More than 22,000 students enrolled in weekend courses across the UK have received shocking letters demanding immediate repayment of maintenance loans and grants they were previously told they qualified for. The Student Loans Company (SLC) and universities have notified these students that their courses were never eligible for the financial support they received.
One letter from the SLC, obtained by journalists, explains the situation bluntly: "Your university provided incorrect information. Unfortunately, they didn't tell us you only attended on the weekend." The correspondence states that any "over-payment" must now be repaid.
"I feel betrayed and massively let down," said Khawaja Ahsan, who just completed his first year of a cyber security degree at the University of West London. "My wife and I work part-time and don't have the money to repay a lump sum."
Ahsan faces repaying £14,335 in maintenance loans and childcare grants he received for his three children while studying through a Saturday intensive program advertised specifically for working students.
The crisis affects courses at 15 universities and colleges including London Metropolitan University, Bath Spa University, Leeds Trinity University, Southampton Solent University, and Oxford Brookes University. These programs feature in-person weekend teaching, sometimes supplemented by online learning during the week.
In a joint statement issued through Universities UK, the affected institutions blamed an "abrupt" government decision for the situation and revealed they are considering legal action. They emphasized their primary focus remains supporting students through this unexpected financial crisis.
However, the Department for Education maintains a different perspective. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated: "This is not students' fault. Too many organizations have let their students down, through either incompetence or abuse of the system."
The government contends some institutions failed to implement clear guidance while others "used this loophole as another opportunity to abuse public money."
For students, the practical implications are devastating. Maintenance loans—which help cover living expenses like accommodation and food—are typically repaid gradually after graduation when income exceeds a certain threshold. Now students face immediate demands for lump-sum repayments ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of pounds.
Amira Campbell, president of the National Union of Students, described the emotional toll: "They're worried, they're not sleeping, they don't know where they're going to find the money." She noted many affected students come from working-class backgrounds and work during the week to support their studies and future career prospects.
In a small reprieve, some acupuncture students received last-minute notification that their loan eligibility would be reinstated after their college successfully argued with the SLC. But for the vast majority, uncertainty and financial pressure continue mounting.
Universities are scrambling to offer alternatives, including adding weekday teaching or transferring students to eligible courses. However, these measures don't address the existing loan debts students now owe.
The SLC has advised students experiencing "financial difficulties" to seek additional help, suggesting universities might provide support. Meanwhile, many students face a mid-April deadline to decide whether to continue their studies under these changed financial circumstances.