Funding after changing course and dropping out previously

Hi. I'm thinking of going back to uni in 2026 and I'm wondering if I qualify for any funding. Firstly, would I still get a maintenance loan regardless of how much tuition fee funding I could get? I have previously studied at uni- I completed first year of Illustration 2019-2020. I started my second year of the course for a few months before deferring until September 2021. I started the second year of Illustration again for a few weeks before changing course to Drawing. I completed a year on Drawing before dropping out officially before I would have started second year in September 2022.
I ended up deferring, changing courses and dropping out because of my mental health. I'm wondering as well if this is good reason for compelling evidence? And lastly, could I get additional support like DSA to help fund my studies if needed?
I have looked up on this and I think I'm right in understanding that SFE calculates new course funding as: course length+extra year - years already studied. I'm just not certain in my case of what this would work out as.
Any help and information will be appreciated. Thank you :•)

Hi there,
Can you confirm the course you're looking to study? Would this be full time or part time? Was your previous study 4 years in total? Was your previous study all full time?
Thanks,
Claire

Thanks. Do you know how many years the new course will be? and if it's part time or full time? Was your previous study full time? Thanks, Leah.

Hi Leah,
The new course will be 3 years (possibly 3 years +placement year depending on the uni) and it will be full time. My previous study was also full time.
Thanks, Chantelle

Thanks Chantelle,
We fund all years of a course + 1 additional year. If you've studied 3 years previously (even though not for the full years) your funding for the new course would be
Year 1 - Maintenance Loan
Year 2 - Maintenance Loan
Year 3 - Full Funding
Year 4 - Full Funding
You can look to see if you're eligible for the tuition fees for years 1 and 2 if you previously had to leave your courses due to reasons outwith your control. I've enclosed further information below
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/going-back-to-uni-or-repeating-a-year
Also for DSA queries you can assistance by calling us on 0300 100 0607 and selecting the "DSA" option or you can also email them at [email protected]. Thanks, Jason

Hi Jason. Thanks for your reply,
Can I check if my previous years studied is 3? Is it not 4 years as i studied a year on Drawing and technically 3 years on Illustration (although not full years)? Or do you count just the one course?
Thank you for the further information as well! I'll look into this.
Thanks, Chantelle

Thanks. Yes, if you've studied 4 years previously then your funding for the new 4 year course would be 4 + 1 = 5 and then -4 = 1 year of full funding which would go to your final year. And then any years claimed back on CPR would go to the first year(s) of your new course. Thanks, Jason

Okay thank you. I believe I have used my gift year previously when changing course from Illustration to Drawing. What would the calculation for funding be then?
If I were to study a 3 year degree instead how would this be calculated?
Thank you again,
Chantelle

It would be the same as the above. We fund all years of a course + 1 year and then minus the previous study. Your maintenance loan isn't affected by this, just the fees. Thanks, Jason

Hi there, yes that is correct. Thanks, Stephen.