Healthcare/exception courses - exempt from gift year rule

Hi,

I'm currently using my gift year to comeplete my final year of an occupational degree after deferring last May. My course now runs from Jan 2021 - Sept 2021 but I've only been given 2 terms worth of funding.

When I rang to query this, student finance said I'd have to put in a new application for my final term as it will be considered a 2021/2022 term date. When I said I was concerned I would not be awarded any funding because I've already used my gift year (albeit 2 out of 3 terms worth of funding), I was told that that wouldn't matter as occupational therapy was an exception course, so was exempt from the gift year rule. She said they just keep giving you finance for however long it takes to complete the degree?!

This doesn't seem right, so can someone please confirm. Thanks.

Can you explain what you mean by returning student?

I didn't start studying in Sept 2020, I suspended my studies temporarily in May 2020 due to personal reasons and have restarted it in Jan 2021. My deferred modules will now run from Jan -Sept 2021. So my final term will run from June-Sept 2021.

Can I receive funding for this final term? If so,how do I apply for it.

Thanks.

Hi,yes I have applied for 20/21 but I've only been awarded funding for the Jan (1st) and April (2nd) term.Please can you tell me how I go about getting finance for the 3rd and final term that runs from Jun - Sept

My third year should have started in Sept but I deferred to start in Jan due to health issues and Covid.

How am I expected to pay my tution fees and living costs from June - Sept? I was told I was eligible for gift year funding. 2 terms isn't a gift year.