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Is my maintenance loan right?

Hi all

I am a mature student about to embark on a PGCE/QTS SCITT (school centred initial teacher training). I am based in Lancashire and will be based at a local school for the duration of my course. It is affiliated with UCL in London who will grant me my qualification. I will go to London once a month as part of the course.

I've applied to student finance England who have granted me a maintenance loan but - and I'm not complaining here - it seems very high. It's over £12000! This does NOT include the tuition fee which has been granted separately.

The confirmation letter shows me as studying at UCL's Bloomsbury Campus. Although this is correct this isn't where I will be based full time and I think I've been awarded London rates.

I am a single parent of a 14-year old, and I will not be working during my studies. Can anyone advise me what I should be entitled to? I've rung SFE and they say it's correct...as I'm not working I am budgeting in accordance with the financial assistance I've been granted and if it's incorrect it will be financially difficult for me, so I need to get it right. Thanks in advance.

Reply 1

Tiger Rag

It sounds as though they've got you down as living in London. You also get extra (I'm not too sure how much) because you have a child.

Reply 2

Tiger Rag

Have you been sent (you can also view this online) a payment schedule? This has a breakdown of how much money you'll receive. It should say £x per term for maintenance loan, £y for tuition (paid directly to uni) and £z which is payments for having a child. (parents learning allowance, etc)

Reply 3

Lateygirl

Thank you all very much for your replies.

I'll ring them again and try to explain again my situation - forgot to mention previously that I actually wrote to them and explained that I would be based full time in Lancashire, and that the SCITT consortium training course was not listed in their records so I used the details of the affiliating University. I'll see if a call to explain changes anything. If not then as you say, take it and say nothing else!

Appreciate all your input. Thanks again.

Reply 4

Armpits

I'd double check, and have something in writing.

You don't want to get hit with a grant overpayment

Reply 5

Lateygirl

Sooo...to update.

I've rung SFE and had a 20 minute conversation, whilst being put on hold several times for the advisor to clarify things with another staff member.

She has told me that because I am training under non-salaried school direct, I am classed as training at a university, even though I'm based in a school. As my university is based in London - even though I'm not - I get the London rate.

So there you have it. I need to write to request it in writing from the Glasgow office of SFE but the lass I spoke to has said she has noted it all up on my account in case I ring again and someone else needs to look at my case.

She assures me that it is correct.

I have a record of this call and the previous call I made in May, and a copy of the letter I sent them to explain where I'm studying. I have rung twice to query it, and both times I have been told it's correct.

I think I'll leave it at that for now... :wink:

Reply 6

Tiger Rag

Thanks for the update. That's interesting regarding the London loan.

I'd leave it too, I think! You've questioned it twice and whilst sometimes they may get it wrong, I don't think two different people would tell you the same wrong thing.

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