previous funding confusion

snuff2pay

My son undertook a course in Marine Studies. He dropped out, completing qualifications at HNC level. Whilst he did not get a loan for his tuition fees, he borrowed £3000 as a maintenance loan.

He now wants to undertake a degree in Engineering, and the university wants him to do a foundation year.

He keeps receiving contradictory advice; however, the latest information from Student Loans is that he is not eligible for a loan for tuition fees as his course was for over 2 years, even though his maintenance loan was only for 1 year. They would, however, give him another maintenance loan for a foundation year.

Both he and I are completely bewildered by the whole situation, and as everything is being conducted over the phone, it is difficult to get a definitive answer in writing.

My real concern is that he will almost complete the course only to be told that his funding has dried up, and we will not be able to help him.

Can anyone clarify his situation?

agrinnall

My limited understanding is that where less than full funding is offered it will only be for the final years of a course (so for example, if they offer 2 years funding for a 3 year course it will be paid for years 2 and 3), so the point at which you have to find money is at the start of the course. However, you should not rely on my post but wait until someone like Ed-1 who has a much better understanding posts.