I got a £10,000 loan for my nursing degree. Now they say it’s an error and I have to pay it back
I got a £10,000 loan for my nursing degree. Now they say it’s an error and I have to pay it back
David Robinson, who completed his nursing degree last year, has faced a financial shock after learning his course was not eligible for maintenance loans. The university recently informed him that his one-year postgraduate diploma in adult nursing had been incorrectly classified, requiring repayment of the £10,538 he received. This change has left him unsettled, especially since he used an NHS bursary and personal savings to fund his studies, alongside a tuition fee loan.
The Student Loans Company (SLC) has issued similar notices to 22,000 students enrolled in weekend courses, according to BBC News. Although Robinson’s program included full-time study and clinical placements, it was deemed ineligible under new rules. The SLC stated that some institutions had “incorrectly categorised” courses as distance learning, but said it would help students with “affordable repayment plans.”
“I was concerned, I can only repay what I can afford,” Robinson said. “It just doesn’t make any sense to me whatsoever, and it may not instil any confidence in people wanting to undertake the course that I have done, and be a nurse.”
Edge Hill University, where Robinson studied, assured students that their qualifications remain “fully recognised” and is now working to challenge the SLC’s decision. A spokesperson added that support is being provided to current students to avoid disruptions from financial strain.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson called the situation “not students’ fault,” blaming “incompetence or abuse of the system” by institutions. She urged universities to act quickly to support affected learners.
Another student’s story
Teaching assistant Lou Osborne resat her GCSE exams to qualify for an education degree at the University of Sunderland. She described the accelerated two-year program, which included Saturday lectures and written assessments, as “amazing.” Osborne was set to graduate in 2027 but now faces repaying a £3,500 maintenance loan immediately with interest.
“We all went into a bit of a panic,” Osborne said. “We’re all working full-time and can’t afford not to work full-time. We’re paying into the economy by working and are now told, ‘You don’t deserve help because you’re part-time.’”
The SLC confirmed that students on weekend courses were notified of their overpayment, while universities expressed “extreme concern” over the ruling. Both parties are now navigating the implications of this policy shift, which could impact future applicants.
