Students still waiting for loans

By Debbie Randle Newsbeat reporter

Tens of thousands of students in England are still waiting for their student loans more than a month after the beginning of term.

Around 70,000 are still thought to be without their loans and grants leaving them struggling to pay for their accommodation and tuition fees.

The Student Loans Company has blamed the delay on record student numbers and late applications.

It says it has now paid all of those who got their applications in by 31 August, but the BBC's been contacted by several people who say that is not the case.

Two thousand students live in Broadgate Park just near Nottingham University's main campus where there's a bar, a café and a shop.

Each of the halls are named after some kind of foliage such as Redwoods, Alpines, Lillies and Magnolias.

Zoe Ablett, 19, moved into Spruces about six weeks ago as a fresher but is already depressed by her financial situation.

She said: "They've not been the best years of my life by a long shot because of all the worry that it's been causing.

"I've had to start going to the counselling sessions at the uni because it's just got on top of me."

As Zoe looks around her new room, complete with en-suite and kitchenette, you can tell she's not as excited as most freshers who are away from home for the first time.

She already owes money for her accommodation and has been given extra time to pay it while she waits for her student loan to come through.

Credit cards

Zoe first applied in April but due to various delays and lost forms, she's been told she won't get her money until the end of December.

All her pots and pans have been bought on a credit card, something she got for emergencies but is already maxed-out.

Zoe Ablett is struggling to meet fellow students due to her lack of cash

"I haven't got any other money coming in because I'm from what they call a low income household, so I have to use my loans to live off."

Zoe's also struggling to buy food and says she's living on a diet of pasta, jacket potatoes and baked beans as they're all she can afford.

But what's worrying her more than anything is not being able to go out and meet people.

"It's caused quite a lot of problems with settling in and stuff because I couldn't afford to go out Freshers Week and socialise with everyone," she said.

"I've had to go out of my way to do other things to settle in with people. When everyone else is, say ordering a pizza, I'll have to say, 'No, sorry, I can't this week.'

"It's all very much based around going out. If you do go out with them and everybody is able to buy a couple of drinks and stuff and you're at the bar ordering tap water, you start to look like a bit of a bore and the barmen tend to get a bit fed up of you."

The Student Loans Company say that her payment has now been processed.