Student Finance Estimator

**studentessa** · 25-01-2010, 10:34 PM

Hello all!
I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with the Student Finance Estimator on the SFE website. I according to their estimate I will be entitled to the maintenance loan AND the tuition fee loan; I already have a degree, and have put this down on the form. However I am not sure about the q. which asks

"Did you achieve a qualification(s) equal to or higher than the level of course you are applying for?"

Well, I have a BA, an MA and (nearly) a PhD. I don't know if these count as equal or higher to a medical degree; as far as I was aware I didn't think they were as they are different types of courses.
Anyway, I have done the estimate twice, once saying "yes" (the qualifications were higher), and one saying "no." It doesn't change the result at all. I'm still entitled to the max maintenance loan and tuition fee loan, according to the estimator.

Anyway, I suppose this all looks good BUT I don't want to get my hopes up...I thought I was only entitled to the maintenance loan. So I was just wondering if anyone had any experiences with this? Many thanks to all who read this!

**FlippertyJibberts** · 26-01-2010, 02:46 PM

Hi studentessa, I've got a BSc and an MSc and when I've had a go, I only get the maintenance loan. I haven't rung the student loan people yet but I was under the impression that as graduates we don't get anything for tuition. Would loved to be proved wrong though :-)

I'm going to give them a call tomo after work so may know more then, I finished paying off my first loan, not sure if that makes any difference though.

Let me know if you hear anything

**elise_h** · 07-02-2010, 09:49 PM

Like you, Studentessa, when I tried the Student Finance Estimator, it came out saying that I was entitled to a Tuition Loan as well as a Maintenance Loan, which surprised me as I'm a graduate. I put in the information that I've already got a degree, so I'm wondering if there is a bug with the system as I didn't think graduates were entitled to tuition loans. Did you get any clarification when you rang, FlippertyJibberts?