Why don't NEW students get a reasonable cooling off period?

Taiko

It has always been the case that, if a student dropped out, the university could still in theory charge them full fees. The only reason most waived the fees is that, on the old loan system, a student didn't qualify for a fee loan if they were not in attendance 3 months after the start of the course. Waiving the fees was less hassle for the university than chasing the debt from the student.

On the new system, SFE will pay them, and as such it's in the universities interest to charge.

vassa

I dropped out of my previous degree after realising it was a pointless course i was on.

I was in attendance for 3 and a half weeks, and the loan money had already been paid to my bank account. I am now not eligible to get first year of funding for any course, and have the university chasing me for the tuition - they wouldn't even let me give them the maintenance loan back!!

Daughter is being very hasty in my opinion, it's normal to get the jitters in that situation.

Dunroamin

vassa wrote: »

I dropped out of my previous degree after realising it was a pointless course i was on.

I was in attendance for 3 and a half weeks, and the loan money had already been paid to my bank account. I am now not eligible to get first year of funding for any course, and have the university chasing me for the tuition - they wouldn't even let me give them the maintenance loan back!!

If that was your only false start, it shouldn't affect your funding for a new course.

vassa

Dunroamin wrote: »

If that was your only false start, it shouldn't affect your funding for a new course.

Dropped out second year after going back after summer and being taught the same crap.

GeneHunt_2

TurnUpForTheBooks wrote: »

Who the hell do the University of Leeds think they are? 419 Scammers from West Africa? Bloody terrorists. If you are anything to do with the set up at University of Leeds and read this you should be ashamed.

To be fair to the University of Leeds the OPs kid has taken the place of someone who would have presumably loved to go to that Uni and do that course.....Leeds are also losing out on 3 years worth of tuition fees (£27,000) 'cos the girl changed their mind (it's too late for them to recruit another student)....I think they are being entirely reasonable...

GeneHunt_2

gazzamemate wrote: »

Why is there not atleast a 4 week cooling off period for new students?

Please explain how the universities are supposed to make that work?

When your daughter decided that she didn't want to complete the course, she effectively cost Leeds Uni £27k - has she ever thought about that?

Has she ever thought about the person who could have had that uni place if she hadn't taken it?

Taiko

vassa wrote: »

Dropped out second year after going back after summer and being taught the same crap.

In which case it would be correct that you'd be ineligible, as it's attendance that counts.

vassa

Taiko wrote: »

In which case it would be correct that you'd be ineligible, as it's attendance that counts.

I already knew it was correct, just relaying my personal situation :huh:

Voyager2002

Let's distinguish between the degree course issue and the accommodation issue...

She was treated very unfairly in relation to her accommodation: her landlord really has no excuse for imposing a "trial" period that finished before she had the opportunity to see the flat. OTOH the university acted reasonably in relation to her tuition fee.

V_Chic_Chick

I'm guessing that the 7 days isn't a trial period, but related to the distance selling regulations? If so, the uni has acted entirely properly.

If they were in the private sector (including in private halls), they'd be liable for the whole year's rent, but they wouldn't have any student finance to fund that.

Personally I think Leeds are being quite nice about the whole accommodation thing...