How much to get a passing mark?

Will I still get paid a student loan if I retake my second year?

• Hi everyone, I need a bit of advice concerning my 2nd year at University. I'm doing photography and my first year was fine, I passed all my modules and attended regularly. However this year has been a bit of a rollercoaster, from my being ill for two straight months at the beginning of the year to my not really attending all that much at the beginning of this year due to family problems and further illness. Basically I just got my result from one of my modules which I failed by a measly 5 points shy of the 40% pass mark (35%) which of course has annoyed me to no end since I worked really hard on my project despite my continual illness. I've been given a referral and I know that I just have to make up those 5 points to pass but... it almost seems like I shouldn't even bother because I would much rather retake the entire second year and work really hard in getting much better grades and attendance won't be a problem since I've managed to sort myself out with my illness. But problem is that I don't know how well I did on my other two projects, so I may have either passed or failed with those and I am currently working on another 3 to be handed in by the end of March and one in mid may. I do want to work really hard on those projects even if I do retake the second year because then it'll show the University that I am capable and should be given another chance. So my question is, if I fail more modules or fail my referral and get to retake my second year, would I get financial support in order to do so? At the moment I'm getting the full loan due to the fact that my mother is disabled and unable to work (and living off of just benefits) and I'm also getting grants and bursaries. Would I still get this financial help if I retook my second year? Because if I don't then I really am going to have to try and pull off a miracle by passing these next three modules with more than just the 40% pass mark. I guess the point is is that I really do want to retake my second year but I need the financial support I'm getting otherwise there's no way I'll be able to afford the room that I'm renting let alone books or things I'll need for the course. Either way I'm going to work hard on my next projects, but really my question is, should I retake my second year and would I get the same financial help from the student loans company? And if I do pass my referral for my failed project can I still retake the second year if I'm not happy with my results?

• Answer:

  Yes. You will get excactly the same allowances, assuming your family income and circumstances remain the same. Re taking a year will not affect this, so you dont need to worry about the money side of things! Good luck with the rest of this year, fingers crossed you dont have to retake it, but you will still get the same money if you do. X P.S- Just thought, what I have said about grants and loans from student loan company you will definatley get. Bursary I'm 90% sure you will, but youll have to check with your uni due to terms and conditions. However as you have been actually ill, and not just lazy and messing around, I would like to think that you will get it! But go and see your student services to put your mind at rest