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 was confident that his completed nursing degree represented a valuable career step within the NHS. He had utilized an NHS bursary and personal savings to cover university expenses, and had also secured a tuition fee loan. Additionally, he was granted a £10,538 maintenance loan for living costs. But a recent message from his institution left him unsettled. The email stated that his one-year postgraduate diploma in adult nursing was not eligible for maintenance loans, requiring all received funds to be repaid at an adjusted and expedited rate.

Thousands of students face unexpected repayment demands

According to BBC News, 22,000 students enrolled in weekend-based courses received similar correspondence from the Student Loans Company (SLC) or their universities. Although Robinson’s course wasn’t solely weekend-taught, he was still impacted. His full-time program included clinical placements, yet it fell under regulations stating that one-year postgraduate courses are not typically funded.

“I was concerned, I can only repay what I can afford,” said Robinson, who is now back working as an NHS nurse. “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.”

In a joint statement, some affected universities expressed “extreme concern” over the decision and considered legal action. They emphasized their commitment to supporting impacted students during the review process. The SLC acknowledged that some institutions had “misclassified distance learning courses,” and promised to assist students in setting up “affordable repayment plans” where applicable. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson noted the situation wasn’t students’ fault, attributing it to “institutional negligence or system abuse.” She urged universities to take “urgent steps” to help those facing financial strain.

Students’ financial plans disrupted

Teaching assistant Lou Osborne, who resat her GCSE maths and science exams, enrolled in an education degree at the University of Sunderland. “I’ve always dreamed of teaching,” she said. The accelerated two-year program, featuring written assessments and Saturday lectures, was “remarkable” for her. She was set to graduate in 2027, with a final 12-week assessment pending. However, all students on the course received similar alerts this week. “We experienced a significant panic,” Osborne explained. “We’re working full-time and can’t afford to stop. We contribute to the economy through our jobs, yet now we’re told, ‘You don’t deserve help because you’re part-time.'”

“It’s not a handout,” she said, “we know we have to pay.”

Robinson highlighted that he believed the loans should be repaid on their original terms. The university assured students their qualifications remained “fully recognized,” and committed to continuing the fight with the SLC. A spokesperson added that “additional support is being provided to current students facing potential financial challenges.”