Boyfriend has to support himself on first year, gets no student funding?

Louiseey

Hi there, I wondered if anyone could help me out.
My boyfriend did 2 years on a previous course and decided he wanted a change, so transferred to a new course for this September. He was told everything would be fine, including student finance.
However, he has now been told that although he will be given maitaince money, the loans company will not pay his tution fee this year, but will in the last two years. This is over £3000 he has to pay himself. Is there anyway he can get around it?
He is absolutely gutted as he really cannot afford it. The course itself is a lot of hard work so he will not be able to get a part time job to cover the costs...basically this means he cannot attend uni now.
Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks,
Louise

[Deleted User]

This is strange. I myself did a foundation year which I had to repeat. So that plus 3 years of the degree means I was at uni for 5 years. Local education authority paid all my tuition fees for the whole course. I also know of people who have completed 2 years then changed, and they did not have to pay. I would get him to contact his local education authority and appeal.

MrsManda

Is there no way he can use credits from the years he completed and start in the second year?
He can only get finance for the length of his course + 1 hence not getting tuition fees paid for the first year. The only way they'd pay for the first year is if he left due to extenuating circumstances which from your original post I don't think count in this case.

He could see if his university would allow him to refer for a year so he can work to earn the money for the fees or ask if they'll accept installments and work whilst studying (degrees are intense but many students have to still work part time during their degree).
Is he working at the moment? he's got 2 months until term starts to raise some cash.

MrsManda

drinkupretty wrote: »

I also know of people who have completed 2 years then changed, and they did not have to pay. I would get him to contact his local education authority and appeal.

Was this recently or before the rules changed about previous study?

Louiseey

I think it is all to do with the new government changes in January. And no he's not working at the moment, he's looking but I still don't think he'll be able to save that money by then.

Simon11

You can always ask to see if they would accept monthly payments instead of the tuition fee up front.

The course itself is a lot of hard work so he will not be able to get a part time job to cover the costs

I'm sorry, but thats a load of rubbish! I spent more time working during the week than in lectures....and still have done well

pjcox2005

It's probably not the best option i.e. that of the student loan company funding but would a bank people able to give you a learning/career loan? Depends on interest rates being reasonable, but that would give the option of paying it monthly over the term of the loan.

By restricting spending or getting a basic job with small hours should be able to repay £3,000 relatively comfortably? For example, the current cheapest loan shown on this site by Martin is a rate of 11.9%, cost over 3 years would be £581, paying £99 per month. I seem to recall some graduate loans are cheaper.

Alternative could you put the tuition fees on a credit card which offers 12 months at 0% and then look to pay it off over a 12 month period. 3 months summer work and you should be able to pay off a large chunk of it.

Family member or friend who could help?

Louiseey

Thanks for your advice, I'll show him this thread!
Work wise, the course will take a lot out of him. I'm sure he'd be able to work a few hours a week, but not many and he's finding it hard enough to get a job now so I think he'll find it quite hard to find one with just a few hours a week.
We've thought about going to see the bank about a loan or a credit card. He phoned the uni and MAY be able to set up some payment plan, but they also suggested trying to join the second year of the course with the credits he already has. I'll keep you updated
Thanks again
xx

bodmil

What course is he doing? I know architechture/medicine/vet science are pretty heavy going courses, but I'd be suprised if many others are 40 hrs a week plus. The uni often supply reccomended hours worked for each module.

Taiko

Just to note, the previous study regulations have not changed in years. It's standard length of the new course +1 - previous years in attendance.

The situation mentioned earlier in the thread is perfectly fine and the student was entitled to support even with the one repeated foundation year.

I'd be interested to know who advised him he'd be eligible to be honest. Was it the university, a friend, or the SLC?

[Deleted User]

MrsManda wrote: »

Was this recently or before the rules changed about previous study?

I started in 2005, my friend started in 2006 then changed degrees in 2008.