Your Views: Student Finance

This is the first year applicants have had to apply directly to Student Finance England for loans and grants. Student Finance England is a UK public sector organisation, established, to annually provide loans and grants to over one million students in universities across the UK. 

In the not so distant past, students would have applied to the loans company through their local authority, which would then have sent their details on to the Student Loans Company.

We have been asking you whether you’ve been affected by the change and how you think Student Finance have dealt with your application.

"My student loan was a total shambles. Student Finance declined my application, as they did not recognise the course. I contacted LCF and asked them to activate the course code on the national database so that my loan could be approved. Since then, I’ve been calling Student Finance for weeks, leaving voicemails and listening to messages saying the lines were full and to call back later. When I attended my enrollment, I was told to pay £660 but I couldn’t afford this and was told I would not be allowed to attend any classes until Student Finance confirm payment. My loan has now come through, however they have refused to consider my independent application." 
Lauren Palmer, 20, FdA Fashion Retail Management, LCF 

"I cannot believe how ridiculously long this application has taken. I have nothing but bad things to say about Student Finance.My summer was completely ruined as everyday I was stressing about not knowing whether I could start my course let alone move into student halls. I hope I will receive my loan before the end of the month otherwise I don’t know where to go from there."
Ryan Gouge, 20, BA Graphic Design, LCC

"We have all been let down. What was wrong with the old system? It was much better when the local councils ran it. Something needs to be done and soon otherwise millions of us hoping for a better future just won’t get anywhere." 
Michael Falker, 23, BA Photography, Camberwell

"Getting the loan wasn’t the difficult part for me. I applied for a maintenance grant and sent the financial information required for the last tax year. They sent this back, saying they wanted information from two years ago. We co-operated and called Student Finance to ask them if they would accept Tax Credits documents as evidence, they said yes so those were sent. A letter was sent back saying they didn’t accept Tax Credits documents so we kept sending more evidence. After my application was approved only for my loans, I called Student Finance and they said they were still processing applications from mid-July. I have no faith things will get sorted, so there is every chance that I will have to drop out."
Lisa Grant, 19, BA Graphics, LCC

"This is the worst customer service I have ever known. Once you get through to someone, after many hours of being put on hold or redialling, they have no idea what you are talking about and use the line ‘you will get contacted in so many days"
Holly Lewis, 19, BA Textile Design, CSM

If you are still affected, the Student Services office at your college are there to help you. For more info, visit www.arts.ac.uk/student

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