Postgraduate loan is staggered while the payment is not

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I'm about to start a distance learning course with the open university. I have received confirmation that it will receive a Postgraduate Master's Loan from Student Finance England - it is staggered over two years, 3 times a year, similar to the undergraduate loan.

My degree is paid for in two lump sums - one in a few weeks, and one Jan 2020.

My question is, why is the loan given in stages when lump sum payments are needed? What happens if I don't have the lump sum needed?

Anyone?

Cause they're nasty, red. I'm in the same position.

I can understand the need to pay upfront - much as I think it's unfair - as I'd assume they had large numbers of people no show. But I can't think of a reason for the split loan payments

What are you doing?

I'm doing a masters degree in history. I can just afford to pay it upfront, but it means that other things will fall by the wayside. I'm angry it wasn't made obvious, as I could have prepared better.

Is there any way the OU takes staggered payments? Or do they definitely need lump sum? I have emailed but they take a while to respond.

The OU are usually pretty flexible with fee payments - have you phoned them?

I know they have a system for undergrad where you can pay over a period of time, but I'm not eligible for it so haven't tried to apply. Mine is just being left to the absolute last minute (they've noted it already on my file) and paid by my mums credit card!!

Speak to the OU. Tell them you can only afford the course if the payments are aligned with the loan.

Can you open an OUSBA (OU student budgeting account) for your course fee and set up monthly direct debit repayments?

That way, each SFE payment as you receive it ought to cover roughly the next 3 or 4 months' repayments.

Ah yes OUSBA - that's what it's called