Tuition Fee Loan Advice- What would you suggest?

[samoan]

Hey everyone, I realise that this has been briefly mentioned in another thread but thought I'd try and get some advice!

I'm a grad due to start the BM5 at Soton in Sept. I have applied for the maintainance loan and managed to get the max means tested amount available. However I also seem to have been granted the tuition fee loan as well! Obviously I have read about grads not being eligible for this and put all the details of my previous studies and student loans into the application, but they still appear to have allowed it. Does anyone know if the decision has been changed?

I'm just a bit confused as whether to query it with the SLC or to just proceed with the application and ignore it? Obviously I can still pay back the amount if they demand it at a later date by drawing down on my bank loan?

Has anyone got any experience with this situation or able to provide some advice? Thanks

[dances_with_lamposts]

hey, its nice to know that someone else is in the same situation! ive spent a couple of weeks agonising over whether to tell them or keep it to myself, and after reading on here there seems to be a couple of other similar problems - the people who have tried to query it have been either asked to pay it back or their lea has changed their minds at the last minute! so, ive signed the form and sent it off without questioning them, i have been told by another lea assessor that its their responsibility to find an overpayment so we can just wait and see what happens. i am going to put the £3225 into an isa so that if i do get asked to pay it back then i wont have to struggle to find the money.
having said that, im not 100% sure it is wrong, because everywhere ive read about tuition fee loans, it says that we 'may' not be entitled to it. so i dont know!

Hope that helps.

[samoan]

Cool, well at least there is some other people in the same boat. I've been having a look at some of the other threads and it seems like quite a few people had a similar experience over the last few years? Some subsequently had the tuition loan taken away again (as I suspect I will), but there are several others who didn't post again. I was wondering if any of them could say whether they managed to hold onto it or not?

Thanks guys, Sam..

[Psy]

I'm also in the same boat here, grad due to start 5yr course this sept (BSMS).
I did the application online and didn't bother applying for the fees loan, but if I could get it maybe I should try...

It is annoying how little information there is for people in our situation. I've been sent huge glossy spam about student finance through the post but none of it covers my situation.

There's also the thing about the NHS Bursary which I am rather confused about. As far as I know we would start receiving it in the 5th year, which is when the student loans stuff would run out. On the questionnaire it asks you whether you are going to get an NHS Bursary or not, but obviously this isn't applicable until much further down the line...

It's also annoying how terrible the student finance helpline is. You spend ages going through the numbers only to have it refer you to the website. You can speak to a human if you choose particular options (say you are a relative, and then something else, I forget now) but it's a huge hassle.

I think they may have a degree of flexibility towards us, which is why there isn't a set policy, and they look more kindly on second degrees which are professional etc than ones which aren't. Or, they may have some policy, but are completely disorganised in communicating/implementing it...

[Nurse_to_doctor]

Dear samoan and dances_with_lamposts,

Thank you for presenting to the forum this information of fraudulent activity. I am at present employed with the government department dealing specifically with this most serious of fraudulent issues. The government is beyond reproach concerning any and all fraudulent issues (mention of second houses or videos of a certain variety will be met with silence, as we are beyond reproach!). We take issues such as this particularly seriously. There is at present no appeals process and all cases are looked into by Ms Bridges, who by all accounts is a right nasty piece of work.

You will be made to pay back this money, with interest (normally at 2,000 APR) or we will send the boys round (at additional cost to you both in terms of money and teeth kept, of course). Previously, such incidents have also encompassed a custodial sentence of not less than life plus 20, along side tarring and feathering – you WILL BE paraded in the streets – you naughty students.

Good luck with your studies.

N2D

[Psy]

Just found this
Medschoolsonline - Graduate entry funding - England
I'm sure it's been quoted a million times but I hadn't seen it before.

[latestarter]

from the latest document I could find...

Previous study
Tuition Fee Loans: As a general rule, Tuition Fee
Loans will be available for the full length of your
course, plus one extra year if needed. However,
this period may be affected if you have previously
studied a course of Higher Education.
Maintenance Loans: Even if you have previously
studied in the UK, Maintenance Loans are
available to those who do not have an equivalent
or higher level qualification; and to students who
are on a course leading to a professional
qualification such as a medical doctor, dentist,
veterinary doctor and architect.
Some supplementary grants may also be available
to those who have previously studied in the UK. (Higher Education Student Finance - how you are assessed and paid 2009/2010)

So it would seem that it isn't precisely worded - 'as a general rule', but I more inclined to think that the new office has got it wrong...

[samoan]

He he, would be funny to think of getting locked up for fraud, it wouldn't surprise me the way its going at the moment though Would be just my luck

[dances_with_lamposts]

I'm 'approved' according to the student finance website! I sent my form back on tuesday. Just have to wait and see what happens now. Like I said, I'm going to save up the £3225 anyway just so that I have a backup plan incase they change their minds.

[hm11]

Hey guys,

Just wondering how long did it take for your student loan application to be processed? You are all very organised!

Thanks