Suspending studies due to ill health and student finance

JOBEN

Hi

I was wondering whether anyone could advise me.

Although i am trying to work through it, It's looking likely that I may have to suspend my degree possibly in january due to ill health and having to have treatment. I would hopefully return to my studies in September.

Anyway I was wondering what would happen with my student finance, would I have to pay it back or would I carry on getting it?

Any help would be appreciated as I am worried enough without having to worry about money as well
Thanks

Taiko

You might have an overpayment, but with proper evidence it's possible that SFE will agree to continue your funding for the remainder of the academic year.

JOBEN

Thanks Taiko
Would I just have to contact student finance explain my predicament and provide evidence from the hospital?

Additionally when I return would I get full funding for my last 2years (this is my second year of funding) and just carry on my degree ?
Jo

Taiko

I couldn't tell you I'm afraid, not without seeing the evidence myself and then doing the assessment. What I may have found ok to classify for continued support through suspension and as compelling personal reasons to allow full funding again another assessor may not.

JOBEN

Thanks anyway at least I now know there is some hope

fishybusiness

Would I just have to contact student finance explain my predicament and provide evidence from the hospital?

Yes.

If you suspend studies, make sure you do it officially at University. Also, when you tell student finance they will block your payments until they have received your evidence and made a decision.

It could take a while to deal with, so if you need to, think ahead, gather your evidence early. If you can ask your specialist to write a letter for you, and send it to Student Finance, that should do the trick. Make sure you check with SFE where to send it, and what to write on the covering letter.

I went through this 2010/ 2011 and at times it was frustrating, but they did award me the full loan and grant for the year I was poorly.

Best of luck.

JOBEN

Thanks fishybusiness :T

Aphrodite12

Just thought I would mention student finance will fund you for four years of a degree. I completed my first year full time. In my second year I explained I was having problems. They suggested I halved my modules. I split the second year doing half modules each over the second and third year. In my fourth year i resumed all modules as a full time student. I received a full award of student finance for all four years.

Taiko

Just thought I would mention that Student Finance will not fund you for four years. They will fund you for the length of your course plus one year, minus any years of previous study.

The_Jakal

I'd say it's obviously best to ask student finance themselves.

When I was at university they seemed to take a lot of things such as this on an almost case by case basis.

I had one friend who dropped out in first year and his loan repayments were cancelled and another who did the same a month later and was forced to pay them all back...