Help!!!

AmyBlue

This is a long one.... here I go!

I am about to start a degree in medicine (5 years). I was told by my LEA (Haringey) that despite having received a loan to cover my first degree (three years worth of maintenance loan - I didn't get a tuition fee loan) I would be eligible for a student loan during my medical degree as long as the two degrees were related (to show that I wasn’t just wasting time and that I had a definite career plan). I submitted my loan application months ago and phoned my LEA yesterday to make sure that my application was well on the way to being complete – as my university is now demanding my tuition fees – but to my horror and contrary to what I had previously been told, I was informed that I wasn’t eligible for any loan as I had already had three years worth.

I simply don’t have the money to pay the tuition fees and to make matters worse I have already placed £1,000 deposit on a flat near my new university which will be taken as administration fees if I give up the flat, the rent for which I was counting on taking from my maintenance loan. I have exhausted all avenues for bursaries and as my parents are paying a mortgage and nearing retirement they simply cannot afford to support me. Although both my partner and I plan on working as much as we can during university our courses will be very demanding and may not leave us much free time. I am due to start university in two weeks and really don’t know what to do. I was wondering about getting a loan on the high street, maybe a graduate loan. My first degree was from 2004-2007 so I was only able to take a loan for my tuition fee in the final year (when this became available due to the introduction of top up fees), can I claim two more years tuition fee loan - as I have only received one year so far? I have spoken to my LEA several times but they aren't very helpful! Is there any other avenue a struggling medical student can try?

Thanks! Amy

Crispy_Ambulance

You are entitled to a Maintenance Loan only. Students doing Medicine, Dentistry, Vetinary Science and Architecture are the only students who can get a Maintenance Loan for a second degree.

Students doing a second degree are not entitled to a Tuition Fee loan, so you will need to find the money for your tuition fees each year. You could try a professional studies loan, or take some time out and save up the money for your fees. Your LEA have no discretion to help you - they are bound by the legislation.

AmyBlue

You have just saved my skin! My parents were talking about cashing in their pensions and taking out loans. I phoned student finance direct this morning and they confirmed the information you gave me – they were a LOT more helpful than the LEA at the council! Filling the hole of my tuition fees loan alone is going to be feasible (with a lot of work outside of uni which I am more than willing to do) it was the maintenance loan of £4,700 on top that I couldn’t cope without.

Thank you so much for your response! :j