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 in summer 2025, has faced a sudden financial reversal. The course he pursued at Edge Hill University in Liverpool was funded through an NHS bursary, personal savings, and a tuition fee loan. However, a recent email from the university revealed that his one-year postgraduate diploma in adult nursing was not eligible for maintenance loans, requiring him to repay the full amount at an expedited pace.
The Student Loans Company (SLC) has now informed over 22,000 students enrolled in weekend courses that their qualifications were misclassified. This has left many scrambling to adjust their budgets. Though Robinson’s program was full-time, including clinical placements, it still fell under the new criteria that excludes one-year postgraduate courses from standard funding.
Impact on students and institutional response
Robinson, now working as an NHS nurse, expressed confusion and concern. “I was worried, I can only repay what I can afford,” he said. The university assured him his qualification remains valid but emphasized the need for a repayment plan. A spokesperson added, “Further support is being provided for current students whose studies could otherwise have been disrupted by financial hardship.”
Meanwhile, Lou Osborne, a teaching assistant from Sunderland, resat her GCSE exams to qualify for an education degree. Her two-year course involved Saturday lectures and written assessments, which she described as “amazing.” Yet, similar to Robinson, she received a notice this week stating she must repay £3,500 in maintenance loans immediately, with interest, and without options for deferred payments.
Statements from officials and universities
A joint statement from affected universities expressed “extreme concern” over the SLC’s decision, hinting at potential legal action. The SLC acknowledged that some institutions had “incorrectly categorised distance learning courses,” promising to collaborate on “affordable repayment plans.” Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson called the situation “not students’ fault,” blaming “incompetence or abuse of the system” by universities.
“It just doesn’t make any sense to me whatsoever,” Robinson said, adding that the policy might deter others from pursuing similar courses. Osborne echoed the sentiment, stating, “We’re paying into the economy by working and are now told, ‘You don’t deserve help because you’re part-time.’”
The controversy highlights a growing issue for students who relied on financial aid for their education, now facing unexpected repayment demands. As the SLC reviews its categorization process, the focus remains on how to support those impacted by the change in eligibility rules.
