SFE Tuition Fee Funding

Bob_1957_2

Hi,


I'm new to Money Saving Expert and have a query regarding payment of tuition fees by SFE which I hope you can help me with. Firstly, I apologise for this rather lengthy post.


I'm a mature student who started a four year full time course at university in 2013 receiving full funding from SFE for payment of tuition fees. This was a course with an integrated foundation year with progression to a chosen school for a BSc degree, subject to achieveing a specific passmark. Unfortunately I didn't achieve the required passmark for my chosen school so could not study the subject I wanted to at my current university, but was offered alternative schools/subjects which I wasn't happy with. However, my passmark for the foundation year was accepted by another university and I was offered a place starting in 2014 on year one of their full time BSc degree course to study the subject I wanted.


Being a bit naïve on how this would affect funding of tuition fees from SFE I accepted the place at the new university and noitified SFE of the changes, only to be later informed by SFE that funding for the first year tuition fees at my new university was not available. After talking a number of times to SFE advisors on the phone I am informed that I have lost two years tuition fee funding because of previous study rules.


One year has been reduced because the transfer from my former university to my new one is classed as one years previous study. After belatedly reading the previous study rules I must accept this is correct.


The second year reduction is because in 1976 I first started university as a 18 year old student sponsored by the company I worked for on what was known as a four year sandwich degree course, which included a years work experience related to my study. Unfortunately, the company I worked for began to experience financial difficulties and could not continue sponsoring me, so I had to leave university after my first year. I did declare this on my initial application to SFE for funding and now it seems I am now being penalised nearly 40 years later for events which were then outside my control.


My question therefore is should the events of my previous study in 1976 have been taken into account when deciding my current funding. I do intend to appeal the funding decision and wonder how likely my appeal would succeed based on my argument.


Thanks for reading and I hope you can help.

Bob

agrinnall

I'm sure the SFE experts will be along to give you definitive answers (or ask for more information). But my feeling is that the big error was that you weren't told this when you were awarded 4 years funding in 2013. Had you been told up front that you weren't entitled to funding for the full duration of study you might have decided not to go ahead. But having been told you would get it you've now done a year of study and have a place for the remaining 3 years. Natural justice might suggest this would be good grounds for appealing the decision - however, the rules and SFE might see it differently. Hopefully someone will be able to help you.

Taiko

I believe SFE's assessment is correct, and it is right that the study, no matter how long ago, is taken into the assessment. That's laid out in legislation, I'm afraid, and there's no way around that.

The odd situation is that, if you had carried on with the course at the old university, you'd have got funding for the entire degree and foundation year. Due to the transfer, the foundation year is no longer an integral part of the course, and therefore comes into play in the previous study calculations.

On the plus side, you'll be entitled to fee support from Year 2 of the course. It might be worthwhile approaching the university for guidance on how others in that situation obtained funding.

I'm afraid there's no grounds to appeal on this one, and I really don't want to say there is a slim chance because there isn't. The only way you'd get fee support is, unfortunately, by lying to SFE. Again, I'd strongly advise against that, as the information is easily checked.

Apologies for being the bearer of bad news here, and I hope your studies go well.

missbiggles1

agrinnall wrote: »

I'm sure the SFE experts will be along to give you definitive answers (or ask for more information). But my feeling is that the big error was that you weren't told this when you were awarded 4 years funding in 2013. Had you been told up front that you weren't entitled to funding for the full duration of study you might have decided not to go ahead. But having been told you would get it you've now done a year of study and have a place for the remaining 3 years. Natural justice might suggest this would be good grounds for appealing the decision - however, the rules and SFE might see it differently. Hopefully someone will be able to help you.

On the basis of the usual formula - length of course + 1 - the OP would've been funded for a 4 year course with a previous year's study. Now s/he's moved onto a 3 year course, s/he's had + 2 years' funding so is ineligible for funding the first year.

ETA

Oop, Taiko's already answered.:o

Bob_1957_2

Many thanks to all of you who has replied to my query.

The basis of my appeal will be that I was sponsored by the company who employed me back in 1976, therefore they paid the tuition fee for the time I was at university. I don't know if that would make any difference.

The other problem is because it was so long ago, there are no records of this. The company I worked for no longer exists and the university has destroyed it's archived records. So I can't provide any proof of what happened.

Many thanks,

Bob

Bob_1957_2

Oops, forgot to also say that because of the financial situation with the company that sponsored me I was forced to leave university, not that I wanted to. Again because of how long ago it was I can't provide any proof.

Thanks, Bob

Taiko

It won't make any difference I'm afraid, and it is of my belief that it wouldn't be classed under the CPR guidance.

By all means try, but I do not think you will be successful.

Bob_1957_2

Just thought I would update the forum. After submitting my appeal, I was informed earlier this week by SFE that my appeal based on my compelling personal reasons has been accepted. SFE have taken the view that a previous year of study should not count as PC when calculating my entitlement for 2014/15.

Bob

agrinnall

Thanks for the update, and good luck with your studies this time round.

Taiko

Congratulations, although I must say I'm rather surprised! I'm happy to be proven wrong in this case.

What I will advise though is to keep that written confirmation somewhere safe, as it might be needed in the future.