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PG Loan re-application (third attempt)

Hi there - thanks for reading.I have long-term health issues and have twice tried to start a Masters in the past, my health ultimately preventing me from continuing. I was lucky enough on the second attempt to receive a second PG loan from SFE England after providing health-related documentation, but as explained, I had to withdraw from the course. I am in a different position now with much reduced demands on my time from work, and my health, while still a factor in my daily living, is much better managed and supported, with funding for example from PIP and a great support worker.

I would like to try Masters study again. Since I have had to withdraw twice for health reasons, do you think that I am unlikely to be accepted again? And if this is the case, do SFE provide this in writing so that I can inform DWP that I am not entitled to a PG loan, thus not affecting my benefits.

Many thanks for your help and advice.

Reply 1

Original post
by Strent78
Hi there - thanks for reading.I have long-term health issues and have twice tried to start a Masters in the past, my health ultimately preventing me from continuing. I was lucky enough on the second attempt to receive a second PG loan from SFE England after providing health-related documentation, but as explained, I had to withdraw from the course. I am in a different position now with much reduced demands on my time from work, and my health, while still a factor in my daily living, is much better managed and supported, with funding for example from PIP and a great support worker.
I would like to try Masters study again. Since I have had to withdraw twice for health reasons, do you think that I am unlikely to be accepted again? And if this is the case, do SFE provide this in writing so that I can inform DWP that I am not entitled to a PG loan, thus not affecting my benefits.
Many thanks for your help and advice.

Hi Strent.

Is it a postgraduate masters you're looking to study and what is the name of the course? Thanks, Jason

Reply 2

Original post
by SFE Jason
Hi Strent.
Is it a postgraduate masters you're looking to study and what is the name of the course? Thanks, Jason

Yes, Masters in Creative Writing.

Reply 3

Original post
by Strent78
Yes, Masters in Creative Writing.

Thanks, just to clarify: it sounds like you've had two separate Postgraduate Loans, is that right?

For example, you had one in the 23/24 year, then another in 24/25?

Thanks, Graeme

Reply 4

Hi Graeme, yes, I had a Postgrad loan in around 2014 for a Masters in policing policy and leadership which I had to withdraw from after first term due to ill health. Then when I applied for my Masters in Creative Writing at Teesside in 2019, I was lucky enough to receive another PG loan after making a special request with Dr note for why had withdrawn. Sadly, I had to withdraw after first semester, again due to ill health. Oddly, this shows on my SFE account as 'suspended' with the option to resume upon resumption of studies with Teesside, however, Teesside has confirmed that my studies were not suspended but that I withdrew. But it does suggest I may have had only a partial loan for that Masters, with some remaining, though I would not wish to resume at Teesside but instead start at a different Uni.

I hope this provides some clarity for my question, which is: how likely is it that I would be successful in a loan application having withdrawn from studies twice and received two loans. I am no longer in FT work alongside, and a better health management support around me.

Reply 5

Original post
by Strent78
Hi Graeme, yes, I had a Postgrad loan in around 2014 for a Masters in policing policy and leadership which I had to withdraw from after first term due to ill health. Then when I applied for my Masters in Creative Writing at Teesside in 2019, I was lucky enough to receive another PG loan after making a special request with Dr note for why had withdrawn. Sadly, I had to withdraw after first semester, again due to ill health. Oddly, this shows on my SFE account as 'suspended' with the option to resume upon resumption of studies with Teesside, however, Teesside has confirmed that my studies were not suspended but that I withdrew. But it does suggest I may have had only a partial loan for that Masters, with some remaining, though I would not wish to resume at Teesside but instead start at a different Uni.
I hope this provides some clarity for my question, which is: how likely is it that I would be successful in a loan application having withdrawn from studies twice and received two loans. I am no longer in FT work alongside, and a better health management support around me.

Hi there,

Normally Postgraduate Master's is a one time product unless you have Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR) why you had to withdraw from your course and can provide evidence of this.

If you're looking to apply for 26/27 academic year, application won't normally open till early summer. You would apply on paper application from our website and send the CPR evidence to us with a detailed cover letter explaining why you're sending it.

The CPR 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 confirm the CPR, how it affected your studies, and the dates it affected you. Once received it will be up to the assessor if this will be accepted or not to award the finance.

Thanks,
Claire

Reply 6

Original post
by Claire SFE
Hi there,
Normally Postgraduate Master's is a one time product unless you have Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR) why you had to withdraw from your course and can provide evidence of this.
If you're looking to apply for 26/27 academic year, application won't normally open till early summer. You would apply on paper application from our website and send the CPR evidence to us with a detailed cover letter explaining why you're sending it.
The CPR 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 confirm the CPR, how it affected your studies, and the dates it affected you. Once received it will be up to the assessor if this will be accepted or not to award the finance.
Thanks,
Claire

Thanks Claire - yep, I know this but please could you clarify the likelihood of CPR being acceptable for a second time (third loan). My feeling is that it is unlikely, if not impossible?

Reply 7

Hi there, repeat Postgraduate Master’s funding due to CPR may be awarded one time only, so it would be unlikely that you would be eligible for support under CPR for your 3rd application. Stephen.

Reply 8

Thank you so much for providing an answer to my question. It would be great if I could obtain confirmation of this as I need to evidence this to DWP. Who may I write to in order to confirm this in writing? Preferably email.

Reply 9

Hi there. You would need to contact us directly to request a manual letter if needed for the DWP, as it's not a standard procedure of ours to write letters confirming this. The postgraduate number is Tel: 0300 100 0031. Thanks, Leah.

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