Stuck Between SFE & SAAS for Over 20 Years – Need Advice

Hi everyone, I really need some advice because I feel like I’ve been banging my head against a wall for years.

I was born in England in the 1970s, moved to Scotland in the mid-90s, and in 2002 I took out a loan through SAAS (Student Awards Agency Scotland). Around that time I ended up detained by US immigration and missed my exams. In 2003 I moved back to England and I’ve lived here ever since.

Here’s the problem:

Every time I try to apply for student finance in England (SFE), the system flags me as a Scottish resident because of my old SAAS loan.

I can’t apply through SAAS because I haven’t lived in Scotland since 2003 and have no links or address there.

SFE won’t let me apply online — I keep being told I have to use paper forms. But colleges (like Warrington Vale Royal, where I’ve just been accepted) won’t let me start without proof that I’ve applied online.

This has happened almost every year for over a decade. I get accepted onto a course, get excited to start, then get turned away because student finance says I’m “Scottish” and the college needs proof of an English finance application.

I’m now in my 50s and I feel like I’ve wasted years trying to sort this. SAAS say they have no information on me, but apparently my NI number is still tagged in their system. SFE staff have been dismissive and rude when I’ve phoned, and I just don’t know where to go from here.

Has anyone else been stuck in this Scotland/England finance limbo? How did you resolve it?

Is there a way to force SFE to re-register my residency as England?

Will colleges usually accept a paper application as proof, or do I need my MP to step in?

Is there an ombudsman or higher authority that can fix this NI number mess once and for all?

Reply 1

Stephen SLC

Official Rep

Hi there, in this situation we do require the paper application to start the request of Transfer of Ownership from SAAS to SFE. Once we have received the application, this is then data entered on to your SFE online account and this can be accessed once completed. This is the only way we can request the transfer, which has to start with the paper application, but this will allow for the ownership of your account to be moved to SFE.

Our forms can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-forms

Stephen