Post Graduate Student Loan

Yo.

I seem to be having either some miscommunication or I don't even know with RoHo.

I'm getting the Post Grad Loan from SLC, which will be paying for my tuition. However, recent emails from RoHo basically say this:

To pay tuition you need the loan > To get the loan you must be fully enrolled > To fully enrol you must pay 20% of your overall course fee (which for me is £1140). How kind of them to tel me this like 2/3 weeks before my course is due to start. I don't know how I'm gonna get this money.

Like... What? How is this logical? I'm already forking out £3000 in order to move to Egham. That includes moving fees, deposit, holding fees, etc etc.

Has anyone else heard this/dealing with this?

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Reply 1

catiar

Hi,Yes, apparently that's what we have to do... I'm not sure if you can ask them to pay the 20% once you receive the loan, but since we can only receive the loan once we are fully enrolled, I don't know... I agree they should have told us this earlier... What I'm going to do is use part of the money I saved to move to Egham to pay this, which is not at all the best option for me, but it's all I can do.

Royal Holloway

Egham

Visit website

Reply 2

MagnumPhoenix

I'd love to be able to do that, but my estate agents are adamant that I can't move in until I've paid them everything...
I emailed RoHo asking them to clarify this and what other options there are, I'm awaiting on a response. I'll let you know what they say.
Also, out of curiosity, what MA are you studying?

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Reply 3

catiar

Original post by MagnumPhoenix

Ok, thanks.English literature, and you?

Reply 4

MagnumPhoenix

Contemporary performance practices 😌

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Reply 5

MagnumPhoenix

Hi Catiar

I spoke to RHUL and turns out there's a "fee query" room during welcome week when you go sign up for enrolment. You can explain your circumstances in there, and *basically* not have to pay the 20% deposit...! Call the Uni for more information. I called Enrolment and they put me through to someone in Student Fees. Just say you can't afford it as all your money has gone on a deposit for accom.

It also helps if you can get your course leader to back you up, or to support your cause.

Hope this helps!

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Reply 6

catiar

Original post by MagnumPhoenix

Hi, Thanks for the info, it does help! I'm going to do it then.

Reply 7

donutaud15

Original post by MagnumPhoenix

Who did you speak to for this? *I will be struggling with the 20% and my options are loans from family or worse. **

Reply 8

MagnumPhoenix

Yo. I totally know how you feel as I'm from a very poor working class background.

Contact "student fees", and discuss your situation with them. You may also need to contact Angela Batchelor, who is head of student fees.

According to the woman I spoke to, a LOT of students were not aware of the 20%, hence why they've set up the query booths, where you'll organise alternative pay dates.

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Reply 9

donutaud15

Original post by MagnumPhoenix

Thanks for this. *Do you know if the 20% have to be paid once student finance comes or does that mean the tuition fee can be divided into 3 instead? *

Reply 10

MagnumPhoenix

They want us to pay the 20% before student finance. In fact, they won't even tell student finance you're at the Uni UNLESS you pay the 20%. It's an absolutely backwards ******** of a system. So your course amount (mine is £5700) minus the 20% (£1140) then the remainder is divided into three. (£1520 per instalment)...
But like many others, I can't afford it. So I contacted them like wtf how am I supposed to pay for all my moving costs and an extra 1k upfront? We're not all rich mummy-and-daddy-paid-for-all-my-****-types.

But yeah so instead my fee is just being split into three (£1900) and I don't have to pay the 20% upfront.

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Reply 11

donutaud15

Original post by MagnumPhoenix

I called them and they said that there's basically no way out of the 20% thing. I mentioned that I most likely would need to use a payday loan to make it and they said to discuss it during enrolment week. That just won't work cos if they say I need to make the payment on that day then I won't have any notice to apply for any loan. As you say we are not all rich mummy and daddy types who can have the money within minutes. So basically this is just a warning that they would most likely go back on what they've said.

Reply 12

MagnumPhoenix

Luckily for me, I have an email and a signed payment plan from the head of student fees. If you can, reach out to your course leader. If you know their name, you can find their contact details on the RHUL website.

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Reply 13

donutaud15

Original post by MagnumPhoenix

Just sent off the email to course leader. It's gonna be an utter pain to b told on enrolment that I still need to make the payment especially as I would most likely have to go back the following day (I don't and won't be living anywhere near)