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

[SliverOfSiIver]

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 I knew something wasn't right as she became withdrawn and unhappy and we saw/heard much less from her.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 😔

I'm so sorry for your poor daughter - my daughter was raped in her first few weeks as a fresher, so I have some, albeit limited, appreciation for how you feel.

I am not an expert on student finance, but this particular situation around future funding and current debt is something I would approach my MP with. Some are absolutely excellent at taking up these kinds of complicated issues on their constituents' behalf.

She has lots of options

1.Her ongoing MH issues means she’s classed as disabled. She can contact the disability team at her uni re additional student finance if she dropped out a previous degree due to her disability. She can also apply to charities that fund degrees for disabled students.
2.Look at degree apprenticeships
3.Study via OU, transfer credits and work to pay for additional modules
4.I know people who, like your daughter, failed their degree due to diagnosed disabilities that meant they weren’t receiving the support they needs. They were offered places om MA courses and a gov funded postgraduate loan paid for their course
5.She could complain to her previous uni and see if they’ll offer compensation in relation to a years fees so she can complete a course at their uni

Depending on what job she’d like, she might just need a degree rather than one in a specific subject. As such, she might need to suck it up and do a subject she isn’t interested in to get a degree and help her career progression

Hi op

As far as I believe if she chooses a course that is a professional course then she will get full funding from student finance. For example a teacher, social worker, doctor nursery etc etc. not a generic course.

This is what I done, I completed a normal degree say sociology then went back to study Social work and because social work is a professional degree I got full funding again no issues.

Your poor daughter, and you too OP, what a terribly distressing situation.

Reading through your posts and all the replies I do wonder if your daughter would be better to take some more time out now and ensure she is much more mentally robust before trying uni again.

You say she isn't well enough to work full time yet is considering uni which is a lot of pressure plus it requires financing.

She's young and at her age deferring may seem like she's missing out but it will give her time to more fully recover, especially if a trial is likely which may well be triggering.

She could continue to work pt or even increase her hours as she feels able and could try to save some money.

Not all jobs require degrees but if she still wanted one then she could wait a year or two and then apply. A little bit of time can give much needed perspective.

so sorry about what your daughters been through💐
my experience was that my son dropped out part way through the year and after taking that terms student loan…
he had to pay back the accommodation as was contracted for the year
any money he received for the time he was attending uni will be a regular student loan and paid back when he has a job and is earning over the threshold
the money he received for weeks that he was no longer a student is an overpayment and needs to be paid back now however please don’t panic- SFE are very understanding and will work out a repayment plan with you based on your finances and household expenses x

Sadly I have personal experience here.

The calculation is:
Years of current degree + 1 - any previous years studied + exceptional year, where valid.

The exceptional year will require evidence; and has to be the final year - if there’s any years that have to be self funded, you have to pay those first.

She’s got one; or at best two years, of funded study left.

Not all of the previous advice on here is correct, firstly DD needs to urgently speak to the Students union advice service for help with her finances.
She will have one year of funding entitlement left, (3 years plus 1).
She can make an application to SFE because of her compelling personal reasons for year 2, and also potentially for year three. She should get support from the advice service when making this application.

In theory that could release two more years of funding entitlement for her, which she could use to undertake a course with a different uni.

But she really needs to get personal advice on her specific situation.
Good luck @SliverOfSiIver

I think it’s totally doable!
In her place I would

1. defer a year and work full time. This will show if her MH is strong enough for the work load. hopefully the trial of the man and all the stress associated with it will also be behind her once she starts uni in 2025. If she can live with you rent free, even on minimum wage full time she should be able to save enough for 1 year of tuition fees. Starting uni this September and then dropping out again if the trial breaks her MH and getting even more into debt would be a horrible outcome.

2. contact SFE and agree on a reduced repayment plan for now + get a clear answer of how many years of finance she has left. It used to be “length of original course + 1”. So she might have 1 or 2 years of finance still available once she restarts.

3. During uni continue working part time and saving. During summers look into relevant internships. Depending on the field, some employers might give out job offers for after graduation and sometimes this comes with a stipend for final year.

4. Look into UC and victims compensation.

Can I suggest she looks at some of the funded courses and see if anything interests her: https://freecoursesinengland.co.uk/free-courses-1/

There are also Masters level courses where you work and study and its all paid for such as social work and some counselling (IAPT) courses. But she would need to demonstrate plenty of interest and experience through lower level courses, volunteering and work experience first.

If her interest are more technical there are also plenty of boot camp and funded course in tech and data as well. Start small, online, at home and build up to her confidence. The volunteer, maybe some work experience etc.

On a side not, fuck men, honestly, I know so many girls that has happened too. I seriously believe the biggest threat our daughters face at uni, is their male peers.

She will be ok and there is lots of good advice on dealing with the debt, start calling people, explain what happened for her, the court case, and they will back off.

There are a couple of options
Her employer may pay for her to do a course in future. I have a Level 5, level 6 and my work are paying for a job related level 4 but they also pay towards Bachelors and Masters.

If you do a science based course (and your last course wasn't one) you get a whole extra load of funding. I did 2/3 years of my first degree so cashed them in for a Diploma of HE and then did a BSc with the OU. Yes my total student loans are large but I earn just over £30k and it only costs me £70 a month.

You can apply for additional funding through extenuating circumstances via Student Finance, @SliverOfSiIver.

I did 2 years of an art degree in 2010-2012, but didn't start the third year due to illness.

I applied for extenuating circumstances, and as the evidence I provided covered both years these were written off from the 4 years of funding they normally provide (you do still need to pay them back!!)

Note you will need medical evidence - either from a GP writing how illness would make study harder/impossible in the period you are claiming for, or medical appointment/results or crime numbers etc. Prescriptions are also accepted but you will need a GP letter also.

You also need to write a cover letter explaining what has happened, the effects it has had on you, and why you are now in a better place to study (this obviously needs to be written by your daughter).

I then studied a full 3 year degree in 2018-2021 - in a completely different subject, with no credit transfer.

You can also get funding for a second degree if its one of these subjects part time:

https://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/products/part-time-undergraduate-education/part-time-tuition-fee-loan/eligibility/

Also I am pretty sure you can get full funding for the tuition only of an OU degree part time, as the part time and full time allowances are calculated separately (I remember exploring this option incase my application for additional funding was denied!)

this is so messed up, i am so angry and so sorry this happening. i dont live in the uk but if i can be of any help to you emailing, calling, researching then i am very happy to, just let me know with a tag or something and we can find a way to talk

Has she spoken to the new university student services/support services? She may be able to access hardship funds, due to her circumstances.

I just wanted to add this too, there doesn't need to be a conviction, your DD should investigate this firstly as it sounds like she would qualify for compensation.

There is a way! I did it

you can get funding to do a second degree is it is an undersubscribed course - e.g nursing, radiography

(nhs courses come with an extra bursary aswell which is really helpful)

she will be limited what courses she can pick, but it's worth a look

if you search on the student finance website it does give a list of areas / courses that are available for a second student loan

I'm so sorry for what your DD has been through. I don't have the words, but I'm thinking of her (and you as well, it must be tough being mum in this situation).

My question is, does she really still want or need to go to uni?

I went to uni after school for something to do, because everyone else did that, and because I was buying time before becoming a grown-up. My degree has nothing to do with my actual career. The real value was from the life experience I got living away from home and coping on my own.

Your DD has been through so much and has walked away with a shedload of lived experience. Most of it awful, granted, but she's not a 17-year-old with no understanding of how the world works anymore. She doesn't need the uni experience to become an adult - she's been forced to grow up very quickly by dealing with terrible terrible things.

Uni is really only essential for a handful of careers these days. If she wants to be a doctor, then sure. But if she did want to be a doctor, I'm not sure I'd recommend it anyway with such fragile MH. It takes a lot from people who start from a place of good mental health.

For most careers, there is an equally valid apprenticeship route these days. You could give us details of what career she is interested in, or perhaps start a new thread that isn't linked to this one. It's worth finding out if a different path will get her to the same place. Perhaps even in a better, more supportive way.

Personally, I wouldn't go to uni now. It's far too expensive for what you get, and there is equal recognition for non-degree routes now.

I can see the desire to do a course, any course, to try to wipe out what this man did to her and to start afresh, but getting a degree now isn't going to erase her experience. Gently, I would make sure she's trying to get a do-over for the right reasons as it could be a very expensive mistake.

Much love and support to you and your DD.

Can she live at home and attend a uni locally while working to pay her way through?

If the perpetrator was not convicted then how did they deem she was a victim? Not saying she wasn't. I'm just wondering how she was able to get victim payout without a crime being committed (legally not actually. I totally am not questioning the validity and am glad she got the compensation )

There is a Facebook group called What I Wish I Knew About Uni - said you post your problem there you might get a lot of useful replies. Loads of very knowledgeable parents there able to navigate the Uni issues

She needs to apply for 2 years of Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR).

She'll need medical evidence from her doctors to support this request.

Students can apply for the duration of their proposed course + 1 then - any years of support already given. So your daughter, if on a, say, new 3 year course would be entitled to 3 + 1 - 3 so one year of support. But if she could be granted 2 years for CPR, she'd have 3 years available to her.

@SliverOfSiIver its great that your DD has found a course that is her passion. That’s wonderful - I wish all intending undergrads did this, instead of doing the “safe” thing or pleasing their parents or whatever.

But you say that she can’t work full time because of her delicate health. I would really worry about her coping with university - it can be more stressful than an unskilled job. And there’s a pattern emerging of her behaviour under stress - she runs away (metaphorically speaking). Will she cope around the abuser’s trial, particularly if she’s a witness?

Univetsities can offer a certain amount of support but I don’t think it’s wise to go to university when you’re not well enough to cope. Sometimes young people pin everything on “just being at uni” but don’t actually do full justice to themselves or their degree.

Could she start part-time, or defer for a couple more years? If she can earn a bit of money working in a low stress job part time she can breathe a bit, take the pressure off her (and you) and maybe help you a bit or at least pay her keep.

Then she’ll be really raring to go, a bit older, a bit more resilient and a bit more able to ride the stresses.

If I ruled the world EVERY man would pay an extra 2% personal income tax - the Violence Levy - for all the things some men do which are destructive of those around them and people and property.

Imagine a world without male violence !? Your DD would be sailing!

www.ntu.ac.uk/studenthub/money-fees-and-funding/previous-study-and-compelling-personal-reasons

I had a similar situation to your daughter. I had used funding after leaving school but then wanted to complete a course as a mature student 15 years later in 2018. I had to provide evidence that I had compelling personal reasons for not completing the first course which I believe ended up being an email from a lecturer and a statement from a counsellor about what had happened and how it had effected me. I ended up getting all the funding and finished the course 😊 hope it is still the same now and your daughter can get back to uni when she is ready

Sorry no advice on getting more funding but I have never heard of anyone having to start paying it back immediately? It’s linked to salary being above a specific threshold, so if you aren’t hitting that; no payments are required.

It will be because she left her course during the academic year (the university will probably consider it to be end of December 2023) but continued to receive the maintenance loan. Overpayments of the maintenance loan do need to be repaid straight away but you can ask for a repayment plan.

OP - I'd suggest your DD takes the next year to work, most importantly rebuild her mental health and to save. She can then opt to go back to university part time (or the OU), or will hopefully have enough, with the year of funding she still has, to cover her costs for the rest of her university life.

You can appeal to SFE to waive fees for a year if there were mitigating circumstances which meant the student couldn't attend etc. You'd have to provide evidence. I'm not sure if they will waive more than 1 year but you can ask. First step would be to call them, or you can just find the appeal form online. I work in HE and have had several students successfully get their fees waived but for one year only.