Any changes to your programme of study can impact your entitlement to student finance. You might need more time because of one of the following reasons:
- you’re repeating all or some of an academic year
- you’ve deferred all or some of your assessments to a later date
- you’re completing a reassessment
You're only eligible to apply for student finance if there’s a requirement for you to attend in-person teaching and assessments. If you're undertaking any outstanding assessments on an ‘out-of-college basis’, as a ‘dormant resitting student’ (DOR), you won't be charged tuition fees, but you'll also be unable to apply for maintenance loans or receive King’s bursaries and hardship funds.
Your entitlement to funding will depend on the level of study and if you are attending a full or partial year of study.
I am an Undergraduate student
The student finance regulations make provision for one additional year of funding, known as the ‘+1 year’ or ‘gift year’, which provides an additional year of tuition fee loan, should you need to repeat some or part of an academic year. There is no restriction on the number of years of maintenance funding you can claim, provided you are enrolled with attendance however, this will be reduced if you are only in attendance for part of the academic year.
I will be attending classes throughout the full academic year
You should apply for student funding as you normally would. When King’s confirms your attendance, they will also confirm to the funder the academic year that you are studying. This will confirm that you are repeating part of the programme.
Provided you have not already used your ‘+1 year’ (with previous repeat study or a previous course) you should be eligible for up to £9,250 in tuition fee loan. If you are only required to attend some modules (not the full 120 credits) you will be charged pro-rata based on the number of modules you are registered to attend.
As long as you are registered to attend classes for modules in both term 1 and term 2 and assessments in term 3 you will receive the loan for maintenance as usual. The maintenance loan is not reduced in line with the number of modules you are undertaking.
For example:
Student A has passed 60 out of 120 credits at the first attempt. They are required to re-sit with attendance a 30-credit module in term 1, and two 15-credit modules in term 2. They will undertake assessments in January and in May. They will be billed £4,625 and as they have no previous repeat study, they can access an additional loan for tuition fees for this amount. As they are attending university throughout the full academic year they can access a maintenance loan for the full academic year as they normally would, it will not be reduced. If they are usually in receipt of King’s Bursaries, they will also receive these as normal.
I am resitting part of the academic year with attendance
If you are not required to attend classes throughout the full academic year, you will only be able to receive a maintenance loan (and be billed for fees) for the part of the year where you are in attendance. This is worked out on a pro-rata basis based on the number of weeks you are registered as attending the course. Once re-enrolled the university will confirm this to your funder.
For example:
Student B has passed 75 out of 120 credits, they have three 15-credit modules to re-sit, and they are all taught in term 2 with assessments in May. They will be billed £3,468.75 and as they have had no previous repeat study, they can access an additional loan for tuition fees for this amount. As they are not attending university throughout the full academic year they will received a reduced maintenance loan which will be calculated pro-rata based on the number of weeks they will be registered as in attendance. This will not be paid until the student has returned to classes in semester 2.
I am resitting the full academic year as a dormant student; I will only attend my exams and submit assessments remotely
Students must be enrolled for teaching in order to access funding. Whilst dormant students are not charged any tuition fees, they are also unable to claim maintenance loans and will not receive King’s Bursaries. You will need to find work to help cover your living costs during the dormant year and/or claim welfare benefits, if you are eligible to do so, the Money & Housing Advice Service can advise you on this.
If you do not have other sources of financial assistance and/or access to employment speak to your department and Student Services (Money & Housing Advice Service and Disability Support & Inclusion) about being permitted to re-sit the outstanding assessments with attendance.
What happens if I exceed the ‘standard entitlement’ and need more funding?
The extra year allows you to repeat one year (or part year) only. If you have previously studied elsewhere or need to repeat more than one period of study, you are likely to be refused a Tuition Fee Loan until you progress further.
Only Maintenance Loans (and if relevant, targeted support such as parent-related grants or Disabled Students Allowances and King’s Bursaries) will be paid and you will be held personally liable for any tuition fee charged for the repeat period.
Currently, this must be paid in full by the 31 January of each academic year. For more information see Fee payments - when to pay. If this is a concern for you, please seek advice as soon as possible, see below.
I am repeating my studies for circumstances outside my control, can this be taken into consideration?
If you can show ‘compelling personal reasons’ (CPR) for not progressing or completing a course, you may be able to rely on discretionary funding rules to access extra Fee Loans beyond the ‘Standard Entitlement’.
CPRs are not defined by regulation but typically include periods where serious ill health; a close bereavement; or other serious incident has negatively impacted your ability to study.
We advise that you inform your funding body of what has happened and provide evidence to demonstrate your situation. The Money & Housing Advice team can support you with your submission and help you navigate the process.
If you're funded by the Student Finance EU Team for the EU Tuition Fee Loan, you won't receive any funding for your repeat year (if you've already used up your standard entitlement) unless you have CPR with evidence accepted.
I am a Postgraduate student
Postgraduate funding is quite limited for repeat periods of study, and the regulations surrounding can be complex and open to interpretation. You are advised to speak to the Money & Housing Advice Service about your situation before applying for repeat funding or committing to an additional year of study.
NHS funding
If some of your course is funded by NHS Student Bursaries there are some limited circumstances where funding can be received again. This will depend on the programme and your circumstances; you are advised to speak to the Money & Housing Advice Service about your situation and options available to you.
Important to know: If your course has been completed, but you have some outstanding pieces of assessment or examinations deferred to a later date, you are no longer a full-time student for council tax or student finance purposes.
Your student status is only extended if you are re-enrolled with attendance in order to complete any outstanding assessments, placements, or exams. You will be billed tuition fees on a pro-rata basis alongside this and provided with a new course end date for which you can obtain a new Confirmation of Study Letter. If you have not been re-enrolled with a new course end date you can claim welfare benefits (including Council Tax reduction) while you are looking for work. The Money & Housing Advice Service can advise you on your options, eligibility requirements and entitlement.
Where to get further help and advice
The Money & Housing Advice Service can advise you on your eligibility for student finance and other sources of financial support, such as welfare benefits. You can contact the service:
Online registration form to explain your situation and receive advice by email, or where appropriate an appointment will be booked for you to discuss your situation in more detail.
For quick queries or urgent enquiries, please call the Money & Housing Advice Line or attend a campus drop-in.