Student to appeal loan refusal

Student to appeal loan refusal

Mr Douglas was studying at North Tyneside College

A Tyneside man refused a mature student loan because he is too old, says he is to continue his "fight for justice".

Eric Douglas, of Wallsend, began studying counselling skills after injury ended his old job as a sales and marketing manager.

But when he applied for a £500 loan to help fund the next phase of his course at North Tyneside College, he was turned down because he is 55.

When he was refused the student loan on the advice of the awarding authority, North Tyneside Council, Mr Douglas claimed his human rights had been violated.

He went to the High Court, but a judge ruled against him.

He is now taking his case to the Court of Appeal after claiming he was made to feel "marginalised".

Mr Douglas says the ruling could affect all undergraduates over the age of 55 in England and Wales.

'I feel angry'

He said: "I have been unemployed for some time now, but I have discovered there are employment opportunities there and I want to put something back into the community.

"I feel very angry after putting four years of work into my course.

"I've been made to feel marginalised and I feel I have been discriminated against."

His solicitor Sarah Barratt said: "We do not think the decision given by the judge involved is fair.

"We are looking at taking this to the Court of Appeal. We were all very surprised at the judges decision."

Sign declaration

Department for Education and Skills rules state that, because Mr Douglas was over 55 "on the first day of the first academic year of the course", he was ineligible for the cash.

A department spokesman said: "The cut off age for student loans is 54.

"Indeed the age limit for mature students is between 50 and 54 and they have to sign a declaration, saying they intend to work after they finish their course.

"Students over the age of 54 are not eligible for a student loan."