Stretching your Degree

If you stretch a year of your degree the tuition fees will generally be charged in full for the first year of the stretch and then zero tuition fees are due for the second year of the stretch. If you undertake any repeat modules during the second year of the stretch and have not successfully claimed mitigating circumstances, then you can expect to pay again for the repeat modules in the second year as set out in the Student handbook.

The University will generally notify student finance if your tuition fees have changed.

Generally, student finance only allows Tuition Fee Loans for the ordinary length of your course plus one year. Any previous years of study at higher education on a different course or at a different institution will affect entitlement.

Tuition Fee Loans will normally be paid only for one year of repeat study beyond the standard duration of the degree programme. The extra year is often referred to as a “gift year”. If the gift year has already been used due to previously changing course or an earlier repeat year and any period of repeat study is due to health or personal difficulties, you can request an additional year of funding. You will need to provide an explanation and evidence of the difficulties having affected your studies to Student Finance. Student Finance England decide such a request under their Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR) procedure. SASS can advise and assist with preparing such a request.

If you need help to understand how stretching might affect your finances or if your situation is more complicated we suggest you speak to an adviser.

Maintenance loans are not limited by how many years you have been studying.

The amount of maintenance loan you receive may be adjusted if you only study part of the academic year, for example if you are only attending modules during semester two. However if you are attending at least one module in each semester then you remain eligible for a loan to cover the full year.

When you apply for your funding for a stretch year you still need to apply for full-time funding (do not use the part-time application).

Extra years of study may have an impact on your eligibility for future funding. It is important that you seek advice if you are considering stretching any part of your course.

The Loughborough University Bursary can be paid for stretched years. It will be split over the two years, any balance that remains from the first year of the split will be paid in the second year assuming the household income continues to qualify for LUB. If you are studying 30 modular credits or fewer, then you will not normally be eligible for the bursary. The bursary will continue to be available for subsequent academic year(s) after successful completion of any stretch (subject to the other eligibility criteria being met).