Settled UK status - Eligibility for postgraduate loan

I am writting to ask for clarification on the eligibility for postgraduate student loan with SLC for someone who has the following situation:
- UK BA graduate 2023 cohort

- Settled UK status under EU Settlement Scheme (+5 year continuous residency aug 2018-sept 2023)

- Unconditional Home fee taught masters offer for entry sept 2024 (full-time)

- Temporarily living in a EEA country from Sept 2023 to June 2024 due to taking care of and spending time with a family member'with illness (hodking's lymphoma).

- Will return to live in UK and have a lease contract in June 2024

Can this person expect a favourable outcome for SLC's masters loan?Anything else/details to consider?Given SLC opening applications only in late June 2024 it would be instructive to have a prospect beforehand.Thank you for your time and have a good day,

Thank you

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 1

Calum SLC

Official Rep

Hi Elena Hdez,

What course are you looking to study?

Thanks,
Calum

Reply 2

Elena Hdez

Original post by Calum SLC

Hi Elena Hdez,
What course are you looking to study?
Thanks,
Calum

Hi I received an offer to study a masters full time at Kings College London with home fee. I would apply for the postgraduate loan to cover part of the fee.

Reply 3

Calum SLC

Official Rep

Hi Elena Hdez,

You would be eligible to apply for the Postgraduate Loan if you have settled status and do not already hold a Masters level qualification or have received another Postgraduate Loan before. We don't take a break in residency into account if this was in the EU.

Thanks,
Calum

Reply 4

Elena Hdez

Original post by Calum SLC

Hi Elena Hdez,
You would be eligible to apply for the Postgraduate Loan if you have settled status and do not already hold a Masters level qualification or have received another Postgraduate Loan before. We don't take a break in residency into account if this was in the EU.
Thanks,
Calum

Hi Calum, thank you very much for your answer I appreciate it!

I have a following up question. If I were to have a rent contract back in the UK in August/September 2024 (before the start of the course) as opposed to June 2024, would the break in residency still apply? Is it flexible in terms of when do I have to sign a contract back to the UK? As per my last rent contract ended sept 2023. I still have family in the UK (my brother) but I'm not registered at his address so even if I stay with him for a bit this summer I assume wouldn't count until I actually sign another rent contract back.

Thank you

Reply 5

SFE Jason

Official Rep

Original post by Elena Hdez

Hi Calum, thank you very much for your answer I appreciate it!
I have a following up question. If I were to have a rent contract back in the UK in August/September 2024 (before the start of the course) as opposed to June 2024, would the break in residency still apply? Is it flexible in terms of when do I have to sign a contract back to the UK? As per my last rent contract ended sept 2023. I still have family in the UK (my brother) but I'm not registered at his address so even if I stay with him for a bit this summer I assume wouldn't count until I actually sign another rent contract back.
Thank you

Hi Elena,

You'd need to be living in the UK on the 1st of September if you're looking to start the course in September 2024. Thanks, Jason

Reply 6

Elena Hdez

Original post by SFE Jason

Hi Elena,
You'd need to be living in the UK on the 1st of September if you're looking to start the course in September 2024. Thanks, Jason

So the break in residency can extend to august-september as long as it's before the first day of the course, and still be eligible for loan?

thank you very much for your answer Jason hope you're having a good day.

Reply 7

SFE Jason

Official Rep

Original post by Elena Hdez

So the break in residency can extend to august-september as long as it's before the first day of the course, and still be eligible for loan?
thank you very much for your answer Jason hope you're having a good day.

Hi Elena,

As long as you're back in the UK on the 1st of September (this exact date) or before, then yes, the assessor will review all evidence and assess this accordingly.

You're very welcome. Hope you have a good day, too. Thanks, Jason

Reply 8

Elena Hdez

Original post by SFE Jason

Hi Elena,
As long as you're back in the UK on the 1st of September (this exact date) or before, then yes, the assessor will review all evidence and assess this accordingly.
You're very welcome. Hope you have a good day, too. Thanks, Jason

Hi Jason,

I am contacting again to make sure a final doubt. Do I need to have an address at the time of my loan application? That is, by the time the application period for master's loans open (june 2024), do I need to have secured an address for the upcoming year/to be living at in june 2024 fowards to provide it on the application form to Student Finance Englan to be eligible?

Thank you for your patience

Reply 9

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Hi there, no you don't need the address until the beginning of the Academic Year as mentioned previously. You can change your address at a later date once you have confirmation. Thanks, Leah.

Reply 10

Elena Hdez

Original post by leah slc

Hi there, no you don't need the address until the beginning of the Academic Year as mentioned previously. You can change your address at a later date once you have confirmation. Thanks, Leah.

Hi Leah. Thank you, I just received another offer (last out of 5, the other 4 so far put me on home fee status) that put me on overseas. Upon a first review inquiry the uni admission noted my current address being a EEA one as reason for the overseas status, which is why I wanted to double check in this forum. As I have four other offers already with home fee, it's not horrible as I can just discard this one, but it made me scared for the loan again!

Have a very nice day and thank you again for the patience of you and the other officers, I really appreciate it.