Unbelievable process

Our son started uni in Sept , after applying for funding in May he after submitting the requested supporting evidence and being told on numerous occasions there wouldn’t be a problem he was on Dec 24th told his application was rejected as he had only been back in the UK for 2 years prior to uni and it was concluded that despite being a British national and having provided evidence of ties to the UK , flight tickets , parents property home details which was retained throughout his time overseas alongside a parents tax return and the employment contract which was a temporary contract extension it was deemed that we had moved permanently overseas , how this was determined is a mystery , as firstly it is impossible emigrate to the country in question (China HK ) and secondly the contract was a 2 year contract which was extended .

However after speaking with SFE in Jan a suggestion to provide any further evidence was requested , anything we had .

All contracts where submitted all of which state 2 years , a letter from the employer stating temp contract , (how a permanent contract can be extended isn’t even a thought that has been processed ). UK Bank statements form the past 16 years , a mortgage statement for the UK home , lease agreement for that property which was rented out whilst overseas, a letter clearly showing that our HK accommodation was rented by the company , a final tax release from HK government, council tax bill for UK property whilst overseas.

Despite which after taking since Jan to review , he has today been informed he is still ineligible with no explanation.

This young man has been run around in circles since June 2024 by Sfe and has now having to withdraw from uni , with fees and accommodation etc all to somehow be paid for , he has been put through a unecessary amount of distress , uncertainty and will now have to go through the whole process of applying for uni for Sept 2025 and reapplying for funding .

How SFE can operate in this manner is completely unknown , it is impossible to speak with anyone making a decision and the people he can speak with all agree he should have no issue and it is clear it wasn’t a permanent move .

If this wasn’t so disruptive and distressing for him it would be a modern day catch 22 comedy .

As a parent and the person who took him overseas for my work it is ridiculous that a British national under 18 should have this arbitrary approach applied to any child when they and their parents have been returning throughout that period overseas and have indeed been back in the UK post Covid restrictions for a full 2 and a 1/4 years before commencing uni .

I would love to hear directly as to why all of this has been determined directly before taking this matter up through an official complaint and wider .

Reply 1

Drew SLC

Official Rep

Hi there,

We are only able to provide general information on the student room and we do not have access to the students accounts. We do not know what an assessor looks for when they are assessing for a temporary break in the residency. Assessors are not customer facing and we cannot contact them when you contact us so we can only go by the notes that are left on an account. Does the student wish to raise a complaint?

Thanks, Drew

Reply 2

Sax07

Hi Drew ,

Thanks for the response .

The only notes that we have as an explanation are he hasn’t lived here for 3 years prior to course start date , there has been no other explanation than that despite it clearly being a temporary move overseas.

There is no reasonable explanation as to why the move was or is not classed as temporary nor is there any reasonable explanation as to why it took from May to Dec to determine this outcomes did it is indeed a arbitrary 3 years then why inform him he can apply and should be eligible?.

Outside of which I can see on the forum and I personally know of other individuals who have applied under the same circumstances and have been granted funding , people who where in HK with us and returned at the same time .

Therefore as we see it there isn’t any reasonable explanation that has been provided as to why he has gone around in circles since June trying to progress this matter , and as he is now having to withdraw from uni this week after 5 months of wasted time and with cost to pay for which he does not have , it is incredibly difficult to process the impact that this is having on him.

As it is not possible to understand why it has been rejected and why it has taken so long to determine , this is as we see it , beyond any reasonable service level and he will be raising a complaint once he has regained the mental stability and confidence to do so after this incredibly stressful and mentally damaging experience.

The fact that the customer facing team cannot speak with the assessors is an issue , as is the fact that no detail is provided to qualify the decision and one which SFE should clearly be aware of .

Thank you .

Reply 3

SFE Jason

Official Rep

Original post by Sax07

Hi Drew ,
Thanks for the response .
The only notes that we have as an explanation are he hasn’t lived here for 3 years prior to course start date , there has been no other explanation than that despite it clearly being a temporary move overseas.
There is no reasonable explanation as to why the move was or is not classed as temporary nor is there any reasonable explanation as to why it took from May to Dec to determine this outcomes did it is indeed a arbitrary 3 years then why inform him he can apply and should be eligible?.
Outside of which I can see on the forum and I personally know of other individuals who have applied under the same circumstances and have been granted funding , people who where in HK with us and returned at the same time .
Therefore as we see it there isn’t any reasonable explanation that has been provided as to why he has gone around in circles since June trying to progress this matter , and as he is now having to withdraw from uni this week after 5 months of wasted time and with cost to pay for which he does not have , it is incredibly difficult to process the impact that this is having on him.
As it is not possible to understand why it has been rejected and why it has taken so long to determine , this is as we see it , beyond any reasonable service level and he will be raising a complaint once he has regained the mental stability and confidence to do so after this incredibly stressful and mentally damaging experience.
The fact that the customer facing team cannot speak with the assessors is an issue , as is the fact that no detail is provided to qualify the decision and one which SFE should clearly be aware of .
Thank you .

Thanks for your response. If he's raising a complaint the team will review this with an acknowledgement within 5 working days of receipt and sent a full reply within 20 working days of receipt of their complaint. Thanks, Jason