Student Advice and Support Service

If you would like to defer entry to start your course a year later, written confirmation is required. Please email release@lboro.ac.uk indicating clearly in the subject line of the message that your enquiry relates to deferred entry. You should also include your full name and UCAS Personal ID.

Student Finance

You will need to notify student finance separately of your plan to defer, although funds (maintenance and tuition fee funding) will not normally be released until the University has confirmed your commencement.

You will need to apply again for your student finance for the new start date of your course. Funding is not automatically deferred to the following year. Applications for funding normally open in February/March prior to the start of your course.

Accommodation

a)     University Halls

If you have already reserved a Hall room you should complete the accommodation cancellation request form for the Student Accommodation Centre.  Please also refer to the Terms and Conditions.

b)     Private Halls and Private rented accommodation

If you have signed a contract for off-campus private halls or private house/flat you will probably be liable to pay rent to the end of the contract whether you live there or not. But if you do not wish to live in the accommodation, you can:

• Check to see if there is an early release (break) clause in your contract.

• Try to find a replacement tenant – The landlord needs to agree to the transfer to release you from your contract. It is strongly recommended that you sign a deed of surrender or assignment. We can advise you further on this.

If you are living in the accommodation as a non-student you will become liable for council tax for the whole property (subject to a 25% discount on the full rate if you are the only non-student living in the property).

If you decide that you wish to change course after you have started check the student handbook for the transfer procedure.

You will need to

• Check you meet the entry criteria for the new course you wish to join (check the online prospectus).
• Check if there is a place available for you on the new course by contacting the admissions tutor. Generally you should not have to reapply through UCAS if transferring within Loughborough University.
• Check if you are permitted to carry forward credit for any passed modules.
• Check the student handbook for the transfer procedure. Complete an RG1061 Internal Programme Transfer Form if you are transferring to a new course at Loughborough University.

If you have missed too much of the new course – in most cases more than 4 weeks at the start of the year, you will probably need to restart at the beginning of the next academic year and take a Leave of Absence during the time you are waiting to start the next academic year.

Student Finance

Tuition Fee Loan

When you transfer to a new course with a fresh start in the subsequent academic year, you should still receive a Tuition Fee Loan as long as:

• this is the first transfer you have made
• you have not had any previous periods of repeat study
• you are currently in your first Part A

Generally, Student Finance only provide Tuition Fee Loans for the ordinary length of your course plus one year.

Tuition Fee Loans will normally be paid only for one year of repeat study. The extra year is often referred to as a “gift year”. If the gift year has already been used due to previously changing course or an earlier repeat year and any period of repeat study is due to health or personal difficulties, you can request an additional year of funding by sending evidence of the difficulties having affected your studies to Student Finance. Student Finance refer to this as Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR).  Seek advice from SASS if you need help making a case for repeat funding from Student Finance.

Any previous years of study at higher education on a different course or at a different institution will affect entitlement.

If you are able to transfer within the same academic year (normally only possible if you arrange the transfer very early in the academic year) then your Tuition Fee loan will not be affected as you are not adding any extra years of study.

If your situation is more complicated we suggest you speak to an adviser.

Maintenance loan

Maintenance loans are available for all years of study, even if you do not qualify for fee support.

If you are waiting to begin your new course in the next academic year you will not normally get any further instalments of your current year loan. But if you withdraw or take LOA shortly before the due date of your next payment, there is the possibility that you may receive the money because of a delay in Student Finance England updating your record. Be warned that this may result in an overpayment that will probably have to be paid back directly rather than when you finish your course.

If you are transferring course you will need to:

• Notify Student Finance of your change of circumstance. For Student Finance England, you can normally log onto your online account to change your details.
• In some cases you will have to complete a paper form (available to print from your online account) to notify Student Finance of the changes. Send your Change of Circumstances form to Student Finance by recorded delivery so that you have proof of posting and keep a copy.
• The University must also confirm to Student Finance any changes to your course.
• Keep checking your online account for any updates (under the ‘Letters and emails’ section).

Any year you start will count as one year’s previous study, even if you withdraw very early in the year.

If you are from Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland then you will need to contact the relevant funding body for your country.

Accommodation

If you are on a Leave of Absence (LOA) while waiting to start your new course you need to understand what happens about your accommodation contract.

a)     University Halls

• Complete the accommodation cancellation request form for the Student Accommodation Centre
• Hand back your keys when you vacate your room.

You will be charged hall fees up to the LOA date, plus an admin fee equivalent to 4 weeks rent/fees. This fee might be waived if you leave or suspend for medical reasons.

If you have already paid your hall fees you can ask for a refund of any overpayment if your account is in credit.

Students sometimes wish to stay in halls whilst on LOA – this is not normally permitted but check with the Student Accommodation Centre for their up to date information.

If you are due a refund of your room bond deposit, it is normally refunded within 30 days.

b)     Private Halls and Private rented accommodation

If you have signed a contract for a private hall or private house/flat you will probably be liable to pay rent to the end of the contract whether you live there or not. But if you do not wish to live in the accommodation, you can:

• Check to see if there is an early release (break) clause in your contract.

• Try to find a replacement tenant – The landlord or managing agent needs to agree to the transfer to release you from your contract. It is strongly recommended that you sign a deed of surrender or assignment. We can advise you further on this.

If you want to stay in privately managed halls or accommodation whilst waiting to join a new course:

• If you have withdrawn you lose your student status for Council Tax. If you live at the property you will become liable for council tax for the whole property (subject to a 25% discount on the full rate if you are the only non-student living in the property).
• If you have arranged to take Leave of Absence you retain your student status for Council Tax and would not normally be liable to pay it.

Occasionally students need to re-take an assessment or repeat part of their studies. Reassessment could be taken either in the Special Assessment Period (SAP) during the summer or during the next academic year with or without tuition.

The financial implications will depend on whether you are retaking with or without tuition.

Please also see the student handbook for the different types of reassessments.

• REASSESSMENT WITHOUT TUITION

Tuition Fees

If you have made a successful mitigating circumstances claim, you are not normally charged tuition fees for any modules which are Permitted Repeat Attempts.

Without a successful Mitigating Circumstances claim, you will pay for all modules that are reassessed as Resits.  Check the cost of reassessment without tuition here.

Student Finance

You will not be eligible for student finance if you are not taking tuition/attending your course, for example if you are just taking exams or redoing coursework without going to lectures.

If you are undergoing reassessment without tuition during the next academic year you should:

• Notify Student Finance of your change of circumstance. For Student Finance England, you can normally log onto your online account to change your details.
• In some cases you will have to complete a paper form (available to print from your online account) to notify Student Finance of the changes. Send your Change of Circumstances form to Student Finance by recorded delivery so that you have proof of posting and keep a copy.
• The University must also confirm to Student Finance any changes to your course.
• Keep checking your online account for any updates (under the ‘Letters and emails’ section).

 Loughborough University Bursary

You will not be eligible for the Loughborough University Bursary if you are not taking tuition.

The Hardship Fund

If you are in unforeseen financial hardship you can apply for help from the University’s Hardship Fund. Forms are available here.

Accommodation

If you are on a Leave of Absence (LOA) while waiting to undertake your re-assessments you need to understand what happens about your accommodation contract.

a)     University Halls

• Complete the accommodation cancellation request form for the Student Accommodation Centre.

Students sometimes wish to stay in halls whilst on LOA – this is not normally permitted but check with the Student Accommodation Centre for their up to date information.

If you are due a refund of your room bond deposit, it is normally refunded within 30 days.

b)     Private Halls and Private rented accommodation

If you have signed a contract for a private hall or private house/flat you will probably be liable to pay rent to the end of the contract whether you live there or not. But if you do not wish to live in the accommodation, you can:

• Check to see if there is an early release (break) clause in your contract.

• Try to find a replacement tenant – The landlord or managing agent needs to agree to the transfer to release you from your contract. It is strongly recommended that you sign a deed of surrender or assignment. We can advise you further on this.

 If you want to stay in privately managed halls or accommodation whilst waiting to re-join your course and are on a Leave of Absence you retain your student status for Council Tax and will not normally be liable to pay it.

• REASSESSMENT WITH TUITION

Tuition Fees

If a student submits a successful Mitigating Circumstances claim to the University the University will not charge tuition fees for repeat modules, they will be classed as Permitted Repeat Attempts (PRA).

If your reassessment is classed as Resit (normally when you had no Mitigating Circumstances and/or your Mitigating Circumstances claim was not successful), then the reassessment fee is a proportion of the full tuition fee.

Check the cost of reassessment modules taken with tuition here.

Student Finance

Tuition Fee Loan

If you are taking a Resit with tuition you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Fee loan entitlement is limited to the normal duration of your course plus one extra year.

Tuition Fee Loans will normally be paid only for one year of repeat study. The extra year is often referred to as a “gift year”. If the gift year has already been used due to previously changing course or an earlier repeat year and any period of repeat study is due to health or personal difficulties, you can request an additional year of funding by sending evidence of the difficulties having affected your studies to Student Finance. Student Finance refer to this as Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR).  Seek advice from SASS if you need help making a case for repeat funding from Student Finance.

Any previous years of study at higher education on a different course or at a different institution will normally affect Tuition Fee Loan entitlement.

Maintenance Loan

Maintenance loans are not limited by how many years you have been studying.

The amount of maintenance loan you receive may be adjusted if you only study part of the academic year, for example if you are only attending your repeat modules during semester two you will only receive half of the full year rate of loan.

When you apply for your funding for repeat study you still need to apply for full-time funding (do not use the part-time application).

You must notify your student funding body of your change of circumstance.

• Notify Student Finance of your change of circumstance. For Student Finance England, you can normally log onto your online account to change your details.
• In some cases you will have to complete a paper form (available to print from your online account) to notify Student Finance of the changes. Send your Change of Circumstances form to Student Finance by recorded delivery so that you have proof of posting and keep a copy.
• The University must also confirm to Student Finance any changes to your course.
• Keep checking your online account for any updates (under the ‘Letters and emails’ section).

Any period of repeat study can have an impact on your eligibility for future funding. It is important that you seek advice if you repeat any part of your course.

Loughborough University Bursary

The Loughborough University Bursary can be paid for repeat study with tuition. It is paid in proportion to the number of modules being studied and subject to the normal income assessment. If you are studying 30 modular credits or fewer with attendance then you will not be eligible for the bursary. The bursary will continue to be available for subsequent academic year(s) after successful completion of the repeat study (subject to the other eligibility criteria being met).

The Hardship Fund

If you are in unforeseen financial hardship you can apply for help from the University’s Hardship Fund. Forms are available here.

Accommodation

Reassessment with tuition will not normally require any changes to your accommodation arrangements.

This is an agreed break from your studies and must be discussed with and approved by your School/Department (personal tutor or another academic). More details in the Student Handbook.

To apply for a LOA, you need to complete an RG1011A Leave of Absence Form.

Student Finance

Tuition fees

Loughborough University does not charge tuition fees if you take LOA from your course during the first four weeks of the academic year.

If you take a LOA after the end of the fourth week of the academic year, you will be charged tuition fees on a termly basis:

Please note however that any year you start will count as one year’s previous study for student finance purposes, even if you take LOA during the first four weeks. We can advise you how this affects your future student finance.

If you have borrowed a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your fees it is important to check that your student loan statement (which you may not receive for several months) reflects the correct level of tuition fees, otherwise you may end up repaying too much.

Tuition Fee funding if you return to restart your studies

If you return to restart your course, your previous year(s) of study will generally affect your future tuition fee funding. This can apply even if you only completed a few weeks of a previous course or academic year. N.B. The Maintenance Loan and Disabled Student Allowance is not normally affected.

Tuition Fee Loans will normally be paid only for one additional year of study. The extra year is often referred to as a “gift year”. If the gift year has already been used due to previously changing course or an earlier repeat year and any period of repeat study is due to health or personal difficulties, you can request an additional year of funding by sending evidence of the difficulties having affected your studies to Student Finance. Student Finance refer to this as Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR).  Seek advice from SASS if you need help making a case for repeat funding from Student Finance.

Any previous years of study at higher education on a different course or at a different institution will normally affect Tuition Fee Loan entitlement.

 Maintenance loan

Student loans are not normally payable during LOA. But:

• If you state illness as the reason for your LOA on form RG1011A your funding entitlement should be extended by 60 days.
• If you are taking LOA because of serious health or personal difficulties and you will be in financial difficulty if your payments stop, you can ask Student Finance England for payments to continue. This would be on a discretionary basis and you need to provide proof of your financial situation.

Similarly, if you are taking LOA because of significant health or personal difficulties, you can ask Student Finance England to disregard the affected year when calculating how many years of future funding you are eligible for (although all loans still have to be repaid). Student Finance England decide such a request under their Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR) procedure. SASS can advise and assist with preparing such a request.

You won’t normally get any further instalments of your current year loan after the date of your LOA. But if you take a LOA shortly before the due date of your next payment, there is the possibility that you may receive the money because of a delay with Student Finance England updating your record. Be warned that this may result in an overpayment that will probably have to be paid back directly rather than when you finish your course.

The Hardship Fund / Welfare Benefits

If you are in financial hardship whilst on LOA you can apply for help from the University Hardship Fund. Forms are available here.

You can’t normally claim welfare benefits/Universal Credit during any LOA unless you have an underlying entitlement due to disability or as a lone parent.

Other matters

Check with the Loughborough University (LU) Finance Office (via Student Enquiries in the Rutland Building) to see if you have any credit (or debit) on your university account. If you owe money to the University, this will need to be paid. If you are in credit it is advisable to request a refund without delay.

Accommodation

a)     University Halls

• Complete the accommodation cancellation request form for the Student Accommodation Centre
• Hand back your keys when you vacate your room.

You will be charged up to the LOA date, plus an admin fee equivalent to 4 weeks rent/hall fees. This fee might be waived if you leave for medical reasons.

If you have already paid your hall fees you can ask for a refund of any overpayment if your account is in credit.

Students sometimes wish to stay in halls whilst on LOA – this is not normally permitted but check with the Student Accommodation Centre for their up to date information.

If you are due a refund of your room bond deposit, it is normally refunded within 30 days.

b)     Private Halls and Private rented accommodation

If you have signed a contract for a private hall or private house/flat you will probably be liable to pay rent to the end of the contract whether you live there or not. But if you do not wish to live in the accommodation, you can:

• Check to see if there is an early release (break) clause in your contract.

• Try to find a replacement tenant – The landlord or managing agent needs to agree to the transfer to release you from your contract. It is strongly recommended that you sign a deed of surrender or assignment. We can advise you further on this.

If you want to stay in privately managed halls or accommodation whilst waiting to join a new course and have arranged to take Leave of Absence you retain your student status for Council Tax and would not normally be liable to pay it.

You are still entitled to a student status council tax certificate during a period of absence, as long as you plan to return to your course. Council tax certificates are available from Student Enquiries in the Rutland Building.

If you are considering withdrawing permanently from your programme and leaving Loughborough University, you should discuss your situation with your School/Department (Tutor or School Administrator). You might consider taking a leave of absence (LOA) in the interim while you decide the way forward and if you are not 100% certain that you want to leave your course for good, this is probably the better option. You can then withdraw at any point before you re-register but please note the financial implications below.

To withdraw you need to complete an RG1011 Withdrawal Form. Please also see additonal Student Enquiries information on withdrawal.

Student Finance

Tuition fees

Loughborough University does not charge tuition fees if you withdraw from your course during the first four weeks of the academic year.

If you withdraw after the end of the fourth week of the academic year, you will be charged tuition fees on a termly basis:

If you have borrowed a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your fees it is important to check that your student loan statement (which you may not receive for several months) reflects the correct level of tuition fees, otherwise you may end up repaying too much.

Future Tuition Fee funding

If you enter Higher Education in the future, your previous year(s) of study will generally affect your future tuition fee funding. This can apply even if you only completed a few weeks of a previous course or academic year. N.B. The Maintenance Loan and Disabled Student Allowance is not normally affected.

Tuition Fee Loans will normally be paid only for one additional year of study. The extra year is often referred to as a “gift year”. If the gift year has already been used due to previously changing course or an earlier repeat year and any period of repeat study is due to health or personal difficulties, you can request an additional year of funding by sending evidence of the difficulties having affected your studies to Student Finance. Student Finance refer to this as Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR).  Seek advice from SASS if you need help making a case for repeat funding from Student Finance.

Any previous years of study at higher education on a different course or at a different institution will normally affect Tuition Fee Loan entitlement.

Maintenance loan

You won’t normally get any further instalments of your current year loan after the date of your withdrawal. But if you withdraw shortly before the due date of your next payment, there is the possibility that you may receive the money because of a delay with Student Finance England updating your record. Be warned that this may result in an overpayment that will probably have to be paid back directly rather than when your normal repayments would normally start.

Welfare Benefits

When you permanently withdraw from a course you will no longer be a student and therefore will be able to apply for welfare benefits/Universal Credit, subject to eligibility.

Other matters

Check with the LU Finance Office (via Student Enquiries in the Rutland Building) to see if you have any credit (or debit) on your university account. Any money owed to the university will become a debt and will need to be repaid. If you are in credit it is advisable to request a refund without delay.

When you permanently withdraw from a course you will no longer be a student so you may also become liable for council tax.

Accommodation

a)     University Halls

• Complete the accommodation cancellation request form for the Student Accommodation Centre
• Hand back your keys when you vacate your room.

You will be charged up to the official withdrawal, plus an admin fee equivalent to 4 weeks rent/fees.

You are not normally permitted to continue to live in Halls if you withdraw from your studies.

If you have already paid your hall fees you can ask for a refund of any overpayment if your account is in credit.

The balance of your room bond deposit should be refunded within 30 days.

 b)     Private Halls and Private rented accommodation

If you have signed a contract for a private hall or private house/flat you will probably be liable to pay rent to the end of the contract whether you live there or not. But if you do not wish to live in the accommodation, you can:

• Check to see if there is an early release (break) clause in your contract.

• Try to find a replacement tenant – The landlord or managing agent needs to agree to the transfer to release you from your contract. It is strongly recommended that you sign a deed of surrender or assignment. We can advise you further on this.

 If you want to stay in privately managed halls or accommodation after you withdraw and want to stay in the property as a non-student:

• You may need to check your contract but a landlord or managing agent cannot normally insist that you leave on the grounds that you are no longer a student.
• You will become liable for council tax for the whole property (subject to a 25% discount on the bill if you are the only non-student living in the property).

You may decide to add or remove a year abroad or placement year within your course. You will need to complete a route change request. Please see the student handbook for an overview 

• ADDING A PLACEMENT OR STUDY ABROAD YEAR 

This should be relatively straight forward. You will need to bear in mind that your tuition fee loan and maintenance loan amounts will change if you decide to take the placement or study abroad year after you had originally applied to student finance expecting to be studying at Loughborough for the year.

Tuition Fees

Tuition Fees for a full placement year are £1,850.

Tuition fees for study abroad year are £1,385

Tuition Fee Loan

You will normally be able to borrow a fee loan to cover the tuition fees.

Fee loan entitlement is generally limited to the normal duration of your course plus one extra year but adding a placement is exempt from the calculation of the number of years of study.

Any previous years of study at higher education on a different course or at a different institution or repeat years on the current course may affect entitlement.

Maintenance Loan

Maintenance loans are not limited by how many years you have been studying.

Most paid placement years receive a lower rate of maintenance loan – see https://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/sass/finance/ug-placements-study-abroad/

You must notify your student funding body of your change of circumstance.

• Notify Student Finance of your change of circumstance. For Student Finance England, you can normally log onto your online account to change your details.
• In some cases you will have to complete a paper form (available to print from your online account) to notify Student Finance of the changes. Send your Change of Circumstances form to Student Finance by recorded delivery so that you have proof of posting and keep a copy.
• The University must also confirm to Student Finance any changes to your course.
• Keep checking your online account for any updates (under the ‘Letters and emails’ section).

Any period of repeat study may have an impact on your eligibility for future funding. It is important that you seek advice if you add extra years of study. Simply adding a placement year to your existing course is not normally treated as an extra year of study.

Loughborough University Bursary and Loughborough Bursary for Unpaid Placements

The Loughborough University Bursary is not paid during placement years. However please check if you might be eligible for the Loughborough Bursary for Unpaid Placements (LBUP) Scheme

The Hardship Fund

If you are in unforeseen financial hardship you can apply for help from the University’s Hardship Fund. Forms are available here.

• REMOVING A PLACEMENT OR STUDY ABROAD YEAR 

This should be relatively straight forward. You will need to bear in mind that your tuition fee loan and maintenance loan amounts will change if you decide not to take the placement or study abroad year after you have applied for student finance based on taking a placement or study abroad year.

You must notify your student funding body of your change of circumstance.

• Notify Student Finance of your change of circumstance. For Student Finance England, you can normally log onto your online account to change your details.
• In some cases you will have to complete a paper form (available to print from your online account) to notify Student Finance of the changes. Send your Change of Circumstances form to Student Finance by recorded delivery so that you have proof of posting and keep a copy.
• The University must also confirm to Student Finance any changes to your course.
• Keep checking your online account for any updates (under the ‘Letters and emails’ section).

The University allows students, in some circumstances, usually on the grounds of high level sporting commitments or disability and health issues, to “stretch” their programme. Stretching a programme means studying a full year’s modules over two years to ease the workload on an individual student. The relevant administrative procedures are set out here if stretching to accommodate sporting commitments and if stretching due to health or disability please click here

Student Finance

Tuition fees

If you stretch a year of your degree the tuition fees will generally be charged in full for the first year of the stretch and then zero tuition fees are due for the second year of the stretch. If you undertake any repeat modules during the second year of the stretch and have not successfully claimed mitigating circumstances, then you can expect to pay again for the repeat modules in the second year as set out in the reassessment fees web page.

Tuition Fee Loan

The University will generally notify student finance if your tuition fees have changed.

Generally, student finance only allows Tuition Fee Loans for the ordinary length of your course plus one year. Any previous years of study at higher education on a different course or at a different institution will affect entitlement.

Tuition Fee Loans will normally be paid only for one year of repeat study. The extra year is often referred to as a “gift year”. If the gift year has already been used due to previously changing course or an earlier repeat year and any period of repeat study is due to health or personal difficulties, you can request an additional year of funding by sending evidence of the difficulties having affected your studies to Student Finance. Student Finance refer to this as Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR).  Seek advice from SASS if you need help making a case for repeat funding from Student Finance.

If you need help to understand how stretching might affect your finances or if your situation is more complicated we suggest you speak to an adviser.

Maintenance loan

Maintenance loans are not limited by how many years you have been studying.

The amount of maintenance loan you receive may be adjusted if you only study part of the academic year, for example if you are only attending modules during semester two. However if you are attending at least one module in each semester then you remain eligible for a loan to cover the full year.

When you apply for your funding for a stretch year you still need to apply for full-time funding (do not use the part-time application).

Extra years of study may have an impact on your eligibility for future funding. It is important that you seek advice if you are considering stretching any part of your course.

Loughborough University Bursary

The Loughborough University Bursary can be paid for stretched years. It will be split over the two years, any balance that remains from the first year of the split will be paid in the second year assuming the household income continues to qualify for LUB. If you are studying 30 modular credits or fewer then you will not be eligible for the bursary. The bursary will continue to be available for subsequent academic year(s) after successful completion of any stretch (subject to the other eligibility criteria being met).

Hardship Fund

If you are in unforeseen financial hardship you can apply for help from the University’s Hardship Fund. Forms are available here

Accommodation

Stretching your degree will not normally require any changes to your accommodation arrangements.

On a stretch year you retain your full-time student status for Council Tax and will not normally be liable to pay it.