Master's Degree Help

My name is Ellis O'Callaghan, I'm a Masters Degree student at Liverpool John Moores University and I hate that I'm having to make this page.

Here, you see the letter I recently received from my university.

A few months ago, when the COVID-19 situation led to the UK lockdown, I was furloughed by 2 jobs. Both were paying me 80% of my wages. Problem was, they were both zero hour jobs, so my pay wasn't great from month to month. 

I started to rack up some debt just from existing, both my overdraft and my credit card were feeling the weight of bills and food heavily. By the time my final Masters Degree payment came in, it just about covered the debt. 

The majority of university students are undergraduates so, they don't see their course money. It's only a worry until you earn over £21,000 a year, then you pay small amounts back. But for my postgraduate degree, the course fees come directly out of the loan you get paid into your bank. This means it's money intended to be spent on whatever is needed. Course fees, rent, food, supplies etc. It wasn't enough to cover it all so I needed to make up the slack myself through my 2 jobs. 

I contacted LJMU many times, asking to speak to someone who could give me some form of guidance as to how I could best go about dealing with the situation. I had essentially lost a decent amount of income across 2 jobs and had no idea of the future I would have at either. One was a small business and the other a theater (which to this day still hasn't opened and doesn't know when it will).

The university however, didn't seem to budge. I went through every level of their complaints process and was told that they would allow me to finish the course without "sanctions" placed against me but I wouldn't be allowed to graduate or get my course certificate until the debt was paid. 



I pushed back as hard as I could. My course is all about working with Immersive Technology. I had access to some limited things at home but when I was relying on using both university resources, rooms and access to lecturers in person to help with my tech project, I didn't feel that missing out on that for 5 months warranted that amount of money. 


 I tried to contact different people at the university, different lecturers and even MPs. I signed petitions and posted about it publicly. Nothing seemed to happen. I eventually accepted the fate of finishing a course and one day paying off debt to get my qualification. Most likely years after actually finishing the course.  

Then I get a letter telling me that I need to pay the money. As you can see, they cut off my account access and threatened to kick me off the course. This was days before my entire final postgraduate project was due. The project I have spent months trying to make after having all my planning thrown out of the window. I called the my university and was again told that they had no answers for me and no help. They are now going to start chasing the money owed and I'm scared as to where that puts me.

I understand money is tight for all, but believe me when I say I have always worked hard for what I have so I value every penny. I am grateful for everyone who reads this

I'm still actively looking for work. I specialize in both Audio and Immersive Technology. If anybody could help me find work, I'd be extremely appreciative.

Thank you.