Tuition Fee nightmare, please help!

tim301

Hello, I hope someone can help me,

I have quite a long story.... In 2002, in my early 20's, I started a BSc course, but had to drop out when just into the second year. The reason I had to leave was that I was having to use my student loan to pay my tuition fees, as I was denied a tuition fee loan, and this was (obviously!) a financial disaster for me.

Prior to me starting the course I was working on the New Deal Scheme. Under this scheme I was awarded £50p/w to live on, this was a figure set by the government. By the next year, when I applied to the SLC for funding, this figure had been revised to £55p/w. According to the new figure I couldn't have been supporting myself on the £50p/w, and as such I was deemed not to have been independent and so ended up with the bare minimum of support, and no tuition fee support at all. It was all a very messy situation.

I now find myself, some 8 years later, in my 30's, in a very similar situation. I have been persuing a career in the music industry, and have been accepted onto a BSc(hons) course in my chosen field, based on my experience. I was initially enrolled as a part-time student, but have 'upgraded' to full-time, as I was able to accomodate the workload into my home life. This, obviously, meant applying to the SLC for funding, and this is where it all goes belly up....

It transpires that the initial advice I was given ("Don't worry, it won't be a problem"), was completely wrong. I have just been informed that I am not going to recieve ANY funding at all, besides the bare minimum mantainence. This appears to be due to the fact that, as far as the SLC are concerned, I have already completed 2 years study, and they won't consider me until I get to my 3rd year (or, as the nice man on the phone put it "Until we can see that you're taking it seriously"), and that they are completely shut to the idea of me appealng the desicion (the chap flatly refused to even discuss the possibility).

I have never recieved any tuiton fee funding, the c**k-ups before were due to circumstances and beuaracracy outside of my control, I am now attending University with a definte career objective, and this whole thing is placing my course in jeopardy... Not to mention the fact that I am completely devestated at the prospect of having to drop out. Again.

Can anyone help? Do I have a recourse here? Where should I go, who should I talk to? Or, did I basically !!!!!! it up for myself in my youth?

Thanks in advance,

Tim.

Lokolo

It doesn't matter if you didn't take the loan out when you were younger, just that you attended the course.

You get a maximum funding or courselength + 1 year. So in most cases 3+1, 4 year funding. As you have already had 2 years education you are entitled to 2 years. Your course is 3 years so 1 year you cannot get funding. This is your first year.

sfdoctor

Hi Tim,

This is really unfortunate. But as far as I can see the SLC are right, you will only be eligible for support for the course length plus one year, minus any years you have already studied.

In terms of what you do now, I would suggest that you apply to the Access to Learning Fund through your university. The university can make non-repayable awards through the fund, to students who are experiencing financial hardship. In the application it’s really important to fully explain the situation you find yourself in, and how this has come about. The government set out rules that universities have to follow in making these awards, but universities do have some discretion in this.

Also you should speak to you university about the bursary scheme they offer. These are usually based on income assessments carried out by the SLC but are also in non-repayable. Despite not being eligible for a student loan, you may be able to get the SLC to still carry out an income assessment on you so that your university have access to this. However, speak to you university first and find out what the criteria is.

In terms of taking any action against the university for the poor advice you were given, you should speak to the Student Union advice team. These are usually based on campus, and the student union will be pretty active this week, so they may be able to help, or at least point you in the right direction.

It might also be worth talking to your department about going back onto the part time course. The department really should be taking some responsibility here, and pulling out the stops to make this possible if that’s what you want.

I hope this helps, and don’t give up!

bestpud

I'm sure you've posted about this before and were told then you'd get no help... :cool:

But anyway, that's the way it is nowadays.

Part time may be your best option as you can work alongside the course.

You may then be able to transfer to full time for your final year.

tim301

Thanks for the helpful words, guys. The finance advisor at Uni has been very helpful, and the Access to Learning Fund has been mentoned too. Pretty sure I've seen a way through it, in that the Uni are willing to let me pay my tuition fees in installments through the year, and my wife and I reckon that between us we can (just about) afford that, so it's all good! Roll on the second year, should be easier then, eh?

Bestpud: Nope, you must be thinking of someone else.