Student Advice Service – Money Matters

News from the Student Advice Service at the University of Brighton

8

Finance advice for students who are repeating modules

After the disruption of the last 18 months, some students will be returning to study having taken time out from their course or may be repeating modules from last academic year. This is perfectly normal, but there some financial implications which you need to be aware of.

What happens if you’re repeating the whole year?

  • You are still eligible for a Maintenance Loan if you have to repeat all or part of an academic year, even if you’ve repeated a year of your course previously. This also applies to any supplementary  grants – such as the Parents’ Learning Allowance, Childcare Grant and Disabled Students’ Allowances.
  • You are automatically entitled to a Tuition Fee Loan for a repeat year if needed, but you can only have this automatic allocation once. This means that if you have already repeated a year or studied on a previous course for a year, you need to ask Student Finance to use their discretion to award you a further additional year of Tuition Fee Loan if fees are due.
  • This appeal process is called requesting ‘compelling personal reasons’ and is very similar to ‘mitigating circumstances’ – for example pregnancy, illness, disability or traumatic personal events. You need to present a case to  Student Finance that you had strong reasons for having to repeat and you need evidence to support your case. We can help you with this.

What happens if you’re repeating part of the year?

  • The university will record you as being a part-time student enrolled on a full time course. This can be confusing, as you may only be studying 1 or 2 modules, but nevertheless you are still treated as a full-time student for the purposes of Council Tax, Student Finance and any DWP Benefits you may be eligible to receive. You can therefore continue to apply for full time funding as you did previously as long as you are repeating with attendance.
  • The exception to this would be if you have transferred to a part time course in which case everything changes and you should contact us for more advice.

Very important information for both scenarios:

If you have already applied for 2021/2022 funding, your student finance record needs to be amended. The university’s Academic Registry department will tell Student Finance that your course year has changed but this can take a few weeks to process, so please don’t panic.

Problems with enrolling?

There could be a number of different reasons which may be affecting your enrolment, especially if you have had a very recent exam board decision. We advise you to contact the enrolment helpline 01273 644777 in the first instance.

If you need any more help or advice about this or you have a different  money question, please contact us.

Have a great year!

Student Advice Service

repeating academic year

Helen Abrahams • September 27, 2021


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Comments

  1. CB October 4, 2022 - 10:49 pm Reply

    My son is resitting one first year module this term ( autumn 2022). He has been advised he cannot start year 2 until he has completed this resit.
    He only found out 2 weeks ago that he was required to resit so he had already applied for student finance believing he would be going into Year 2.
    The tuition cost is £1500 for the module . From what I understand my son will still be treated as a full time student but does he need to register this with Student Finance or does the university only apply to Student Finance for the £1500 actually required this year? Similarly, he will be living away from home for the whole academic year but only studying for the first term. He plans to do paid work for the rest of the year to cover his living costs and rent. So he really only needs maintenance loan for the first term. Does he also need to register this with Student Finance ?
    My concern is that he ends up with a loan that he doesn’t need that starts accruing interest and meaning he has more to pay back when he eventually graduates.

  2. Helen Abrahams October 5, 2022 - 7:20 am Reply

    Hi CB
    The best thing would be for your son to call us today on 01273 642888.
    We can discuss the options with him and the next steps for the option he chooses.
    If you wish to join him on the call, that’s fine.
    Best wishes
    Helen

  3. Jade Oliver July 13, 2023 - 7:37 pm Reply

    My daughter has just finished her first year but has to resit 2 modules. She has just signed a contract to rent a house for the next academic year. Will she still be entitled to the full maintenance loan?

  4. Helen Abrahams July 17, 2023 - 3:36 pm Reply

    Hi Jade
    Thank you for your comment.
    If your daughter is repeating the year *with attendance* then yes she can apply for the maximum Maintenance Loan for 23/24.
    How much actual loan she will receive will depend on the household income, as I’m sure you will be aware.
    If she has any questions, just ask her to call us on 01273 642888
    Best wishes
    Helen

  5. Kieran August 23, 2023 - 2:47 pm Reply

    My partner is returning to study on a part-time basis to repeat 3 modules on a full-time course. She’s secured her full loan as she’s a full time student but cannot find student accommodation as the proof of study letter and council tax exemption letter states she is a part-time student. The council are currently saying she will not be exempt as she is studying part time. How do we demonstrate to the council that she is a full time student repeating modules part time and exempt from council tax?

    • Helen Abrahams August 24, 2023 - 8:17 am Reply

      Hi Kieran
      The process of notifying the Council Tax department varies according to which local authority it is. If your partner can contact the Student Information Desk with all their details ie full name, address, student number etc, they will be able to help her. The email address is studentservices@brighton.ac.uk or she can call the team at her campus. All the numbers can be found here: https://www.brighton.ac.uk/brighton-students/contacts/index.aspx
      Hope this is helpful

  6. Joanna Simpson August 29, 2023 - 6:04 pm Reply

    My daughter is entering her second year but has to repeat two modules. The university has told her she is to repeat without attendance. Her re sits are due end of November so what does this mean for her? is she still entitled to her student loan (which she has applied for), does she go back to full time learning once the re sits are complete?
    I am quite concerned as she has put a deposit down on a house and payment is due very soon please help!

    • Helen Abrahams August 30, 2023 - 8:53 am Reply

      Hi Joanna
      If your daughter is repeating with no attendance, this means she won’t be charged any fees and cannot apply for any funding from Student Finance.
      She should not re-enrol this academic year and she also needs to cancel her funding application for 23/24.
      Technically she is still registered on the course so will remain exempt from Council Tax but she will need to seek funding from elsewhere to pay for her rent and bills.
      If she is looking for work, she can check out suitable local vacancies through Careers Connect: https://careersconnect.brighton.ac.uk/ or make contact with one of the Careers Advisers on 01273 642855.
      Best wishes
      Student Advice

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