Disputing Student Finance Decisions

Student Finance England (SFE) is a joint service run by the Student Loans Company (SLC) on behalf of the Department for Education. It provides:

• Tuition fee loans — paid directly to the university, covering fees up to £9,250 per year
• Maintenance loans — paid termly to the student, with the amount dependent on household income and where you study/live
• Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) — non-repayable grants for students with disabilities, mental health conditions, or specific learning difficulties
• Childcare Grant, Adult Dependants' Grant, and Parents' Learning Allowance — for students with dependants

Eligibility depends on nationality, prior study, course type, and household income. You must re-apply each year and report changes in circumstances promptly.

If you believe SFE has made an incorrect decision — about your eligibility, the amount of your loan, or a change of circumstances — follow this process:

1. Request an internal review (also called a "review" or "appeal") within 28 days of the decision. Write to SFE explaining why you think the decision is wrong and provide any supporting evidence. SFE must review the decision and give written reasons for the outcome.
2. Request an Independent Review if you remain dissatisfied. This is carried out by an Independent Reviewer appointed by the Secretary of State for Education. You must request this within 28 days of the internal review outcome. The Independent Reviewer's decision is final on the facts but can be challenged by judicial review in extreme cases.

There is no tribunal or ombudsman specifically for SFE decisions — the Independent Review is the highest formal route.

SFE may claim an overpayment if you received more funding than you were entitled to — for example, because your household income was higher than declared, you withdrew from your course, or you did not notify a change in circumstances. Steps to take:

• Check the overpayment notice carefully — confirm the amounts and time period it refers to. Ask SFE to provide a full calculation if it is unclear.
• Dispute the overpayment if you believe it is wrong, through the internal review process above.
• Negotiate a repayment plan if the overpayment is confirmed but you cannot afford immediate repayment. SFE generally allows affordable repayments — contact them directly.
• Seek debt advice if the overpayment demand is causing financial hardship. Citizens Advice or National Debtline can assist.

Overpayments of tuition fee loans are collected through HMRC/PAYE alongside normal loan repayments. Overpayments of grants or other support may be collected differently — check the notice carefully.

Repayment of student loans is automatic through the PAYE system once you earn above the repayment threshold. Key points for Plan 2 (students starting in 2012 or later in England):

• Repayment threshold: £27,295 per year (from April 2023). You repay 9% of income above this threshold.
• Write-off: Any remaining balance is written off 40 years after the April you were first due to repay.
• Interest: Interest is charged at RPI plus up to 3% while studying, and between RPI and RPI+3% once earning, depending on income.
• Plan 5 (students starting from September 2023) has a threshold of £25,000 and a 40-year write-off period.

You can make voluntary repayments at any time through the Student Loans Company portal. For most graduates, it is not financially beneficial to overpay — use a repayment calculator to check your situation.