Monday 23-02-2026 - 16:06

The Department of Education (UK Government) have clarified that students living in England and studying only on weekends cannot receive student loans.   

The University has recently sent out important communications about this to your student emails - make sure you read it. They are offering current weekend-only students additional study hours in the week to allow them to continue to access maintenance loans. If you have any questions, contact weekend@uwtsd.ac.uk.

This is a national issue, we will be working with the National Union of Students on a response on how the Government needs to reconsider their position – it doesn’t matter the days you study, you’re still a student and shouldn’t be treated any differently. 

Facts

• The Department of Education (UK Government) has provided clarity to the University: if living in England, any students studying during the weekend only are not entitled to maintenance loans (find out more on Wonkhe) 
• This clarification was sent to the University in the last fortnight (with other Universities being contacted in December 2025) 
• To give as many students as possible the opportunity to continue to access maintenance loans, students are able to attend 2 hours of additional contact time during the week 
• These additional 2 hours of contact time will not be credit-bearing and will not introduce any new content on which students will be assessed. Instead, the content will be additional study skills and support students to progress. 
• The further 2 hours of contact time will be taught after 5pm, and students will be given several options to choose from (if no option is appropriate, please email weekend@uwtsd.ac.uk)  
• UWTSD has invested time and energy in providing support for students including additional bursaries and contact hours
• Incoming students (due to start in February) have been contacted to ensure they know about the requirements 

Our thoughts and feelings 

Hey Everybody, it’s Gwyneira and as your Birmingham and London campus president I am here to listen and hear you!  

After the news regarding our weekend students and clarifications made by the student loans company, I wanted to say I understand your frustrations and will continue to use my role to relay your feedback to people like the Deans , and the Vice Chancellor of UWTSD . Opening this conversation can lead to a very impactful change. The SU is here to listen your feedback and support you.  

There is Power in Our Voice ! / Push for Change !  

What we understand about the student experience of weekend students 

• Some students have told us that the communication was not clear enough from the University. We have asked the University to consider preparing different communication. 
• Students are telling us that childcare commitments and work mean they are not able to attend these classes 
• Weekend students are able access to the same services from the University as students who study during the week 

What students need to do 

• Check your inbox for any messages from the University on the impacts on your studies 
• Review the available information on what / when they could attend 
• If you are able to attend during the week, make sure to check out the University’s bursary funds to see if you are eligible for financial support with transport – please see here for the bursary application: Additional Course Costs Bursary Form  - Initial Application Form (Page 1 of 8).  
• If you are not able to attend during the week, please email weekend@uwtsd.ac.uk as they may be able to support in providing further or alternative options 
• Tell us how you’re feeling and how this change impacts you by filling out this simple form. We are here to empower you, work with us on what else we can do to help you by sharing your feedback once our form is live. We will want to hear about how this will impact you financially as well as your student experience. 
• Once you’ve been in touch with the University’s weekend team, please take a look at our advice webpages and see if you would like to speak to one our advisors about the situation 

Our next steps 

We will be working with NUS on a national response on how the Government needs to reconsider their position – it doesn’t matter the days you study, you’re still a student and shouldn’t be treated any differently 

• Proactively taking student feedback to the University 
• Building a campaign for and with students 
• Our Advice Service is developing resources to help you navigate the current situation 

This is a national issue that needs to be addressed. Help us to fight for the rights of students alongside organisations like NUS. We are disheartened that students part-way through their degrees who are working hard on the weekend in their classes are being punished. Be a part of our movement in confronting this injustice.