Student fees, old or new?

Jellycube

Help! Daughter started uni in Sept 2011 (old fees) and realised she was on the wrong course and asked to transfer to another one, then took a break in study in Dec 2011 and will return to new course in Sept 2012. No one, not even the university seem to be able to tell me if she will remain on the old fees or have to pay the new tuition fees. Everything i have read leads me to believe she will pay the old fees.
how do i get a definitive answer and some clarity from the university? What are our rights?

Taiko

When she took the break, did she receive a suspension notice or a withdrawal notice?

In my view, the former = old fees, latter = new fees. Suspension would also need a transfer notification sent to SFE.

zkellerman

I would take a guess at saying she'd be paying the new fees, if it's a new course she's studying and took a break from University? Does she not have to apply for student finance again?

nimbo

as far as I am aware the SLC last year took the view that if anyone were to defer from 2011 to 2012 then they would have to pay the new fees. this was the first time they have done this.

i think it's gonna be bad news.

Taiko

If they were to defer yes. But a transfer after beginning study in the 11/12 year should be otherwise, provided it's a suspension and then there's the appropriate transfer paperwork.

Transfer of status

This section has no associated Explanatory Memorandum
7.—(1) Where an eligible student “A” transfers to another course, the Secretary of State must transfer A’s status as an eligible student to that course where—
(a)he receives a request from the eligible student to do so;
(b)he is satisfied that one or more of the grounds for transfer in paragraph (2) applies; and
(c)the period of eligibility has not terminated.
(2) The grounds for transfer are—
(a)on the recommendation of the academic authority A ceases one course and starts to—
(i)attend another designated course at the institution;
(ii)undertake another compressed degree course at the institution; or
(iii)undertake a compressed degree course at the institution;
(b)A starts to—
(i)attend a designated course at another institution; or
(ii)undertake a compressed degree course at another institution;
(c)after starting a course for the Certificate in Education, A is, on or before the completion of that course, admitted to a designated course for the degree (including an honours degree) of Bachelor of Education either at the same institution or at another institution;
(d)after starting a course for the degree (other than an honours degree) of Bachelor of Education, A is, on or before the completion of that course, admitted to a designated course for the honours degree of Bachelor of Education either at the same institution or at another institution; or
(e)after starting a course for a first degree (other than an honours degree) A is, before the completion of that course, admitted to a designated course for an honours degree in the same subject or subjects at the institution.
(3) Subject to paragraph (4), where A transfers under paragraph (1), A is entitled to receive in connection with the academic year of the course to which A transfers the remainder of the support assessed by the Secretary of State in respect of the academic year of the course from which A transfers.
(4) The Secretary of State may re-assess the amount of support payable after the transfer.
(5) Where A transfers under paragraph (1) after the Secretary of State has assessed A’s support in connection with the academic year of the course from which A is transferring but before A completes that year, A may not, in connection with the academic year of the course to which A transfers, apply for another grant or loan of a kind that A has already applied for under these Regulations in connection with the academic year of the course from which A is transferring unless otherwise provided.

V_Chic_Chick

It is possible for a student to stay on the old fees, so long as they are remaining at the same uni, even if they do not finish their first year in the previous subject - a friend of mine has done just this.

Taiko

The regulations above confirm it does not have to be the same university.