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Part time exception course funding - BSc Psychology part time

Hello,

I have previously completed a degree and currently have an offer for the BSc Psychology Part-time at the University of West London.

I understand that in general Psychology is a part time exception course, however am seeking clarification prior to accepting the offer, as enrolling may mean I am liable for tuition fees - and SFE has yet to process my application.

Would you be able to confirm it is indeed eligible for funding please?

BSc Psychology, Part time
University of West London
The full time UCAS code is C800, nothing listed for the part time route...

Reply 1

Calum SLC

Official Rep

Hi waterbacon,

I can confirm that this specific course is eligible for funding as a part time exception.

Thanks,
Calum

Reply 2

waterbacon

@Calum SLC

Hello Calum,

Many thanks for your reply. I was actually on the live chat with an SFE rep this morning, who was under the impression the course does not qualify.

Would you be able to assess against the following circumstances please?

Previous level 6 hons degree completion, completed successfully - was part time across 2 years.
New programme: BSc (hons) Psychology part time - 5 years commencing 24/25 cycle.

Would I still qualify?

Reply 3

SFE Clare

Official Rep

Hi waterbacon,

That course code is only linked to the full time course, which may be why the previous adviser suggested it would not be eligible as an exception.

The course must be part time for it to be considered an exception to previous study and equal level qualification rules.

Thanks, Clare

Reply 4

waterbacon

Hi Clare,

Thanks for your response. The course code is only for the full time programme, and I am unable to find any part time course code etc.

Can I take from your response and Calum's, that the same full time course taken on a part time basis, is exempt from ELQ rules and will attract funding?

Is this still the case having had a previous part time programme for two years before?

Reply 5

David SLC

Official Rep

Hi there. Yes that is correct. As long as the course is Part Time then this will be considered an exception. This means that as long as you are not already registered in the field you are now looking to study then you are eligible for funding regardless of your previous study/qualifications. Thanks, David

Reply 6

waterbacon

Thank you all for your replies. Currently awaiting application processing before I can enrol fully, but will notify the university.

Reply 7

Angela SFE

Official Rep

Original post by waterbacon

Thank you all for your replies. Currently awaiting application processing before I can enrol fully, but will notify the university.

You are more than welcome, please don't hesitate to contact us if you need any further help. Thanks, Angela

Reply 8

waterbacon

Hello team,

Reaching out here as I'm getting a bit desperate, having reached out via the live chat to a number of agents.

I am currently provisionally enrolled on the above course. My finance application went in end of August, and so is now outside of the SFE timescales. The date for update has changed three times, 1st, 18th, and now 22nd October.

One agent has marked it up for a 'fast track' assessment, however this has not been updated. The last agent was less than helpful and essentially just said its showing for the 22nd... Which I already know.

My provisional enrollment runs out in a matter of days, before I become personally liable for a significant proportionate of tuition fees. This is obviously an issue.

Is anyone here able to assist with this?

Reply 9

Drew SLC

Official Rep

Hi there,

We are unable to access online accounts here. Our timescales are estimates and can change daily so this would be why you have had different processing dates. Did an advisor say they would send a High Level Escalation to have your application reviewed quicker but they did not do this? Or was it not accepted?

Thanks, Drew

Reply 10

waterbacon

Hello Drew,

Thanks for your response. I appreciate that, however it still sits outside of published timescales, therefore the difficulty - as I'm not getting anywhere with it.

One agent indicated marked up for 'fast track' as he put it, the other noted it but said there was no update for it.

Reply 11

Drew SLC

Official Rep

Hi there,

If you are wanting to find out when your application will be processed you would need to contact us. To access our live chat service select undergraduate and then ‘contact us’. From here you will be able to use our live chat service when it is available. Alternatively, you can contact us on 0300 100 0607 for further assistance. Our opening hours are stated on our ‘contact us’ page.

Thanks, Drew

Reply 12

waterbacon

Drew,

About as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Your website clearly states a 21 working day time frame. I.e. part time finance applications submitted this week will have a decision around the 22nd.

I applied end of August and am no further along than when I started, with platitudes and agents seemingly either unable to read (I've been told my identity evidence isn't from the UK, my evidence didn't go in bla bla bla... All incorrect) or otherwise unable to provide any actual explanation as to why my application doesnt fall within the published 21 day window.

Now before you say it takes between 6-8 weeks, why does your own up to date website indicate 21 working days for part time and full time finance application decisions? It cannot be both. It is either 6 - 8 weeks, or the published 21 working days. This is based on your own updates and published information.

I wonder if the roles were reversed (I am sure there are plenty of others in similar situations), whether you and the rest of SFE wouldn't be concerned about personal fee liability and debt collectors.

Reply 13

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Hi there. I appreciate the conflicting information isn't helpful. The 6-8 weeks is a standard timescale as students will have different circumstance's which affects what department is handling the applicaiton.

The applicaiton process happens in a few stages. The first is confirming eligibility (your ID and status). This is taking around 32 working days. Once this is confirmed, they then pass the applicaiton to the team who deal with your funding, in your case part time team, which is around 25 working days at the moment.

These are estimated timescales and they are subject to change, especially during our peak periods.

If you have been told someone would fast track your application, you would need to contact us to chase this up as we cannot access account here to look into this.

Thanks, Leah.

(edited 4 days ago)

Reply 14

waterbacon

Hello Leah,

So from that am I to assume it is 32 + 25, 57 working days? Or over 8 full weeks. Or is it 6-8 weeks for a full decision, both parts inclusive?

Current stipulated timescales as published by SFE via GOV.UK indicate:

Part-time undergraduate student finance
21 working days
Update: Monday 28 October and Friday 1 November

Either way, objectively this is very misleading. It makes no reference to it being a two part process, or processing times for either stage. It would be easy to assume that it is 21 days for the entirety of the process, both parts as implied - application to decision.

If it is a two stage process, then I would at least expect that any agent would be able to tell me where I am at, what has been done, and what is left to be done - no one has been able to provide this information. So, as it stands, I have absolutely no idea where the application is it.

Furthermore, one agent informed me you cannot accept non UK identity evidence. Pretty unhelpful as I did indeed provide UK identity evidence (previously accepted by SFE), and no indication as to whether this had been processed, accepted or rejected.

Reply 15

Graeme SFE

Official Rep

Original post by waterbacon

Hello Leah,
So from that am I to assume it is 32 + 25, 57 working days? Or over 8 full weeks. Or is it 6-8 weeks for a full decision, both parts inclusive?
Current stipulated timescales as published by SFE via GOV.UK indicate:
Part-time undergraduate student finance
21 working days
Update: Monday 28 October and Friday 1 November
Either way, objectively this is very misleading. It makes no reference to it being a two part process, or processing times for either stage. It would be easy to assume that it is 21 days for the entirety of the process, both parts as implied - application to decision.
If it is a two stage process, then I would at least expect that any agent would be able to tell me where I am at, what has been done, and what is left to be done - no one has been able to provide this information. So, as it stands, I have absolutely no idea where the application is it.
Furthermore, one agent informed me you cannot accept non UK identity evidence. Pretty unhelpful as I did indeed provide UK identity evidence (previously accepted by SFE), and no indication as to whether this had been processed, accepted or rejected.

Hi there,

Can you please tell us what kind of ID you sent? For example, do you have a valid UK passport at the moment, or were you asked to send a share code?

It's just to see if this is the reason for any delay.

Thanks, Graeme