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Postgraduate funding

Hi. I was wondering if someone can help me please? I suspended my masters 4 years ago due to a severe life threatening illness. I am still ill and I still have a medical team overseeing my treatment.

I wanted to complete my masters because it is one of my dreams and I didn’t want my illness to stop me. My university said that I would be entitled to re apply for student finance with compelling reasons due to my health reason. I returned back to my 1st term this year as it has already been paid for from my postgraduate loan 4 years ago. I tried to get support from my university to help with submitting my application and then they informed me I’m not entitled to re apply for student finance or CPR because students can only get funding for 1 postgraduate loan and I already received that.

I am so stressed because I do not have the money to pay for the rest of my course and I made sure to ask all these questions before I enrolled. I’m not sure what to do next. I really wanted to complete my masters because I didn’t want my illness to stop me. But if I am not entitled to any funding, I will have to drop out.

Am I entitled to CPR? I have lots of medical evidence and proof. I appreciate any advice or help please. Thank you

Reply 1

Hi there,

Have you only studied on 1 Postgraduate Course? Did the university suspend your previous studies and have they now sent a Change of Circumstances Resumption? When you log inro your online account what does you application status say? Did you receive all your payments when you were studying or did they get stopped?

Thanks, Drew

Reply 2

Original post
by Drew SLC
Hi there,
Have you only studied on 1 Postgraduate Course? Did the university suspend your previous studies and have they now sent a Change of Circumstances Resumption? When you log inro your online account what does you application status say? Did you receive all your payments when you were studying or did they get stopped?
Thanks, Drew
Hi Drew, thank you for your help!
Yes only 1 postgraduate course. This is the same course. Yes my university suspended my studies because of my illness. This was a couple of years back. They recently sent a change of circumstance resumption but nothing has changed on my application. When I log into my account currently it says suspended still even though I am enrolled. At the time, I received the full loan and I paid it all to the university. But I received some money back from my university for the part I didn’t attend. I don’t have this money anymore. When I contacted SF and my university at the time I understood that I would just need to re-apply for a new loan. When I enrolled recently the same advice was given from my university until I tried to submit an application for CPR and learned that different rules apply to suspending and withdrawing.

I did receive a recent email to submit evidence to SF as it has been a long time. But my university said this is an automatic email, not for compelling reasons or to re apply for a new loan. I’m very worried because I can’t afford to fund the course. I tried to apply for scholarships but there isn’t any for my course. I’m not sure what to do next.

I have lots of evidence of medical bills, my illness, hospitalisations from then and even my continued treatment and illness now. I am under a team of doctors who oversee my health. I have sent all my evidence to university who have done my personal learning plan. I don’t have a job. I appreciate any advice or help please.

Reply 3

Original post
by Student_5_
Hi Drew, thank you for your help!
Yes only 1 postgraduate course. This is the same course. Yes my university suspended my studies because of my illness. This was a couple of years back. They recently sent a change of circumstance resumption but nothing has changed on my application. When I log into my account currently it says suspended still even though I am enrolled. At the time, I received the full loan and I paid it all to the university. But I received some money back from my university for the part I didn’t attend. I don’t have this money anymore. When I contacted SF and my university at the time I understood that I would just need to re-apply for a new loan. When I enrolled recently the same advice was given from my university until I tried to submit an application for CPR and learned that different rules apply to suspending and withdrawing.
I did receive a recent email to submit evidence to SF as it has been a long time. But my university said this is an automatic email, not for compelling reasons or to re apply for a new loan. I’m very worried because I can’t afford to fund the course. I tried to apply for scholarships but there isn’t any for my course. I’m not sure what to do next.
I have lots of evidence of medical bills, my illness, hospitalisations from then and even my continued treatment and illness now. I am under a team of doctors who oversee my health. I have sent all my evidence to university who have done my personal learning plan. I don’t have a job. I appreciate any advice or help please.

Hi there,

If you're looking to apply for Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR) we require evidence from a 3rd party in a profession i.e. Doctor/lecture who knows of the CPR.

The evidence would be a letter on headed paper signed/stamped and dated from someone in profession i.e. Doctor/lecturer who knows the CPR. They must know how it affected your studies and the dates it affected you.
When you provide this evidence, we advise to include a covering letter from yourself explaining why you're sending it.

Once received it will be up to the assessor if this will be accepted or not.

Thanks,
Claire

Reply 4

Original post
by Claire SFE
Hi there,
If you're looking to apply for Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR) we require evidence from a 3rd party in a profession i.e. Doctor/lecture who knows of the CPR.
The evidence would be a letter on headed paper signed/stamped and dated from someone in profession i.e. Doctor/lecturer who knows the CPR. They must know how it affected your studies and the dates it affected you.
When you provide this evidence, we advise to include a covering letter from yourself explaining why you're sending it.
Once received it will be up to the assessor if this will be accepted or not.
Thanks,
Claire
Can postgraduate students who suspended their studies apply for CPR?

Reply 5

Hi Student_5_,

Yes, if the suspension was over 2 years in duration and you have yet to receive the remaining entitlement. The alternative would be if you withdrew then started the course from the beginning again.

Thanks, Clare

Reply 6

Original post
by SFE Clare
Hi Student_5_,
Yes, if the suspension was over 2 years in duration and you have yet to receive the remaining entitlement. The alternative would be if you withdrew then started the course from the beginning again.
Thanks, Clare

Hi Clare, thank you for answering. May I ask if my university changes my application to withdrawal from suspension, can I apply for compelling reasons even thought I am enrolled?
May I also ask the entitlement was 4 years ago, am I able to apply for compelling reasons for the suspension since it was a long time ago?
Thank you

Reply 7

Original post
by Student_5_
Hi Clare, thank you for answering. May I ask if my university changes my application to withdrawal from suspension, can I apply for compelling reasons even thought I am enrolled?
May I also ask the entitlement was 4 years ago, am I able to apply for compelling reasons for the suspension since it was a long time ago?
Thank you

Hi there,

Yes, you can apply for this and the assessor will review the evidence accordingly for you. They'll advise if they have accepted your CPR evidence. Please be advised the current estimated timescale for evidence to be reviewed is 15 working days. Thanks, Jason

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