Problems with PR1 application - coming back after intercalated degree

Hello,

I've had some problems with my account as detailed in other posts which have finally been solved, but now student finance is claiming I have filled out the wrong application form, PR1, when I should have filled out a PN1.

My situation is as follows: I'm an MBBS student who has intercalated a PhD into my course, between years 4 and 5 of MBBS. This is offered as a long 9 year course at my uni. So i've been out of the main MBBS programme for 3 years, while I've done my intercalated PhD, and haven't applied to student finance in that time.

Now that I'm returning to MBBS to finish years 5 and 6, I'm reapplying to student finance. I was initially told by my uni to apply as a continuing student as usual and just explain the gap in the additional notes section of my application. However, SFE is saying that as it has been more than 2 years since my last application, I need to complete a PN1 application so they can verify my identity. To me, this comes across as them wanting me to apply as an effectively new student. However, I am a continuing student on the same course as the PhD is intercalated. I've talked to my uni about this and they haven't been very helpful, and checked with other students who are on my long MBBS PhD course, who all said they applied as continuing students.

Why am I having this issue when noone else seems to be? Is it possible my registration on SFE has been incompletely updated by my university (SFE seemed to think I had withdrawn from the MBBS course on the phone instead of intercalated).

Is there anyway to fix this or should I just fill out the PN1? I am worried this will classify my loan as a different type when it should instead be under my original undergrad loans that started in 2017, and that they will offer me less support as they will consider me as starting a 'second degree' when really I'm on a 9 year integrated course. My uni is pushing me to do this but I can't help but feel it will cause problems later down the line, and keep wondering why no one else on my course is being asked to do this?

Reply 1

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Hi there. We would need to access your account to take a look into this for you. You can contact us on 0300 100 0607 for further assistance. Our opening hours are stated on our ‘contact us’ page. Alternatively, to access our live chat service select 'undergraduate' from your account and then ‘contact us’. From here you will be able to use our live chat service when it is available. Thanks, Leah.