Please help me graduate !!

Hi all, my name is Mutsa (pictured on the left) and I have recently finished my degree at the University of Brighton.

I went back to uni (UoB) in 2016 to finish this degree, after having a break in 2014 due to poor mental health. I applied for funding through Student Finance England (SFE) as  normal and was able to finish my course. Finally I was getting back on track! My graduation ceremony is in February 2020.

A few months ago I received the horrific news from SFE that they had miscalculated my funding, leaving me with an outstanding debt of £3647 to pay by the time graduation comes around in February 2020. I have managed to reduce this amount to £2000 so far, but it has been a crippling few months to get to this point.

After asking for more time to clear the debt, the university’s finance department has since been harassing me, threatening to send my case to debt collectors and to remove my name from the graduation ceremony in February. There has been no acknowledgement of SFE’s inadequacies or even financial support from the university, which has left me with just a month to clear this debt.

I may be fighting a losing battle with such a huge sum of money and not much time, but if there is any amount that anyone can give wholeheartedly, that would be an amazing achievement.

All I want is the chance to wear my own cap and gown and to be able to bring this chapter of my life to a close - something that I have worked so hard for.

Thank you all