Dear Students,

Background

We are aware that many of you are still experiencing delays in receiving loans that you have applied for from the Student Loans Company (“SLC”) through Student Finance England.

This problem – and others – appear to be common to many (if not all) universities and colleges. On 8th October there was a meeting between Universities UK and David Lammy, Minister for Higher Education. Heythrop College made a contribution to these representations (based on comments from the HSU President) so that government have been made aware of how seriously the start of your year has been affected, as with students in the majority of other UK universities. We stressed the fact that Heythrop students rely on these payments to survive, and without them some literally can't eat or travel to attend College. As a result of the meeting all parties are working to make sure that students receive timely payments, now and in the future.

In the current situation, Heythrop College’s role in the process is to confirm to the SLC, as and when requested by them, that you have registered at the College. We have, of course, been doing this. The SLC, however, has not been able to provide complete lists to us: in other words, even though you may have applied for a loan, the College has not been asked by the SLC to confirm your registration at College.

Resolution

To work around this issue, we have created a list from our own records of students whom we expect to receive loans from the SLC and – with the SLC’s agreement – we have uploaded this to the SLC’s database. The SLC has committed to make loan payments as soon as it can. We know that although many of you are still awaiting payment, others have already received a first instalment.

We have delayed the deadline for paying the first instalment of rent due for residents in the Alban Hall of Residence to accommodate the delays many of you are experiencing in getting your loans.

Action you can take to help

In the meantime:

1. If you have applied for a loan from the SLC via Student Finance England and have not yet provided a copy of your financial notification or payment schedule to the Finance Team, then please do so as soon as you can. We can then provide confirmation to the SLC that you have registered at the College, regardless of whether or not we are asked to provide that confirmation by the SLC.

2. If you are having financial difficulties then please contact Dominic who may be able to help. The Principal’s Fund may be able to provide modest emergency bridging loans and Dominic may be able to provide additional advice, support or intervention to help, such as negotiating with halls and private landlords to defer payment of rent due. We are committed to making sure you have funds for day to day living, and that you aren't prevented from coming to College due to financial hardship at this time.

Best wishes,

Jonathan Bell, Director of Finance & Estates

Dominic McLoughlin, Student Development Manager