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Possibly dropping out/suspending final year for health reasons. Finance?

Hi

I need to know what finance I will have available to me if I suspend my final year studies to the next academic year.

I started my course (BaHons - Marine biology w/sandwich, University of Plymouth) in 2020/21. I failed some units in my 2nd year (2021/22) due to ill health, and had to repeat my 2nd year for 2022/23 (Gift year), then went on my placement year in 2023/24. I have just started my final year (2024/25) but my health issues have become really bad and are not being treated. I have only just worked out what they are/might be, and investigations into formally diagnosing these have only just begun. I really don't know if I can make it through this uni year with my health being like this. They will never go away as they are congenital and progressive, but with treatment they should become manageable.

I'm 37 studying for my first degree, I've always received the full award for tuition and maintenance due to low income and I recevie DSA for mental health and learning difficulties. As I don't have diagnoses for the physical conditions, I don't recieve DSA for my physical health issues.

What I need to know is if, considering I have already used my gift year for my repeat 2nd year, I will be able to get funding (tuition and maintenance loans) if I suspend this years studies due to ill health, and return to do my final year in the next academic year (2025/26)?

Also, if I suspend/drop out till next year, will I need to pay back any of the finance I have already received?

I'm barely able to work at the moment, living on £30 a week and currently condsidering applying for PIP. Even if I do get accepted for PIP, it looks like that won't happen for about 4 months considering the backlog they have. I honestly don't know how I am going to survive financially for basic living, let along paying back money to student finance. I'm a mess at the moment.

Thank you for your time.

Faye

Reply 1

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Hi there. If you have already used you additional year, your Tuition Fee would be blocked for the 2nd repeat.You would still be entitled to a Maintenance Loan and DSA.

If you could not complete your course year due to personal reasons, you may be able to receive an additional year of funding if you provide evidence of this. This evidence can be uploaded on your online account. The evidence depends on your personal circumstances.

More info can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/going-back-to-uni-or-repeating-a-year

Thanks, Leah.

Reply 2

Flufferbottom

If I did suspend my studies, would I have to pay anything back to student finance in the short term? If so, then when will I have to pay it back? I'm in a bad position financially right now, and if i suspend my studies, it will get worse.

Thank you for the info, it has been really helpful.

Reply 3

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Suspensions can cause over-payments, as we pro-rata the Maintenance Loan (ML) based on time you were in attendance. If the university tell us you are suspending due to health reasons, you can be awarded an extra 60 days of funding which can reduce the amount of over-payment you may have (if any).

If you do end up with an over-payment, you don't need to pay it all back at once. It would be on an affordable payment plan, but it's something you would discuss with the collections team. Thanks, Leah.

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