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, a nursing graduate from Edge Hill University in Liverpool, has faced a financial setback after being informed that his postgraduate diploma was not eligible for maintenance loans. The email he received from his university last week revealed that the £10,538 he had borrowed would now need to be repaid at a faster pace. This change affects not just Robinson but thousands of others, as reported by the BBC. Over 22,000 students enrolled in weekend-based courses have been notified by the Student Loans Company (SLC) or their universities that their studies were misclassified, leaving them with repayment obligations.
Unexpected Repayment Demands
The course Robinson completed in summer 2025 was full-time, including clinical placements. Despite this, the SLC determined it fell under a new rule excluding one-year postgraduate programs from standard funding. His university, in an email shared with the BBC, emphasized that the SLC’s overpayment notice would demand immediate repayment. “I was concerned, I can only repay what I can afford,” Robinson said, expressing frustration over the abrupt reversal. He now works as an NHS nurse, questioning how the policy change impacts future students.
“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.” – David Robinson
Impact on Part-Time Learners
Teaching assistant Lou Osborne, who pursued an education degree at the University of Sunderland, faced a similar dilemma. Her accelerated two-year course, featuring Saturday lectures and written assessments, was initially approved for a £3,500 maintenance loan. However, a recent email from the SLC forced her to reconsider her financial plans. “We all went into a bit of a panic,” she said, noting that students are now struggling to balance work and repayment. Osborne, who had one final 12-week assessment left, described the situation as “not a handout, we know we have to pay.”
“We’re paying into the economy by working and are now told, ‘You don’t deserve help because you’re part-time.'” – Lou Osborne
Universities have expressed concern over the SLC’s decision, with some considering legal action. They highlighted that the policy disproportionately affects students who rely on loans to fund their studies. The SLC acknowledged that certain institutions had “incorrectly categorised courses that are distance learning” and pledged to assist with “affordable repayment plans.” Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stressed that the issue stems from institutional errors, calling for swift support to mitigate hardship for affected students.
