Testimonial #34

I am very disappointed to hear that student support is going to be turned into a faceless centralized service. Talking about ones problems requires privacy and understanding. An adviser needs to have a personal understanding of a situation within the right context for the best solutions to be found. Our school advisor does just this and is a great asset to the university. If this were to change I believe that the university would lose both some very good students and the good reputation that it has held until now regarding the quality of the services provided.

Here is my testimonial. I have always been a high-achiever both in my studies and work. Throughout my life, I have always been top of my class. Sometimes however things can happen that are completely beyond ones control. In my case this was finances. I had begun my studies with the understanding that my student loan was secured. Due to various administration inadequacies on the part of the Student Loans Company I found out half way through the second term that in fact my loan would not be approved. The accounts office was not presenting me with any options. All I was getting was the standard threatening letters that if I did not pay my fees within the next few weeks all services would be withdrawn. I did not have the funds to pay for the tuition fees myself and there was no time to try and make any alternative arrangements. This left me in an impossible situation. I thought that my only option was to leave (and I would be leaving with a debt for the term that I had already completed). This prospect was devastating to me. I had been planning and saving for 3 years to get here. I had left my job to get here and now due to something that could not have been foreseen I would be leaving having achieved nothing.

My student advisor helped me through this hard period. She did not just present me the various options. She helped to explore and exhaust all possible options for finding a way to stay. During this difficult period she was the only friendly face the university could provide me with. Because of her I am still here, I am back on track and the university continues to receive my payments.

After this experience I have been recommending Sussex University to all my friends and family. Where I come from word of mouth is the most successful form of marketing. I really do hope this doesn’t change.