Student Loans Company defends delays

The Student Loans Company (SLC) has maintained it is not at fault for delays in loan payments at the start of this academic year, blaming late applications and a general increase in university attendance.

An SLC spokesperson said: “Any student who applied on time should receive their funding on time.

“We are processing late applications as quickly as possible. We acknowledge this will be a worrying time for those affected.”

The company did however admit that even those who applied on time could potentially receive their loans later than expected.

In a statement on the Directgov website, the SLC said: “If you get an initial payment that’s less than you were expecting, it will have been made to ensure you are paid on time. Your full entitlement will be paid as soon as possible.”

It is currently estimated that tens of thousands of students are still waiting to receive their student loan for the start of this academic year.

Derek Ross, deputy chief executive of the SLC, acknowledged the severity of the situation, and agreed that some were “at risk of going to university without money”.

“We are trying our best to go through these [applications] as quickly as we can…but there are quite a lot of worried people out there,” he said.

Universities across the country have reacted quickly to the developing situation, putting measures in place to aid cash-strapped students.

Simon Eltringham, president of Herriot-Watt University’s Student Association, told The Journal: “We are concerned about the significant delays made by the Student Loan Company in issuing loans and paying fees this year.

“We have found that this has affected English and Scottish students who are studying at Herriot-Watt who applied for finance after the deadline.”

Eltringham also added that Herriot-Watt had “stepped up the promotion” of the hardship loan scheme. He advocated the guidance and advice services that all universities promote.

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Napier told The Journal that students who potentially need support can be provided with it. “Measures are already in place to use Discretionary and Childcare Funds to help any eligible student who may be suffering financial difficulties.”

The spokesperson added: “Specific measures are in place to help those students in immediate financial need. Information, advice and support is also available to students both in the University and in the students’ union, Napier Students’ Association.”

Although hardship loans are an option for some students, they are in very high demand. In March of this year Claire Baker, Labour's higher education spokeswoman, told The Scotsman that hardship funds in Scotland were "stretched beyond breaking point".