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, an NHS nurse, recently discovered that the £10,538 maintenance loan he received for his postgraduate nursing course would need to be repaid immediately. The university informed him that his one-year diploma in adult nursing was ineligible for financial support, leaving him in shock. This follows a broader issue affecting thousands of students, as BBC News reported that 22,000 learners enrolled in weekend-based programs had been notified by the Student Loans Company (SLC) or their institutions that their courses did not qualify for loans or grants.
Robinson’s full-time program, which included clinical placements, was initially deemed eligible. However, the SLC revised its stance, citing rules that exclude one-year postgraduate courses from routine funding. A joint statement from affected universities expressed concern, hinting at potential legal action. They emphasized that students would be prioritized during the review process, while negotiations with the SLC continue.
The SLC clarified that some institutions had mistakenly classified distance-learning courses as eligible. It promised to assist students with “affordable repayment plans” where possible. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledged the mistake, stating that it was not students’ fault and that universities had failed through “incompetence or system abuse.” She urged immediate action to mitigate financial strain.
Financial Impact on Learners
Robinson, who graduated in summer 2025 from Edge Hill University, now faces the prospect of repaying his loan at an accelerated pace. His university assured him that the repayment would be manageable, but Robinson expressed frustration. “I was concerned, I can only repay what I can afford,” he 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.”
“It’s not a handout, we know we have to pay.”
Similarly, teaching assistant Lou Osborne faced a sudden reversal. She resat her GCSE exams to qualify for a two-year education degree at the University of Sunderland, which included Saturday lectures and written assessments. “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember,” she said. She had relied on a £3,500 maintenance loan for books and travel, but the SLC now demands immediate repayment with interest. “We all went into a bit of a panic,” Osborne added. “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.'”
Both students highlight the uncertainty surrounding the policy change. While their qualifications remain valid, the financial burden has disrupted their plans, raising questions about the fairness of the system. The university reiterated its commitment to advocating for its learners, stating that further support would be provided to prevent study interruptions. However, the debate over eligibility criteria and student support continues to intensify.
