Understanding funding for resits, repeating years, and extra year eligibility limits
Failing a year doesn't automatically disqualify you from student finance, but repeated failures exhaust your funding eligibility. Student Finance England provides length of course + 1 year. For a 3-year degree, that's 4 years total. If you've already used 4 years and haven't graduated,funding stops.
You can repeat one year and still receive funding (using your +1 year). Fail Year 1, repeat it, then complete Years 2-3 normally = 4 years total, still funded. But fail Year 1 twice or fail multiple years-funding ends before degree completion.
If you exhaust your +1 year, you can apply for compassionate grounds funding (serious illness, bereavement). Rarely approved for academic failure alone. Universities may allow self-funded repeat years.
UK Education Policy Specialist
With over 15 years of experience in UK education policy and student finance, Dr. Sharma founded Student Loan Calculator UK to help students navigate the complex world of student loans.