LAUSR

I recently discovered that final-year degree students are subject to a drop in their maintenance loan because of the assumption by Student Finance England (SFE) that the final year is shorter. This is something that the majority of students are not made aware of when they begin their degree. Not only that, for final-year vet students, the opposite is true. It is the longest and most expensive year because of the requirement to undertake clinical rotations. I am a fourth-year student at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, and, after discovering this bombshell, I began trying to clarify what we’re entitled to, so that I can plan ahead and avoid financial hardship. According to the Higher Education Student Finance Package for 2017/18, the maximum loan for living costs is £8430 a year for students living away from home and studying outside London. SFE says it takes ‘many variables’ into account when considering applications, …