If you leave or suspend your studies you must: stop your student finance repay any student finance you are not entitled to Your student finance includes: Maintenance Loans Tuition Fee Loans grants and bursaries How much you need to repay and when you need to repay it depends on: what type of student finance you have when in the academic year you leave your course whether you’re planning to return to your course or not If you suspend because of illness or another serious personal reason , you might still be able to get student finance while you’re away.

Stopping your student finance

You must stop your student finance payments as soon as you decide to suspend your studies or leave your course early. This will reduce any repayments you may need to make. Student finance covers: Maintenance Loans Tuition Fee Loans grants and bursaries How to stop your student finance payments You must: tell your university or college that you’re leaving or suspending your course contact Student Finance England if you’re a student from England The way to make contact is different if you’re a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Contact: Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) Student Finance Wales Student Finance Northern Ireland If you suspend your studies you can usually postpone your student finance payments until you return.

Repaying your student finance

How much and when you have to repay depends on: the type of student finance you have when in the academic year you leave your course whether you’re planning to return to your course or not Your university or college will tell your student finance provider the date you finished your studies. Maintenance Loans Your student finance provider will reassess your Maintenance Loan based on the number of days you attended your course. If any of your loan covers the period after you’ve left your course, this counts as an overpayment and you’ll need to repay it straight away. The Student Loans Company will write and tell you how much you must repay. If you cannot repay the full amount, you can ask them to set up a repayment plan. The rest of your Maintenance Loan is repaid in the usual way once you start earning over the threshold amount . Example You get a Maintenance Loan of £1,200 to cover a 12 week term (£100 a week) and you leave your course after 8 weeks. You can keep £800 of the loan (8 weeks X £100 = £800), but you need to repay the remaining £400 straight away as this counts as an overpayment (4 weeks X £100 = £400). You repay the rest of the loan (£800) in the usual way. If you’re planning to return to your studies The amount you were overpaid will usually be taken off your student finance payments when you return, so you do not have to repay straight away. Grants and bursaries If any of your grant or bursary covers the period after you’ve left your course, this counts as an overpayment and you’ll need to repay it straight away. There are exceptions for: childcare grants taken in or after the 2019 to 2020 academic year grants taken in or before the 2016 to 2017 academic year You do not have to pay back overpayments on these grants until you’ve finished your course. Tuition Fee Loans You’ll need to repay at least some of your Tuition Fee loan for the year that you suspend or leave your course. You’ll need to pay back: 25% of the loan for the year if you suspend or leave in term 1 50% of the loan for the year if you suspend or leave in term 2 all the loan for the year if you suspend or leave in term 3 This is repaid in the usual way once you start earning over the threshold amount .

Getting student finance while you suspend your studies

You might be able to get student finance while you’re away from your course if you suspend due to illness, bereavement or another serious personal reason. You’ll need to reapply for funding if you return to your studies in a new academic year. Your funding will restart automatically if you return in the same academic year. If you suspend because you’re seriously ill You might be able to get a Maintenance Loan or any other grants you’re entitled to for 60 days from the date you suspended your course. Your university or college must tell the Student Loans Company ( SLC ) about your situation, including the date you suspended your course. Apply for extra money If you’re having financial difficulties after 60 days you might be able to get more Maintenance Loan or any other grants you’re entitled to. Call Student Finance England ( SFE ) to check if you’re eligible to apply for extra financial help. If you’re eligible, you’ll be asked to complete a financial hardship confirmation form. SFE will then let you know whether you qualify for further help. You’ll need your customer reference number when you call. Student Finance England Telephone: 0300 100 0607 Text relay (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0300 100 0607 Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm Saturday, 9am to 4pm Find out about call charges You’ll need your customer reference number when you call. If you’re a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, contact: Student Awards Agency Scotland ( SAAS ) Student Finance Wales Student Finance Northern Ireland You might also be able to get extra money from your university or college hardship fund . If you suspend for another serious personal reason You might still be able to get a Maintenance Loan or any other grants you’re entitled to while you’ve suspended your studies. Call Student Finance England ( SFE ) to check if you’re eligible to apply for extra financial help. If you’re eligible, you’ll be asked to complete a financial hardship confirmation form. SFE will then let you know whether you qualify for further help. Student Finance England Telephone: 0300 100 0607 Text relay (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0300 100 0607 Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm Saturday, 9am to 4pm Find out about call charges You’ll need your customer reference number when you call. If you’re a student from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, contact: Student Awards Agency Scotland ( SAAS ) Student Finance Wales Student Finance Northern Ireland

Student finance if you suspend or leave your course

Overview

If you leave or suspend your studies you must:

stop your student finance
repay any student finance you are not entitled to

Your student finance includes:

Maintenance Loans
Tuition Fee Loans
grants and bursaries

How much you need to repay and when you need to repay it depends on:

what type of student finance you have
when in the academic year you leave your course
whether you’re planning to return to your course or not

If you suspend because of illness or another serious personal reason, you might still be able to get student finance while you’re away.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Student finance if you suspend or leave your course

Overview

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Student finance if you suspend or leave your course

Overview

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