Applying for student loan funding now for an additional year starting this term- how does this work if it takes 6 weeks?

[ButterB3333nz]

My son has just been granted ECs to retake his 3rd year at uni. The EC just made a decision last week. I’ve been trying to find out what we do for funding. It appears he’s entitled to an extra year from student loans company however you put in an application and they review it between 6-8 weeks.

He has to take the offer next week but what do we do if student finance turn him down after he has started? How do we find out if he is definitely eligible for the extra funding?

SFE usually allow funding for the length of the course & a gift year. Assuming he hasn’t had any previous study, repeats / suspensions he should have funding. I would advise he talks to student support at the uni as they can advise him.

Student support may also be able signpost if he needs short term financial assistance as well.

Even if he has used his gift year he may be entitled to apply for compelling personal reasons. He needs to provide evidence for this - usually a letter from a professional to explain the circumstances is OK. He needs to call SFE as soon as possible to discuss his options and what he needs to do

Two questions:

• has your son repeated a year before?
• did he study in higher education before he began his current course?

If the answer to both those questions is 'no' then he should still have his 'gift year' or his '+1' year of funding left.

As others explained above, students are eligible for funding for the duration of their course plus one 'gift/spare/+1' year. If your son studied, for example, Yr 1, Yr 2 and Yr 3 and now just needs to repeat Yr 3 then he should be fine.

The rule only applies to the Tuition Fee Loan, you can be confident he'll be eligible for a Maintenance Loan regardless. If he has run out of Tuition Fee Loan entitlement because of previous study (he's already had a repeat year or he studied in higher education before starting his current course) then he will need to submit evidence of 'compelling personal reasons' (often referred to as CPR) to request an extra year of Tuition Fee Loan funding. CPR is typically for health reasons (physical and mental health), bereavement or caring responsibilities.

Starting an academic year without funding in place does mean accepting that if no Tuition Fee Loan is ever approved, he'll be liable to pay the fee himself. After the first two weeks back, he'll become liable for 25% of the annual fee but most universities won't ask him to make a payment, they'll give him a chance to secure the Loan. His fee liability won't increase until January (at which point it goes up to 50%).

In the meantime, if he's struggling to pay living costs, he can probably apply to his University's hardship fund which may make non-repayable grants.

And, finally, his online student finance account may struggle to understand that he needs to repeat a year (it 'thinks' he already finished his course). If there's a problem applying online, the paper form is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-forms/y/studying-full-time-and-qualify-for-a-tuition-fee-loan-and-a-maintenance-loan-full-support/apply-for-student-loans-and-grants/2025-to-2026/yes

Good luck!

So it looks as you have to apply to the company for the loan before they do anything, send all the evidence off(which he has loads of) in the post! They then take 4 weeks to make a decision. Just don’t know how it will all work out time wise.

Time-wise, I'd say 6 - 8 weeks is the more typical processing time. I wouldn't expect a student applying on 6th September to have everything sorted before they start later that month. It's very likely his university will allow him to register though - there are many students in similar situations! Some students don't decide to go to uni (and therefore don't apply for funding) until after results day/clearing, etc. Many students begin courses while waiting for their finance applications to be processed.

And the extra evidence you mentioned is only needed if he no longer has his gift/spare/+1 year left. If he has already used that, then, yes, extra evidence is required along with a letter which explains why he failed the academic year 2024/25 (e.g. hospital admission prevented me from attending classes so now I need to repeat three modules).

That’s so helpful thankyou. Slight complication I’m worried might impact things.

He started on the 3 year BEng and then switched to the 4 year MEng in year 3. He can choose between going back to BEng or staying on MEng for this repeat year .

Does that harm his chances of getting the funding for this year and would either BEng or MEng be more likely of a better outcome funding wise?

No hasn’t used his gift year.

You're welcome @ButterB3333nz!

BEng/MEng makes no difference because the rule I was talking about is (in English):

[Ordinary duration of the course + 1] - previous study

The more important point is whether he's already repeated or studied in HE prior to starting his current course.

No never before starting the BEng

Ah, you answered while I was typing. That's fine then. No need to send extra evidence, just do the usual 'continuing students' form (e.g. not the one for new students). He's going to continue and he can put either Year 3 of a 3 year course on his form or Year 4 of a 4 year course. Lots of BEng students decide which version they're going to do at the end of year 3 and the uni will be able to change the course information if they want or need to without it having any impact on your son's eligible for tuition support.

The Maintenance Loan is a tiny bit bigger if he's on Year 3 of a 4 year course than it would be if he's in his final year. But I really don't think you or he need to take that into consideration - just mentioning it so I've given you every bit of relevant info.

That’s so helpful. Thankyou!

No problem at all. And if you have any doubts about any of this, there will be a specialist at the uni that can help (that's what I do) and they will have seen this many, many times.

That’s good to know!😅