Disadvantaged students 'at risk' from delayed loans

Students could find themselves with a bad credit rating as they attempt to support themselves through the early weeks of university without a loan, it has been suggested.

Disadvantaged students are expected to be the hardest hit by the recently announced delays to student loans by the Student Loans Company.

Charity The Brightside Trust has said that this kind of delay will have the greatest impact on those that cannot rely on their parents for financial support.

Chief executive officer at the charity Dr Tessa Stone explained that for many of those affected, university is "already a big leap of faith to take".

She added: "[They will] find themselves at this stage, more worried and more stressed by this logistical problem.

"That's our main concern that disadvantaged or non-traditional students [may] find themselves falling at the first hurdle because of an organisational problem from the Student Loans Company."

A spokesperson for the Student Loans Company apologised for the backlog in delivering student loans last week, claiming that the company is still receiving thousands of late applications everyday.