Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Student finance, is there any way past this for my DD? She's devastated (sensitive content)

143 replies

SliverOfSiIver · 11/06/2024 11:50

I'll keep this as brief as I can and will not go into certain details.

DD started uni doing the course of her dreams in 2021. She did really well in her first year and was told she was on track for a first.

In her second year (22-23) she started seeing a student from the same course. I knew something wasn't right as she became withdrawn and unhappy and we saw/heard much less from her. Towards the end of her second year she broke up with him, had a huge MH crisis, and attempted suicide. There is medical evidence of this and her GP sent her uni a letter at the time. She failed her second year then agreed a plan with the uni to re-take the year and applied for a third year of student finance. She then moved into student housing, but failed to attend uni at all for the following year (23-24), and moved back home out of student housing without updating the uni or SFE. The uni kicked her out (or whatever the technical term is!) in February after she failed to attend a meeting with them, which she only found out about later due to the letters going to her student house. She'd been spending the student loan payments they'd sent her to pay the rent on the student house because she's locked into a contract but couldn't stay there due to her MH.

Just after Christmas, it emerged that another student who had been studying on the same course had made allegations of serious sexual assault and life threatening injuries against the same man who had been arrested as a result. DD heard about this, had another MH crisis, and then disclosed that the same happened to her whilst she was seeing him. She went to the police. We now know that at least 2 further victims, all from the same uni, have come forward. The man is currently on remand awaiting trial on multiple charges against multiple victims.

For obvious reasons DD has moved back home and won't be returning to the same uni. She is doing well and wants to try and go back to a different uni in September but it seems her chances are screwed as she has taken 3 years of student finance. She is also now in immediate debt due to dropping out mid-way through the year, which she can't repay as she is still pretty delicate MH wise and only working part time. She's heard about some sort of statement of compelling reasons to try and get an extra years finance but that won't be enough for her to actually do a degree.

Is there any way at all out of this financial mess? We have the emotional mess covered, she is getting support from multiple avenues now which is really helping. But the finances are her biggest worry as it seems she may never now be able to finish uni. I have zero money to help her, I'm a lone parent with a disabled younger child. I also never went to uni myself so don't know how any of this works 😔

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Frasers · 11/06/2024 11:54

She should speak to the uni and student body to see if there is any help, but I’m afraid I think as she borrowed it, she will need to repay it, when she meets the earnings threshold.

im so sorry this has happened to her.

SliverOfSiIver · 11/06/2024 11:56

Frasers · 11/06/2024 11:54

She should speak to the uni and student body to see if there is any help, but I’m afraid I think as she borrowed it, she will need to repay it, when she meets the earnings threshold.

im so sorry this has happened to her.

Oh she knows she will need to repay it but the problem is a) the immediate debt which apparently has to start being repaid now even though she is hardly earning anything and b) working out a way to move forward and fund future study.

OP posts:
XelaM · 11/06/2024 11:56

Sorry I didn't want to read and run. I'm no expert, but I thought student loans only had to be repaid once you start earning over the threshold? If she's not earning enough, she won't have to pay.

SliverOfSiIver · 11/06/2024 11:56

Also the uni aren't able to offer her any support as she isn't a student there anymore 😬

OP posts:
Wherearethebutterflies · 11/06/2024 11:57

No there is no way round it. There are limits to how many years funding a student can receive, even with exceptional circumstances

SliverOfSiIver · 11/06/2024 11:57

XelaM · 11/06/2024 11:56

Sorry I didn't want to read and run. I'm no expert, but I thought student loans only had to be repaid once you start earning over the threshold? If she's not earning enough, she won't have to pay.

Edited

The full years finance yes, but if you drop out partway through a a year then apparently that years finance becomes immediately repayable?

OP posts:
SliverOfSiIver · 11/06/2024 12:00

Wherearethebutterflies · 11/06/2024 11:57

No there is no way round it. There are limits to how many years funding a student can receive, even with exceptional circumstances

Ok. Bleak outlook, but good to know.

Time to look for a different future for her then.

OP posts:
Anyday · 11/06/2024 12:02

Depending on the subjects she is interested in she may be able to do a degree apprenticeship - she won't have to pay fees and will earn and learn on the job whilst attending the uni part time I think usually one day a week?

Worth looking into as an alternative way to get a degree

Frasers · 11/06/2024 12:03

SliverOfSiIver · 11/06/2024 11:57

The full years finance yes, but if you drop out partway through a a year then apparently that years finance becomes immediately repayable?

I think maybe that’s something she can speak to them about and arrange a repayment plan.

Quitelikeit · 11/06/2024 12:03

Ring student finance and ask them - (national number) or call the Student finance support team of the uni she wants to attend - explain she wants to transfer and discuss the financial scenario

Dont give up - keep on pushing

Quitelikeit · 11/06/2024 12:04

Your other option of course is to pay her tuition fee yourself and she gets a part time job to fund her living needs

Also unis have hardship funds etc

SliverOfSiIver · 11/06/2024 12:05

Quitelikeit · 11/06/2024 12:03

Ring student finance and ask them - (national number) or call the Student finance support team of the uni she wants to attend - explain she wants to transfer and discuss the financial scenario

Dont give up - keep on pushing

No no we won't give up, we will do whatever it takes to try and make it possible for her to study again.

OP posts:
ThatTimeIKnewFamousPeople · 11/06/2024 12:07

Did she complete 2 years, or 3? Students can claim 4 years funding, and in exceptional circumstances can claim an additional (5th) year. So if she's claimed 2 years she may still be able to do a 3 year course with funding

RoseBucket · 11/06/2024 12:08

I’m not sure but what a strong young woman and mum to be working through this and have the courage to go to the Police, this man might have taken a short time from her but he won’t take the rest, she will be strong but it’ll take time and I hope you as mum also have support xx

SliverOfSiIver · 11/06/2024 12:09

Quitelikeit · 11/06/2024 12:04

Your other option of course is to pay her tuition fee yourself and she gets a part time job to fund her living needs

Also unis have hardship funds etc

That's not an option, I'm on UC as a full time carer to a younger disabled child. If I could throw money at fixing this, I would!

OP posts:
Persuadable · 11/06/2024 12:09

Absolutely get her to look at degree apprenticeships (Degree apprenticeships - Learn more here (ucas.com)) or apprenticeships generally - if she is bright (sound like she is) then she would be very capable of undertaking something like this. The massive plus side is you get a salary and qualifications - with no debt, plus an almost guaranteed job at the other end. Search apprenticeships | UCAS

Persuadable · 11/06/2024 12:11

also - I am so sorry about what she has been through - but she has a future ahead, and it sounds like a brilliant mum. So tell her to go for it, dont give up and good luck!

SliverOfSiIver · 11/06/2024 12:11

ThatTimeIKnewFamousPeople · 11/06/2024 12:07

Did she complete 2 years, or 3? Students can claim 4 years funding, and in exceptional circumstances can claim an additional (5th) year. So if she's claimed 2 years she may still be able to do a 3 year course with funding

She completed 2 years. Took finance for third year but dropped out halfway through.

The extra years thing isn't that simple, I'm told. I don't think you can just use them to start over at a different uni. But I think we need to arrange a proper call with the right person at SFE to go over her options not just a quick chat with whoever answers the phone.

OP posts:
PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 11/06/2024 12:15

If she has done 2 years though she might not have to start over at a different university - she might be able to use those 2 years as credit and transfer them and just do year 3.

or how about the open university? Will they let her transfer onto year 3?

she needs to contact the universities she would like to go to and see if that’s possible. The chances are she won’t need to start from scratch again.

CranberryHedgehog · 11/06/2024 12:16

How awful for your DD, I'm so sorry. I had the issue of dropping out part way through the year. I didn't have a job for the first few months and my parents were on universal credit (or whatever the equivalent was back then) so couldn't help out. I got in touch with student finance and explained the situation, told them I had no money. They eventually agreed to a repayment plan of £10 per month, which admittedly took ages to repay but it meant it was manageable. It was a massive fight but got there in the end. Maybe this would be an option for her?

Unfortunately there is no way around the extra funding years issue. Would she be able to do open university with a job to cover the fees? She could do a few modules at a time to make it more financially manageable.

CloudPop · 11/06/2024 12:16

Persuadable · 11/06/2024 12:09

Absolutely get her to look at degree apprenticeships (Degree apprenticeships - Learn more here (ucas.com)) or apprenticeships generally - if she is bright (sound like she is) then she would be very capable of undertaking something like this. The massive plus side is you get a salary and qualifications - with no debt, plus an almost guaranteed job at the other end. Search apprenticeships | UCAS

This. Has she looked into this at all? These are definitely worth consideration

SuncreamAndIceCream · 11/06/2024 12:17

ThatTimeIKnewFamousPeople · 11/06/2024 12:07

Did she complete 2 years, or 3? Students can claim 4 years funding, and in exceptional circumstances can claim an additional (5th) year. So if she's claimed 2 years she may still be able to do a 3 year course with funding

Yes this is what I always thought was the case too as there are a number of 4 year courses.

I would also have thought distance learning would be an option once she is well enough - a number if universities do this now, not just the OU, and you can often pay per module. Her first year credits will be transferable to pretty much anywhere, and maybe any completed 2nd year modules depending on the course.

All is not lost, there is a solution, it might just take a bit longer and a bit more money. Lots of people study as mature students.

I wish her all the best for her recovery.

Anonym00se · 11/06/2024 12:18

Your poor daughter, I’m so sorry she’s going through this. I’d contact Victim Support. If they can’t help they can signpost you to another agency who maybe can help.

aodirjjd · 11/06/2024 12:18

are you 100% on the immediate payment thing? I’ve never heard of that. Or is it something like she still owes rent on student flat but SFE aren’t giving her the last loan payment?

Are you confident she’s not hiding anything else? Like another reason she’d have debt?

Im very sorry for your daughter but I wouldn’t suggest she goes straight back into uni having dropped out two years in a row even if she could afford unless you are 1000% sure she’s “fine”. if she can’t cope living away from home and can only manage working part time right now is she really sure she’d manage full time uni? Are you confident the trial etc wouldn’t trigger another crisis? Or if the charges are dropped and nothing legal happens?

the alternative is she does uni part time either in her 2nd year or both years and earns money on the side to save up /fund the 3rd of her course but that means taking 3-4 years to graduate. Or obviously she could take a year out of uni and save up and fund herself for her last year (she only needs to pay for one as students get 4 years of funding).

fatphalange · 11/06/2024 12:18

She won't have been paid her third payment if she dropped out half way through would she? So that will be wiped off the debt. If she's had it, and in their eyes misspent it, it will just add on to the lump sum she needs to pay back either way once she meets the salary threshold.

No she won't be able to to apply for more funding in the meantime.

Her options are:

Self-fund

Go to college and do a further/higher education course with an Advancer learner loan applied for through the college

Apprenticeship

Start her career now based on having completed 2 years of uni. She'll be at level 5 (?) which is still valuable to employers and she wouldn't necessarily be seen as a 'drop out'