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Student guidance on financial delays

Published 24 September 2009

As you may be aware, due to the increase in applications to universities in the UK this year, there may be a delay in new students receiving their maintenance grants and loans from Student Finance England. This guidance is provided to assist students experiencing these delays. The university provides a comprehensive range of support services to all students, including professional advice about funding and financial issues.

What can I do before I arrive at university?

See if you can borrow funds from family or friends to tide you over until your student funding arrives.
See if you can set up a bank account with free overdraft facilities for students or a credit card with extended repayment terms for students.
Remember to pay off any short-term debt once you have received your grant / loan or you may incur unexpected charges.

How can I pay for my accommodation?

I am living in university accommodation

If you are living in halls of residence, your first instalment should have been paid at the time you entered into your lease agreement.
If you are living in university-managed accommodation (also known as unihomes or head leased property) your first instalment is due to be paid by direct debit on 1 October 2009. Please note that if you are experiencing delays, you may wish to contact your bank to arrange a short term overdraft to cover this cost. In some cases it may be possible to amend the due date of this payment to coincide with the date that you expect your loan or grant to arrive. Please contact the Finance department on 01273 642959 for advice.

I am living in private accommodation

If you are required to make an advance payment for privately managed accommodation the university can write to the landlord explaining the situation and request that your first rent instalment is deferred.
In exceptional circumstances you may be able to obtain a bridging loan from the university. This is an interest free short-term loan (usually up to four weeks). To obtain a bridging loan you will need to have enrolled online at the university and have evidence from Student Finance England that your student finances have been delayed. Contact the university's Student Advice Service for help:

Student Advice Service (open Monday to Friday):
phone: 01273 642888
email: studentadvice@brighton.ac.uk
web: www.brighton.ac.uk/studentlife/studentadvice

Help and advice once you get here

If you arrive at university and you have still not received your loan and grant and have been unable to secure temporary loan facilities elsewhere (eg from friends, family or your bank) please contact the university's Student Advice Service. They will assess your temporary funding requirements and if applicable, will provide a bridging loan. You are reminded that it is your responsibility to ensure that your loan/grant application and relevant documentation have been submitted as required by Student Finance England in a timely manner.

Bridging loans

Bridging loans are not provided to students with any outstanding debt owed to the university.
Students can only receive a bridging loan if they are enrolled at the university and they have been issued a UniCard (or in some instances a valid library card).
The maximum loan available for non-accommodation related living expenses is £50 per week (or £100 for students with dependants or a mobility difficulty which might affect your ability to travel). The loan is intended for food and weekly travel costs to university only. It is not intended to cover additional costs (eg entertainment or books).
Students will be required to provide evidence of the delay in their maintenance grant/loan. If necessary a student advisor will assist in obtaining this evidence from Student Finance England and confirming when the grant/loan is expected to be received. It may also be necessary to provide copies of bank statements or other financial documents/correspondence. The Student Advice Service will be able to provide guidance as to these requirements in relation to your specific situation.
The bridging loan represents a debt to the university that has been provided exclusively for you to continue as a student at the university. It is therefore considered to be an element of the Student Contract and is subject to section 4D of the student handbook. Non-adherence to the terms on which the loan is provided (ie delayed repayment) could affect your enrolment and graduation at the university.

Access to Learning fund

If you are a UK student who is experiencing longer term financial difficulties, you may be eligible for a non-repayable grant from the Access to Learning Fund (ALF). The application process can take up to 28 days before a grant can be made and will require a detailed examination of your financial affairs. Any award from ALF will initially go towards paying off any overdue bridging loans, to ensure that your enrolment and graduation status is not affected.

Part-time work

You may wish to supplement your income with some part-time work. The Careers Centre Job Workshop holds details of a range of part-time and holiday jobs.

Job Workshop

Visit www.brighton.ac.uk/money

For further advice about bridging loans, the Access to Learning Fund, the Student Advice Service, and specific advice about fees and funding at Brighton go to www.brighton.ac.uk/money.

Visit Student Finance England

For the service updates and latest advice on processing of student finance applications please visit www.direct.gov.uk and follow links for student loans.
Please note only students who have applied for student finance online can check the status of their application on the website.