What Has Happened?
Around 600 London Met students study on ‘weekend courses’, with teaching delivered on weekends by a partner, QAHE. In March, the Department for Education (DfE) suddenly reclassified weekend-only courses as "distance learning", meaning they are no longer eligible to receive maintenance loans and childcare grants. This has sparked a crisis for thousands of QAHE students, leaving them with impossible choices to make about whether to change their course or drop out.
Worse still, the DfE and the Student Loans Company (SLC) initially demanded that students immediately repay loans and grants that they’d already spent, plunging thousands of students into financial crisis.
This policy shift is an unfair attack on working-class students and parents who rely on flexible scheduling to improve their lives, leaving many to make devastating choices.
What is being done to challenge this?
Students and universities are fighting back!
After significant student-led campaigning, supported by the National Union of Students (NUS), the government rowed back on the requirement to immediately repay loans, but has not yet decided about childcare grants, leaving student parents in limbo. Whatever happens with grants, students will still no longer have access to the loans they rely on.
Alongside this, London Met University has teamed up with 8 other institutions to mount a legal challenge against this decision, while a growing number of students are teaming up to mount a judicial review. Details on next steps can be found further down this page.
Financial Hardship and Other Information
If you have specific questions, you might be able to find answers on the University’s updated FAQs page: https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/weekend-courses-faqs/
The university has announced that it will soon launch an exceptional financial support package to help with any costs incurred by the change in classification. Keep an eye on the FAQs page for details, which are expected to be announced w/c 11 May.
Where To Get Advice
Please email our Advice Service directly at theadviceservice.su@londonmet.ac.uk
The Advice Service can support you in understanding the complaints process, reviewing draft complaints, and considering escalation options, including Stage 2 complaints to London Metropolitan University and complaints to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA).
In line with the University’s processes for partner-delivered provision, complaints relating to QAHE courses will first be considered by QAHE.
Click here to download the QAHE complaints form
QAHE will contact you directly to confirm receipt of your complaint and explain the next steps. You can follow up with them directly at: QAHE.Complaints@qa.com. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of QAHE’s complaints process, you can request a review by London Metropolitan University through the Student Casework Office.
Once the University’s internal procedures have been completed, you have the right to refer your complaint to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA). Please see guidance from the OIA here: Maintenance loan eligibility for students studying at weekends - OIAHE.
If you would like support with drafting or reviewing a complaint, please email the Advice Service with:
- Your full name and student ID number
- Your course and provider
- Whether your complaint is individual or part of a group complaint
- Which stage of the complaints process you are currently at
- A summary of your complaint
- Any relevant correspondence or draft complaint documents
How to Fight Back
- Sign the NUS Petition: Join over 13,000 people demanding a U-turn. Sign here.
- Email Your MP: Use our template to demand your MP challenge this "funding cliff edge." Find your MP here.
- Read NUS’ Advice: Guidance for Students Affected by the Weekend Learning Funding Crisis
- Submit a Complaint: You are entitled to complain to both the University and the DfE. DfE Complaints Procedure.
Wellbeing Support
- Understandably, this situation may be affecting your well-being and causing increased stress. Please do reach out for support if this is the case.
- You can also access additional support through the Student Assistance Programme via the Wisdom app. Please register using the code MHA339929 or call 0800 028 3766 for assistance.
- You can access the QA Higher Education Safeguarding, Student Life and Wellbeing Team and Mental Health Practitioners by phone: +44 (0)203 921 0163 or by email: qahe.welfare@qa.com.
- You can also contact your GP for support or advice regarding your mental health. If you are not currently registered with a GP, you can find one here: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp.
- If you feel you need more urgent support, the following services are available 24/7:
- NHS 111 – for urgent mental health help and guidance
- Samaritans – Call 116 123
- Shout Crisis Text Line – Text SHOUT to 85258 (or YM if you are under 19)
- Papyrus HOPELINE247 – Call: 0800 068 4141 or Text: 88247