Withdrawing from University - Need help fast :(!

Abbeyxi

I will just outline the problems that have led to this as it is quite a long story .

I am a Welsh student studying in England. I'm in my 2nd year of university and I have been suffering from abuse from my classmates, which has really been affecting me. I made my university aware that I was having problems, spoke to tutors etc, but no real action has been taken. I also have a very ill family member at home, which is causing me additional worry. Upon seeing my GP yesterday, I was told that I am suffering from anxiety and depression. Overall, I just don't feel I can continue with my course.

I am currently communicating with another university in my home town (in Wales) with regards to starting a degree course there in September, so I don't want to drop out of the system entirely. If they give it the OK then I will attend there, going straight into 2nd year studies, whilst living at home. (I would be changing from BSc Environmental Science to BSc Environmental Conservation.)

My main problem is that I am in a contract for a house up until June 30th. As you can imagine, it is not very likely that I will be able to find a suitable replacement for my room at this point (although I am looking and have advertised on countless websites). There is still £2100 rent left to pay.

So, if I withdraw now, where will I stand from a student finance point of view? Are they going to take back all of my grant money? If this is the case, I don't know where I will be able to find the money to pay for my rent.

Please does anybody know anything about what can be done in a situation like this? :huh:

Thanks in advance for your help!

devildog

Hello there,
Sorry to hear that you have been experiencing problems.
Firstly, I take it that you are intending on withdrawing from your current course(as opposed to transferring to another Uni)
If you are intending on doing the same course, then I believe that if you can(possibly)stick it out for the rest of this year and then go for a transfer to your home town uni you will stay on your current tuition fees and not the new ones but you have to be clear that you are transferring and not withdrawing. Also you would continue to rent and live in your accomodation.

I am not sure re withdrawing and Student Finance, as in whether they would expect repayment of all money loaned to you (loans that is, not grants) I think re grants they would work out your entitlement for months studied and the balance for months not studied to be returned.

Are you also aware that if you withdraw and start a new degree that you will lose some funding? Don't mean to frighten you but I think it is 2 years funding (Taiko is this correct?)

nurse34

I am really sorry to hear that you are being treated this way!
I am a 3rd year student nurse and our university (university of lincoln) will not tolerate bullying or intimidation in any way shape or form!
I cannot advise on accommodation , but please seek help from your year lead/academic tutor or anyone else- even if you are leaving , this needs reporting to protect the next cohort.
Good luck love x

Abbeyxi

devildog wrote: »

Hello there,
Sorry to hear that you have been experiencing problems.
Firstly, I take it that you are intending on withdrawing from your current course(as opposed to transferring to another Uni)

Well I'm not sure what it would be classed as, since I would be say deferring this year's studies and continuing them in September at another university. I am currently studying Environmental Science, but would be "transferring" to an Environmental Conservation course.

I've been to see an advisor at my university but they don't seem to have come across anything like this before .

devildog wrote: »

Are you also aware that if you withdraw and start a new degree that you will lose some funding? Don't mean to frighten you but I think it is 2 years funding (Taiko is this correct?)

I wasn't aware of this. I really hope this doesn't apply to me! By the way, I am a Welsh student and would be going home to study in Wales. This may be relevant with regard to new tuition fees.

Thanks for the responses so far!

devildog

Sorry I haven't a clue for such a situation in Wales.

Found this on the Student Finance (england) website but still not sure which would apply to you
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Gettingstarted/DG_171586

Taiko

Should be fine for funding on the new course, as direct entry into year two. However, your student funding for this current academic year will stop from the day of last attendance on the course, and you would be asked to repay any overpayment that is calculated.

stephyt23

Hi, I'm really sorry to hear about what your going through and think it's awful the uni aren't being more supportive.

I started uni in 2009 on a full time BEd Early Primary degree, finished my first year and started my second but hated the uni. I loved the course but felt I wasn't learning anything and the tutors were a waste of time, I'd actually felt this way from half way through year 1 but stuck it out as long as I could. I'd dreaded going back in the second year and spent most of the time feeling withdrawn and upset not knowing what to do.

I contacted another uni about transferring to their BA in Primary Education part time in October 2010. I was told it may be possible to transfer and had to go through a long process of putting together a huge portfolio. I was forced to leave uni in December 2010 as I was told if I left it any later I'd have to pay back all my second year loan in one go! I put in a deferral request at that uni so I would stay on their books as if my transfer didn't go through I could return the following September.

In January 2011 I was informed from the new uni the transfer was unsuccessful as they had done a bigger teaching placement in year 1 than I had so I'd possibly end up behind. I had to re-apply with them to start from year 1 which was a bit of a pain.

I re-started my degree in September 2011 with the new uni and I am a hundred times happier than I was. It is annoying starting again and now means I'll be graduating in 2015 when I could've graduated this year but the fact I'm happier makes up for that.

With regards to student finance I was told I had to pay back an overpayment of £200 which was something to do with getting the September loan and grant but leaving early. However because I'm still in education they will just add this to whatever I owe them in 2015 which will include the year 1 I did complete at the old uni so currently I'm not having to pay them back anything.

I would speak to your new uni and see if a transfer will definitely be possible as the way I went through things was very drawn out and I felt in limbo for months. I'd spent all of Christmas and January 2010 wondering if my transfer had been successful and when it wasn't I then had to wait until June 2011 to find out if I'd gotten an interview for the new uni, more waiting to find out if I had a place after that, and to top it off I spent 9 months last year on benefits as I was unable to get a job anywhere!! Was the worst year I've ever had.

Having said that getting into uni, being happier and now having 2 part time jobs made all the depressing days worth it.

Sorry this post is so long and I hope you can get things sorted if I can be of any more help just PM me

nimbo

Abbeyxi wrote: »

going straight into 2nd year studies, whilst living at home. (I would be changing from BSc Environmental Science to BSc Environmental Conservation.)

would you be going into 2nd year on the proviso that you have completed the first year at your current uni? or is it to do with some previous course????

sorry if I'm asking a blonde question, and good luck.

agrinnall

nimbo wrote: »

would you be going into 2nd year on the proviso that you have completed the first year at your current uni? or is it to do with some previous course????

sorry if I'm asking a blonde question, and good luck.

Either you are indeed having a blonde moment or I haven't understood the purpose of your question . She has already completed the first year of her current course, as she says in her first post " I'm in my 2nd year of university".

mr.brightside87

Sorry to hijack this thread.

I'm currently thinking about withdrawing myself. I'm having a hard time engaging in certain modules. Its not that the course bores me, it is my own fault to be honest.

Currently just done my exams for the first semester of second year. This has confused me as I don't know how all this withdrawing and re-entry works. Does this mean that if I apply again for the same course somewhere else I will get entered into the second year as I have passed my first year.

Also, what about funding?

Also, what about the outstanding rent?

tbs624

On the rent issue, if you have signed up for a Fixed term tenancy then you will need to negotiate with the LL - you can't simply walk away. If you agree to pay the LLss reasonable re-advertising costs s/he may agree to a new T being found to taken on the remainder of the tenancy. You would remain liable for the rent and other costs due under the tenancy until a new T could be signed up and moved in. Although the majoority of studnet tenancies tend not to have a break clause it's always worth checking just in case your does.