up there, with me already having a few issues where they've processed wrong. Nothing a phone call can't resolve.

Viikatron

Okay, I called them again and Finally got through to someone who seemed to know what they were talking about!
They said there has been a mix up with my new and old application and if I write a (yet another) letter stating I have withdrawn from my previous course they can process my application. I just hope this is sorted now!
Thank you very much for the advice

ultimatedingbat

A friend of mine was in your situation last year .She started a Physics course, got about 4 months in, really did not enjoy it, so she paid back the money, and paid the uni fees herself.

This year she's started on a biology degree with no issues and has been told she will get full funding for all 3 years.

Hope it all gets sorted for you

Taiko

Is the website www.dieinafire.org/spambot3000?

ifonlyitwaseasier

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