Compelling Personal Reasons

savraj_uk

Basically, I started at the University of Leeds in 2009 but ended up leaving the course after around 3/4 weeks because I'd only achieved the grades for my insurance choice which I really didn't enjoy. My student finance application was late that year so I was scheduled to receive my payments later than expected. I actually decided to leave before I'd received any maintenance loan payments or the tuition fee was released to the university so had the loan blocked straight away. In short, I didn't receive any form of funding for the year 2009/10.

I attended University again in 2010/2011 and all was going well until my health starting playing up quite severely. By about November I'd stopped attending classes altogether because of the variety of symptoms I had. For the year 2010/11 I received two maintenance loan payments only, totalling £1188. I wasn't attending classes so after a lengthy discussion with my tutor I felt that it was best if I leave and return home because my conditions were only getting worse. I was staying at private halls (Liberty Living) and couldn't find a replacement tenant so thought I'd be liable to pay the whole years' rent but luckily I was able to obtain medical information from my doctor which assisted me in being released from my contract with Liberty Living. I also was being asked by the University to pay 40% of the year's fees because I officially withdrew after a certain date which meant I was liable for that amount. After going through the University's mitigating circumstances procedure I was also relieved of any obligation to pay.

This year I'm planning on attending University, and I understand that all applicants are eligible to a total of 4 years funding (3 years +1) in regards to a tuition fee loan. I've already used up 2 years worth of funding because I have had two approved applications for student finance in the past, so I know I'm eligible for 2 years funding. I was advised by SFE that if I sent in the appropriate medical evidence that I could be granted CPR and that I'd be eligible for a tuition fee loan for this year - which I have done. I've learnt this week that I have been granted CPR and am now going to receive a tuition fee loan for this year.

My question is this: I know I have been granted CPR because I was unable to attend University and SFE have accepted those reasons. Does this mean that last year's application has been 'written off' i.e. am I now eligible for 3 years' funding again? Or will I have to apply for CPR for every year of my course (3 years)? Is there a chance that I will not be eligible for a tuition fee loan for the last year of my degree? Basically when I completed my finance application for this year I was informed I was ineligible for any tuition fee support but after being granted CPR I am now being given a tuition fee loan. I'm quite confused as to whether this means I will get a tuition fee loan for the whole three years or whether they are just going to give me a tuition loan for years 1 and 2 rather than years 2 and 3 as they originally said (before CPR).

Sorry for the gigantic message; I hope I've expressed myself clearly!

Thank you .

lee1985

If you've been granted CPR and you have 2 years of previous study and the course you are about to take is three years then you will be eligible for full funding for all three years: the tuition fee loan, maintenance/special support grant and the maintenance loan.

How much grant you get, however, depends on your personal circumstances and previous study/CPR has no bearing on the amount you are entitled to, only the eligibility, as the amount depends on factors such as who you live with and your finances.

CPR, in effect, gives you an extra years funding by disregarding one of your previous years. Therefore, before, you were only entitled to years 2 and 3, but now you have been awarded CPR you are now entitled to years 1, 2 and 3 explaining why they will now give you everything. They apply the years you have remaining for funding backwards, so if you only had one year of funding for example, it would be year 3.

savraj_uk

Thank you so much for the information - you've explained things so much more clearly than the advisors at SFE