Understanding funding for resits, repeating years, extra year eligibility limits, and alternatives to consider
Failing a year doesn't automatically disqualify you from student finance, but it triggers complex eligibility rules that many students misunderstand until it's too late. Student Finance England provides funding for the "length of your course + 1 year"—for a standard 3-year degree, that means 4 years total. This "+1 year" is your buffer for academic difficulties, illness, changing courses, or personal circumstances. Use it wisely, because once exhausted, funding stops even if you haven't graduated.
Here's the critical nuance most students miss: failing one year and repeating it is usually fine—you use your +1 year and still graduate with full funding. But failing Year 1 twice, or failing multiple different years, exhausts your funding eligibility before degree completion. At that point, you're facing a difficult choice: self-fund the remaining years (£9,250+ per year out of pocket), apply for compassionate grounds funding (rarely approved for academic failure alone), or abandon your degree with debt but no qualification.
The financial implications extend beyond just funding eligibility. Repeating a year means an extra year of tuition fees (£9,250), maintenance costs (£10,000+), delayed graduation, lost graduate earnings (£28k-£35k), and an additional year before student loan repayments begin—assuming you complete the degree. This guide explains exactly how repeat year funding works, when you can get it, when you can't, and critically, what alternatives exist that might be better than repeating.
Student Finance England's repeat year funding operates on a simple principle with complex implementation: you get one extra year beyond your course length, but how and when you use it determines whether you can complete your degree.
Standard 3-year degree: You receive funding for 4 years maximum. This includes your tuition fee loan (£9,250/year) and maintenance loan (£9,500-£13,022/year depending on circumstances).
4-year degree (with placement/abroad): You receive funding for 5 years maximum.
Integrated masters (4-year): You receive funding for 5 years maximum.
Medicine/Dentistry (5-year): You receive funding for 6 years maximum.
Years That Count:
Years That Don't Count:
Your funding year counts from the moment you receive funding and attend, not from the end of the year. Key implications:
If you fail one year and repeat it successfully, you're still within normal funding limits. Example: Fail Year 1, repeat Year 1, complete Years 2-3 normally = 4 years total funding used (Year 1 attempt 1, Year 1 attempt 2, Year 2, Year 3). This is exactly what your +1 year is designed for. You graduate with full funding and your degree certificate is identical to students who completed in 3 years.
Understanding exactly how this rule works in practice is essential. Let's break down every scenario where your +1 year gets used or preserved.
✅ Scenario 1: Single Year Repeat (Standard Case)
Timeline:
Funding used: 4 years out of 4 years available
Outcome: Graduate successfully with full funding. Your +1 year was used for the repeat, which is exactly what it's designed for.
✅ Scenario 2: Course Change After Year 1
Timeline:
Funding used: 4 years out of 4 years available
Outcome: Graduate with Business degree. Switching courses after Year 1 uses your +1 year because you're essentially doing an extra Year 1.
⚠️ Scenario 3: Failing Same Year Twice (Funding Exhausted)
Timeline:
Funding used: 2 years used, but no progression achieved
Outcome: Funding exhausted for this course. You've used 2 of your 4 years on Year 1 twice. You can't get funding for a third attempt at Year 1 because that would require 5 years total (Y1 × 3 + Y2 + Y3 = 5), exceeding your 4-year limit.
Options: Self-fund Year 1 attempt 3, or withdraw and potentially apply for different course (but you've already used 2 funding years).
❌ Scenario 4: Multiple Year Failures (Funding Exhausted)
Timeline:
Funding used: 3 years (Y1 attempt 1, Y1 attempt 2, Y2 attempt 1)
Problem: You need 5 years total to complete (Y1 × 2, Y2 × 2, Y3 = 5 years). You only have 4 years of funding. Your +1 year was used for the Year 1 repeat.
Outcome: You can self-fund Year 2 repeat + Year 3 (£18,500 tuition alone), or withdraw with debt but no degree.
❌ Scenario 5: Previous Degree Attempt (Prior Years Count)
Timeline:
Funding used: 4 years (Manchester Y1 + Sheffield Y1, Y2, Y3)
Problem: Your Manchester attempt counted as 1 funded year, even though you withdrew. Combined with 3 years at Sheffield, you've used all 4 years.
Outcome: Must self-fund Year 3 repeat or withdraw without degree despite being one year away from completion.
Your +1 year is precious. Once used, you have no buffer for further difficulties. Strategies to preserve it:
Different types of academic failure have different funding implications. Here's how student finance handles the most common scenarios.
What Happened:
You failed 2+ modules in Year 1, took resits in August/September, failed again. University requires you to repeat the entire year.
Typical Requirements:
Student Finance Response:
✅ Funded (using +1 year)
You receive full tuition fee loan and maintenance loan for the repeat year. This is the exact situation the +1 year is designed for.
Conditions:
What Happened:
You attended Year 2 but withdrew in March due to mental health crisis, bereavement, or serious illness. You didn't complete the year or take exams.
Academic Record:
Student Finance Response:
✅ Funded (using +1 year)
The withdrawn year counts as one of your funded years. When you return, you repeat Year 2 with full funding using your +1 year.
Special Consideration:
If withdrawal was for serious circumstances (terminal illness in family, you were hospitalized, documented mental health crisis), you may be eligible for compassionate grounds to get ADDITIONAL funding beyond +1 year. This requires evidence and is assessed case-by-case.
What Happened:
You're on a 4-year "sandwich" degree (with placement year). You failed your placement year OR your Year Abroad due to academic failure or placement company terminating early.
Course Structure:
Student Finance Response:
⚠️ Complex—depends on failure reason
If placement company terminated you: May not need to repeat—university might let you proceed to final year without placement credit. Funding continues normally.
If academic failure abroad: Must repeat the year. Uses your +1 year, so you'd need 6 years total for a 4-year course (Y1, Y2, Y3 failed, Y3 repeat, Y4). BUT you only get 5 years funding (4+1). Not funded for final year.
Better approach: Switch to 3-year non-placement version if possible.
What Happened:
Found guilty of plagiarism or cheating. University penalty: repeat the year (cannot progress with zero marks in affected modules).
Severity Levels:
Student Finance Response:
✅ Still Funded (using +1 year)
Student Finance doesn't consider WHY you failed—only that you need to repeat. Academic misconduct doesn't disqualify you from funding. You use your +1 year to repeat.
Important Note:
Some universities may not allow repeat year after serious misconduct (permanent exclusion). In those cases, you lose your place regardless of funding eligibility. Less serious cases allow repeat with funding.
What Happened:
You completed 1-2 years of one degree, then decided to switch to completely different subject, starting from Year 1 again.
Examples:
Student Finance Response:
⚠️ Partially Funded
Previous years count toward your limit. If you did 2 years of Law then start 3-year Nursing degree, you have 2 funded years remaining (your 4-year allocation minus 2 used = 2 left).
Outcome: Funded for Nursing Years 1-2 only. Year 3 not funded. Must self-fund final year or apply compassionate grounds.
Strategy: Switch courses as early as possible (ideally within Year 1) to minimize wasted funding years.
What Happened:
Started on part-time degree (6-year duration for 3-year full-time equivalent), completed 2-3 years part-time, now switching to full-time to finish faster.
Complexity:
Student Finance Response:
✅ Usually Funded (complex calculation)
Student Finance calculates how many "FTE years" you've used. If you did 2 years of part-time at 50% intensity, that's 1 FTE year used. You still have 3 FTE years remaining (4 total - 1 used).
Important: Request a funding calculation from SFE before switching. Part-time rules are complex and depend on your specific course intensity percentages.
Repeating a year has substantial financial consequences beyond just using your +1 year funding allocation. Understanding the total financial impact helps you make informed decisions about whether to repeat or pursue alternatives.
| Cost Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee Loan | £9,250 | Full tuition for repeat year |
| Maintenance Loan | £9,500-£13,022 | Living costs for full year (income-assessed) |
| Interest During Repeat | ~£2,000-£3,000 | RPI + 3% on existing and new debt |
| Total Extra Debt | ~£20,750-£24,272 | Debt added to your total balance |
For context: Standard 3-year degree = ~£65k total debt. Adding one repeat year = ~£86k-£90k total debt at graduation. That's 38% more debt.
The bigger financial impact isn't the extra debt—it's graduating one year later. This means:
Immediate impact:
Long-term impact:
Key insight: Even if the extra £21k debt costs you nothing in repayments (70% of Plan 5 graduates reach write-off), you've still lost £150k-£250k in lifetime earnings. The time cost far exceeds the debt cost.
For low-moderate earners (£25k-£35k careers):
For borderline earners (£35k-£50k careers):
For high earners (£50k+ careers):
The most financially damaging outcome is using your +1 year to repeat, then failing again or dropping out:
Example: Failed Year 1, repeated Year 1, dropped out
Financial damage: Limited actual repayment due to low earnings, but you've lost 2 years earning nothing (could have earned £35k-£40k working those 2 years), plus you have no degree to improve earning potential. Total opportunity cost: ~£35k-£40k lost + limited career prospects.
When you've exhausted your standard funding allocation (length of course + 1 year), compassionate grounds funding is theoretically available, but in practice, it's extremely difficult to obtain and rarely granted for pure academic failure.
Compassionate grounds allows Student Finance England to provide funding BEYOND your standard allocation when exceptional circumstances prevented you from completing your course within normal limits.
Strong Cases (Higher Approval Chance):
Weak Cases (Usually Rejected):
Compassionate grounds applications require comprehensive documentation:
1. Personal statement:
2. Medical evidence (if applicable):
3. University support:
4. Timeline documentation:
Student Finance England rejects the vast majority of compassionate grounds applications. Anecdotal approval rates suggest:
Critical point: Do not rely on compassionate grounds funding as a backup plan. Assume you won't get it and plan accordingly. If you're applying, also pursue alternative options simultaneously (transferring universities, switching to part-time, self-funding plans).
Timing problem: This process takes months. If you need funding for September start, apply as early as possible (ideally by May). Late applications may mean you miss the academic year start.
Before committing to repeat a year, systematically evaluate alternatives that might deliver equivalent or better outcomes with less financial and time cost.
What It Is:
Instead of repeating the entire year, you retake only the failed modules in summer resit period or alongside next year's study (trailing modules).
When Possible:
Financial Benefit:
Action: Speak to your course leader immediately after exam results. Ask if trailing/resit-only is possible. Many universities prefer this approach and will work with you.
What It Is:
Leave your current university and apply to different university for same subject, potentially entering Year 1 or Year 2 depending on what they accept.
When To Consider:
Financial Considerations:
Pros: Fresh start, potentially easier course, new support system
Cons: Limited funding remaining, may need to self-fund final year, starting over feels like failure
What It Is:
Change to related but less demanding subject within same university. Often possible to get credit transfer for modules already passed.
Examples:
Benefits:
Career consideration: Switching to "easier" subject means different graduate prospects. Research career outcomes for new subject before committing.
What It Is:
Instead of repeating or dropping out with nothing, exit with the lower qualification you've earned so far.
Qualification Levels:
When To Consider:
Value: DipHE/CertHE have limited standalone value in job market—employers prefer full degrees. BUT they allow you to return later and "top up" to full degree, either at same university or elsewhere. Some universities offer 1-year top-up courses.
What It Is:
Change from full-time to part-time study mode. Study 50% of full-time load, spreading remaining years over longer period while working part/full-time.
Why Consider:
Financial Aspects:
Example: You've used 2 full-time years, have 2 FTE years remaining. Switch to 50% part-time—those 2 FTE years fund 4 calendar years of part-time study.
What It Is:
Formally suspend studies (if university allows), work for 1-2 years, save money, then return to complete degree (potentially self-funding final year).
Strategic Approach:
Pros:
Cons:
What It Is:
Some careers don't require degrees—professional qualifications provide direct entry. Consider pivoting to qualification-based career instead of forcing degree completion.
Examples:
Career Outcomes:
Time comparison: Professional qualifications often faster than completing degree + you earn while studying. Example: Leaving university now, doing AAT (1 year) then starting work = income starts 18 months from now. Repeating year + completing degree = income starts 3+ years from now.
What It Is:
Degree apprenticeships combine work and study—you work 4 days/week, study 1 day/week. Employer pays tuition, you earn salary. Government funding, not student loan.
Available In:
Financial Advantage:
Comparison: 4 years degree = £65k debt, £0 earnings, graduate job hunt. Degree apprenticeship = £0 debt, £75k-£100k earned, job secured.
While Student Finance England determines funding eligibility, universities set their own academic policies about repeating years. These policies vary significantly and directly impact your options.
Having Student Finance funding doesn't guarantee your university will let you repeat. Similarly, university allowing repeat doesn't guarantee SFE will fund it. You need BOTH approval from university AND funding confirmation from Student Finance.
One Repeat Maximum (Most Common)
Policy: You can repeat any single year once. If you fail the repeat, you're excluded from the course.
Implications:
Universities using this policy: Most Russell Group, many pre-92 universities
Maximum Two Failed Years Across Entire Degree
Policy: You can fail/repeat maximum two years across your entire degree. Third failure = automatic exclusion.
Implications:
Reality: If you fail twice, you've likely exhausted student finance anyway (used 4+ years for 3-year degree).
Specific Module Limit (e.g. Max 60 Credits Failed)
Policy: You can trail failed modules (carry them forward) up to a certain credit limit. Exceed the limit = must repeat entire year.
Examples:
Advantage: Minor failures don't force full year repeat. Lets you progress while fixing small gaps.
GPA/Average Minimum for Progression
Policy: Must achieve minimum average (typically 40%) across all modules. Below threshold = repeat year, even if you passed individual modules.
Examples:
Harsh reality: You can pass most modules individually but fail the year on average. Borderline cases are frustrating.
No Repeat Allowed (Immediate Exclusion)
Policy: Some courses (typically medicine, dentistry, highly competitive programs) don't allow repeats. Fail once = excluded from course.
Rationale: High standards, competitive places, professional body requirements.
Implications: Your student finance +1 year is irrelevant—university won't let you return. Your only option is transferring to different university/course.
Universities have mitigating circumstances procedures for students who failed due to exceptional circumstances:
What qualifies:
Possible outcomes:
Evidence required: Medical certificates, doctor's letters, death certificates, police reports. Must be submitted within tight deadlines (typically 5-10 working days after exam/assessment).
Understanding how other students navigated repeat year decisions—both successful and unsuccessful outcomes—helps clarify your own situation.
Student: Sophie, Computer Science, developed severe anxiety/depression Year 1
What Happened:
Outcome:
Key Success Factors: Identified underlying issue (mental health), got professional help, engaged with university support systems, addressed root cause before repeating. The repeat year worked because she fixed the problem that caused failure.
Student: Jake, Mechanical Engineering, struggled with course difficulty
Timeline:
Outcome:
What Went Wrong: Course was genuinely too difficult for his mathematical ability. He passed Year 1 repeat barely (41%) but core concepts weren't solid enough for Year 2 material. Should have switched to less technical subject (Engineering Management, Product Design) after Year 1 failure instead of repeating same difficult course.
Student: Emma, Physics, realized wrong subject choice
Situation:
What She Did:
Outcome:
Lesson: Sometimes the problem isn't your ability—it's the subject fit. Switching courses uses same +1 year as repeating, but gives you a degree you'll actually enjoy and succeed in.
Student: Liam, Business Studies, failed 2 modules
What Happened:
His Approach:
Outcome:
Key Strategy: Failing 1-2 modules doesn't always mean full year repeat. Check university policy on trailing/resitting individual modules. Summer resits (with serious preparation) can save you a full repeat year.
Student: Marcus, Civil Engineering, failed Year 1 twice
Timeline:
Alternative Path:
Comparison:
Traditional University Route (if continued):
Degree Apprenticeship Route (actual):
Outcome: Turned failure into opportunity. Got same degree (Civil Engineering) but via apprenticeship route. Earned £100k while studying instead of accumulating more debt. Has 4 years experience by graduation vs 0 experience. Job secured with employer after completion.
Use this systematic decision framework to evaluate whether repeating is the right choice versus pursuing alternative pathways.
Be brutally honest about the root cause. Different causes require different solutions:
✅ Repeating Likely to Work:
❌ Repeating Unlikely to Help:
Calculate Years Used vs Years Remaining:
For standard 3-year degree: Total funding = 4 years
Count years used:
Years remaining: 4 minus years used
Critical thresholds:
Before committing to repeat, actively explore these alternatives:
1. Can you resit modules only? (No full repeat)
Ask: How many credits can I trail? Can I progress to Year 2 while resitting Year 1 modules?
2. Can you switch to easier/related subject?
Example: Engineering → Engineering Management, Computer Science → Information Systems
3. Could you exit with DipHE/CertHE and return later?
Get credit for years completed, return when circumstances improve
4. Is degree apprenticeship available in your field?
Earn salary + employer pays tuition. Research available programs.
5. Would professional qualifications serve you better?
Some careers don't require degrees—qualifications faster and cheaper
Financial Cost of Repeating:
Will You Actually Complete?
Be honest: If the issue that caused failure isn't fully resolved (wrong subject, ability ceiling, persistent circumstances), repeating adds £21k debt with high risk of failing again.
Better Outcomes From Alternatives?
Degree apprenticeship = £0 debt + £100k earned over 4 years. Professional qualifications = faster entry to work. Course switch = degree you'll actually finish. Sometimes these deliver better lifetime outcomes than forcing completion of wrong degree.
✅ Repeat the Year If:
⚠️ Consider Alternatives If:
❌ Don't Repeat If:
The best approach to repeat year funding is never needing it. These strategies help prevent academic failure and preserve your +1 year for genuine emergencies.
Academic Signs:
Personal Signs:
Critical point: These signs appear in Week 3-5 of first term, not in May when exam results arrive. Act immediately when signs appear—waiting means playing catch-up for entire year.
Week 1-4: Identify Issue
Week 5-8: Seek Help
Week 9-12 (Before Xmas): Critical Decision Point
For Knowledge Gaps (Weak Foundation):
For Study Skills Deficit:
For Mental Health Issues:
For Time Management/Working Too Much:
For Wrong Subject Choice:
Many students stay in failing situations because "I've already invested 6 months." This is sunk cost fallacy.
Consider withdrawal if:
Better outcome: Withdraw in Week 10 with 0 years of funding used, regroup, apply to suitable course next year → graduate successfully. Versus: Force completion, fail, use +1 year, struggle for 3 more years, graduate with poor classification or not at all.
Student Finance England provides one extra year beyond your course length for difficulties like academic failure, illness, or course changes. This safety net allows one repeat year with full funding, but once used, there's no second chance. If you repeat and fail again, or fail multiple different years, funding stops before degree completion—leaving you with debt and no qualification. Prevention is better than cure: recognize struggling early (Week 3-5, not exam results in May), access support services immediately, and be willing to withdraw before census date if fundamentally wrong course/circumstances. When failure happens, diagnose root cause honestly before committing to repeat—if the issue isn't resolved (wrong subject, ability ceiling, persistent crisis), repeating adds £21k debt with high risk of second failure. Sometimes alternatives deliver better outcomes: course switching, module resits only, degree apprenticeships, or professional qualifications that bypass traditional degrees entirely.
Don't gamble your final funded year on repeating the same course that already failed you once—explore all alternatives first.
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.