Are grants meant for the full year?

divastrop

Following on from my last thread I am totally confused and need a bit of clarity before my head explodes:eek:

Basically, I am coming to the end of my first year of a foundation degree, and I am considering finishing after completing the academic year then going on to start a full 3 year degree if possible.

I need to know if this is going to be financially viable, as I have been told elsewhere that if I were to do this then I would have to pay back not only the part of the loan which is meant for the May/June- September period (that's fair enough I get that bit) but also any grants such as ADG, PLA and Maintenance grant which are meant for that period.
What I don't understand is that I have already had my student finance assessment done for 2011/12, and I was awarded all the same amounts for grants even though it will be my final year if I continue. Only the maintenance loan was less than this year.

If the grant amounts are the same for the final year as for the first year, then doesn't that mean they are supposed to cover the academic year and not the holidays? I had the same issue with Housing benefit, who also calculated the grant amounts as being for term time only and not for the entire year.

If anybody can explain this to me please I would be most grateful.

Taiko

The academic year runs 1st September to the 31st August, and are only payable up until the date of last attendance in the event of a withdrawal.

divastrop

Taiko wrote: »

The academic year runs 1st September to the 31st August, and are only payable up until the date of last attendance in the event of a withdrawal.

So is it classed as a withdrawal if you complete the year? I really don't get it. I don't have to go into college any more now as the submission date for the last assignments is May 3rd, but I still have to complete my work placement.

Taiko

Yep, it's classed as a withdrawal if you don't return for the second year. You would have a grant repayment, and there's no discretion in this I'm afraid.

divastrop

I thought it was classed as a transfer if you went on to do a degree at another university:(

ThinkingOfLinking

Taiko wrote: »

Yep, it's classed as a withdrawal if you don't return for the second year. You would have a grant repayment, and there's no discretion in this I'm afraid.

Is this even if you haven't applied for finance for beyond the first year? I'm completing my first year of foundation too, then moving away and applying for another course (and then transferring the 120 points earnt/accrued during year 1). I'll be cashing in for a certificate of higher education too in the interim period as well as requesting a transcript.

Taiko

You would need transfer paperwork from both the old university, confirming they're allowing you to transfer and not withdrawing you, and confirmation from the new universioty that they have accepted you as a transfer and not a new applicant. That is the only way to avoid overpayment.

I had a case about a year ago, and the student just applied to start fresh on a new course at a new university. Put them in overpayment due to this, then they wrote in with an appeal which actually included a letter from the old university stating they'd been withdrawn by the university. Old and new university would not confirm they agreed to transfer, and it actually transpired the student was withdrawn due to academic failure.

Despite the student's evidence though confirming we'd made the right decision, she did opt to keep the argument going. On closer inspection of the file, I found we'd only provisionally assessed their finance for that year, and the parents had ignored requests for financial docs for the means tested support we gave. Needless to say, the student pushed a bit too far, and I upped the repayment from £700 to £2906.

Seriously though, if you're doing this, obtain that transfer paperwork.

MrsManda

What happens if you fail the year and then change universities to start again? Can you officially withdraw from university A on the 1st September and enrol at university B at the start of term?

When I interrupted my studies in July the SLC didn't require me to repay my grants, is that because I was still a student rather than completely withdrawn?

ThinkingOfLinking

Well, I missed a deadline having been refused an extension, so my assignment has been "referred" and is now due in in August, on the undershertanding that I can only get a max grade of 40% on it. As such, I have not got the full 120 points yet for the year so am not applying for uni this year unless through clearing; IF things get miraculously sorted by then.

Otherwise, having completed the entire first year, and not having applied for finance for year 2, I will spend a year in f/t employment of ANY kind, and then reapply to a new course near where I am moving to, re-entering the university system in September 2012. I just don't get why I'd have to repay the grant if I completed the entire first year (and could prove this). I haven't claimed for anything I have not used or made any false claims. I'm screwed without this money as I am actually using some of it to buy new glasses and dental care (I do not qualify for free treatment).

divastrop

I haven't failed anything as yet...but last semester was ok as there were actually other students in the classes and I find I learn a lot through discussion etc. I have found being the last remaining full time student to be somewhat difficult, which is why I am considering this.

When I read about transfers I assumed that meant when you transfer from one course onto another at the same point of entry, for example transferring at the end of the first year on to the second year of the same course at another uni. Is it possible then, to officially transfer at the end of year one onto the first year of another course?
Please excuse me if I sound daft, I am not the sharpest tool in the box when it comes to logic and reason.:o

Taiko

Manda, you'd still need the transfer paperwork to be able to do that, otherwise it would just go on date of last attendance at the old university. If you done as you state, then the one day on that course would count as one full academic year of support, and therefore make you ineligible for the grant on the new course. Not a nice situation, but that's how the regulations were made.