SFE nightmare HELP

surfchick106

Hi, I apologise for how complicated this is going to sound:

We are after some advice. My partner went back to uni this year as a mature student he had taken a year out between his 2nd and 3rd year of study as he was taken ill. When he returned this year he applied for his student funding for his tuition fees and maintenance grant, he called them up in Ocotober as it was taking a long time to hear back from them, on this call he was told that he was going to recieve full funding for his final year. Brilliant, thats what we were expecting. Then a few months later as he was getting worried as to why his tuition fees had not been paid he rang them again, this time to be told he was not getting his fees loan paid and he would have to self fund his final year.

The reasons are becasue he has had his entiltmenet of tuition loan as he took the year out (or as they called it "dropped out!") He has been to see the union at the uni which have contacted SFE on his behalf with the same conclusion. He gets a care leavers bursary every year but this doesnt even cover a fraction of the cost of the course, having to work full time to cover the tuition fees, and therefore not being able to attend parts of the course which he is paying for due to having to work.

When we questioned with SFE why they told him originally that he was told he was being funded with the loan they didnt even apologise saying it must have been a mistake that the person said to him!

Can anyone shed some light on the situation, as he is getting far behind with his studies, and may even need to drop out if he cannot pay the full balance of tuition fees by May. Its his final 4 months, and we just really need some advice rather then being fobbed off by SFE and the university.

Thanks

trish-o

As a fellow mature student, I can only sympathise. As it doesn't seem that SFE are for budging, the only thing I can think of is exploring if any other grants or bursaries are available either through the uni or even checking on the internet, etc, as sometimes there are ones available specific to the course of study or even the area you live in.

Sorry not to be able to help more but wishing you the best of luck.

Taiko

Post up a full study history please, detailing each academic year they have studied on any higher education course. Only then can we help you.

Fire_Fox

Did he drop out (withdraw) or did he defer for a year? Did he supply evidence of his illness and extenuating circumstances? Is this a new course or a straight continuation of the previous course? Have you read the student finance rules and have you written to SFE?

surfchick106

Hi

Yes he deferred a year, did not withdraw or dropout. He showed proof of his illness with both SFE and the University. It is a straight continuation of his previous course. Yes we have read the rules, and written, spoken, emailed even had a university rep look into it. Its just so frustrating as they said yes to the funding in the beginning of year but have retracted it.

He has had 3 years (including this year) at his current university, one year when he deferred the year. He had one year at another university before withdrawing to transfer to a different degree and a foundation year which was NOT funded.

Thanks

Taiko

As I previously said, in order to help you we need a full detailed history e.g.

2005/06 - Year 1
2006/07 - Year 2, started course but deferred
2007/08 - Year 2

Also can you give details of the foundation course please. We need details of the course name and the university for that one in order to help you.