Tuition fee problems - please help!

rek2300

Hi everyone!

I'm hoping someone here has a lot of experience with the student finance system, because I'm having a lot of trouble.

Basically I dropped out of university a couple of weeks into my second year, due to health issues, and have now got a place on a new course starting this september. Only the student loans company tells me I'm not entitled to tuition fee funding for the first year, because according to them I've already had two years of funding.

This I understand - and I'll be appealing it on health grounds - but I'm worried that if I appeal, they might discover they've made a mistake in my favour with my maintenance grant, and I may lose that too. If that happened I wouldn't be able to go to university.

The thing is, despite being denied tuition fee help, I've been approved for the full grant/loan for maintenance, which doesn't seem to make any sense. Is this right? And will I get that for the full 3 years of my new course?

Additionally, if anyone has any advice/stories about appealing this kind of case I'd love to hear it.

jonesMUFCforever

Why not speak to the university or Students Union?

MrsManda

Post on the Students forum as there are a number of people who work for SLC and LEAs on there.
Basically, you have had two years of support as you did your first year and started your second (though it may depend on when you dropped out). Normal finance is the length of the course + 1 but because you dropped out due to illness you may qualify for extenuating circumstances in which case your second year is discounted allowing you to get funding for the new 3 year course.

Stoo_Pot

I'm assuming you have applied for an undergraduate degree:

The guidance document page 5 (I would post a link but the forum won't let me!) states that

Tuition Fee Loans: As a general rule, Tuition Fee
Loans will be available for the full length of your
course, plus one extra year if needed. However,
this period may be affected if you have previously
studied a course of Higher Education.

Is this course for a completely different subject at a new intitution? I can see why they won't want to pay another year of tuition fees - they could argue that you could have suspended your previous studies and continued from the second year. You have nothing to lose in trying to contest it though.


Maintenance Loans: Even if you have previously
studied in the UK, Maintenance Loans are
available to those who do not have an equivalent
or higher level qualification; and to students who
are on a course leading to a professional
qualification such as a medical doctor, dentist,
veterinary doctor and architect.
Some supplementary grants may also be available
to those who have previously studied in the UK.

It sounds as though they have not made a mistake in awarding your grant/loan.

If you are still uncertain you could still call the helpline (from a phone number that you have not registered with them) and say you have a general policy query without giving any personal details. The scottish chaps on the end of the line are generally quite helpful.

Hope this helps.