million+ comments on delays in processing student loans
Commenting on the delays in processing student loans for students starting university in September, Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of the university think-tank million+ said, “Universities which are dealing with the biggest ever cohort of students would have welcomed the Student Loans Company processing applications in full and on time. It is very disappointing that the assurances issued by the SLC about the number of applications being processed has proved to be wide of the mark just before term begins. The additional demand from students starting in 2009 can hardly be a surprise and the SLC should have staffed up to meet the expectations of both students and universities.
“In order to deal with the backlog the SLC now seems to be processing only the basic means tested support with the aim of revisiting applications in order to undertake at a later date the more complicated calculations required to asses entitlement to maintenance.
“It is very important that students are not deterred from going to university by these delays. If necessary, they should contact their university. Many institutions will look sympathetically at students who have yet to receive their full grants so long as students can demonstrate that they have applied to the SLC.”
- million+ is a leading university think-tank, working to solve the complex problems in higher education. www.millionplus.ac.uk
- For more information or to get the full text of the speech please contact Gemma Tumelty on 0207 7171655 or 07900 277819