Doctoral loan payments - part time

Hi door-to-door-jun,

You will always have access to the full entitlement (subject to the yearly cap) even if you submit your thesis earlier than you had originally intended. As long as the course is at least 3 years in length, you would be eligible.

Your university would submit a Change of Circumstances to us if you were to reduce the length of your attendance so that we can pay you accordingly.

Thanks, Clare

Reply 2

Hi Clare,

Thanks so much for your response.

So can this be done from the start of the course? My university could estimate a four year completion duration, before the course begins, and the payments would follow that timeline accordingly?

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 3

SFE Clare

Hi door-to-door-jun,

Yes, this can be sent at any point after the application has been approved.

Thanks, Clare

Reply 4

Original post

by SFE Clare

Hi door-to-door-jun,
Yes, this can be sent at any point after the application has been approved.
Thanks, Clare

Thanks, Clare. That's super helpful.

I already sent a change in circumstances form in the post, adjusting the course duration to four years myself. This was prior to realising that the university had to potentially be involved.

Will this form alone suffice or will the university still have to reach out to SFE?

Many thanks and have a great weekend!

Reply 5

SFE Jason

Original post

by door-to-door-jun

Thanks, Clare. That's super helpful.
I already sent a change in circumstances form in the post, adjusting the course duration to four years myself. This was prior to realising that the university had to potentially be involved.
Will this form alone suffice or will the university still have to reach out to SFE?
Many thanks and have a great weekend!

Hi there, we would still need the university to update us as well to update the graduation date and ensure this is rectified accordingly for you. Thanks, Jason

Reply 6

Hi Jason,

Thanks for the response.

As doctorates are unpredictable, what if I were to reach the four year mark and had yet to finish my PhD. Any ill effects, other than not having the continuing finance? If I graduated a year later than that, how would it affect things?

Reply 7

SFE Jason

Original post

by door-to-door-jun

Hi Jason,
Thanks for the response.
As doctorates are unpredictable, what if I were to reach the four year mark and had yet to finish my PhD. Any ill effects, other than not having the continuing finance? If I graduated a year later than that, how would it affect things?

The university would need to send us over a notification to update the end date for your course. Thanks, Jason

Reply 8

Original post

by SFE Jason

The university would need to send us over a notification to update the end date for your course. Thanks, Jason

Thanks, Jason. You've been really helpful.

Reply 9

SFE Jason

Original post

by door-to-door-jun

Thanks, Jason. You've been really helpful.

You're welcome. Have a good day. Thanks, Jason

Reply 10

Original post

by SFE Jason

You're welcome. Have a good day. Thanks, Jason

Hello again!

Is my request for the doctoral loan to be paid over a shorter period and unusual one? The university don't seem too aware of it. Is it definitely a legitimate approach? My part time duration is a maximum of 8 years, which is the course duration provided to student finance as standard - if I want to reduce the payments to spread over four years, is this definitely permissable?

Reply 11

Hi there,

Yes alot of students apply to finish the course in 3 or 4 years and we can update the application if the university tell us this.

Thanks, Drew

Reply 12

Hi Drew, thanks for your response.

So even if the university's official maximum duration for a part time PhD is eight years, there should be no issues with them adjusting it to four years for the sake of my finance?

Reply 13

Hi there,

Well no they would need to accept you are doing it in 4 years. They would not send us a Change of Circumstances to say that you are doing it in 4 years if they are expecting you to be there for 8 years.

Thanks, Drew

Reply 14

Thanks for the quick reply, Drew. If the anticipation is four or five years and it ultimately takes longer than that, are there any issues that arise from such a scenario?

My concern is we aim for four years and something arises that results in it taking a year or so longer.

I'm just trying to consider all permutations at this point.

Reply 15

Hi there,

Your university would just need to inform us that there has been changes with your course.

Thanks, Drew

Reply 16

Thank you, Drew. You've been really helpful, as were your colleagues. I appreciate the patience and support.

Reply 17

You're welcome. If you have any further questions you can ask us on this platform.

Thanks, Drew

Reply 18