Finding out you’ve run out of funding can feel like hitting a paywall mid-degree. You did the work, you turned up, then life happened, and now Student Finance England is telling you there’s no money left.
That’s where student finance compelling personal reasons (often shortened to CPR) can help. If serious circumstances outside your control affected your study, you may be able to get funding for an extra year, even if you’ve studied before.
This guide explains what CPR is, how to ask for it, what evidence tends to be accepted, and a statement template you can copy and customise.
Key Takeaways
- CPR is a way to ask SFE to restore a year of funding if you couldn’t complete a year due to serious personal circumstances.
- You normally apply for funding as usual first, then submit a CPR letter and evidence for review.
- Good evidence is specific, dated, and shows both the issue and the impact on study.
- A clear timeline matters more than emotional wording.
- If you’re uploading documents, use a simple process and clean files (this Student Finance evidence upload checklist helps).
Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways
- What CPR Means In Student Finance England (And When It Can Add A Year)
- How To Ask SFE For An Extra Year Using CPR (Without Making It Messy)
- Evidence That Actually Works For CPR (And What Often Gets Rejected)
- Copy-Paste Statement Template For A CPR Request
- Frequently Asked Questions About Student Finance England CPR
What CPR Means In Student Finance England (And When It Can Add A Year)
Student Finance England funding usually works on a basic entitlement rule. In plain terms, you’re typically funded for the length of your course, plus one extra “gift year”, minus any years of previous study.
If you’ve repeated a year, suspended, withdrawn, or switched courses, that previous study can reduce what you’ve got left. CPR is the part that can put a year back, if a specific academic year was affected by serious circumstances.
CPR is usually used when something like illness, mental health problems, bereavement, family crisis, caring responsibilities, or pregnancy meant you could not reasonably continue studying. It’s not about a course being hard, a poor timetable, or falling behind without a serious cause.
SFE looks at CPR case-by-case. The key question is simple: did something outside your control happen, and did it stop you completing that year?
If you want the official wording and general rules on repeating or returning to study, read the GOV.UK guidance on going back to uni or repeating a year{:rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”}. It’s not written around your personal story, but it sets the framework SFE uses.
One more thing worth knowing in January 2026: the CPR approach is still in place, and there’s no headline rule change. The bigger funding reform is the Lifelong Loan Entitlement, which is being introduced from 2026 and 2027, and is set out in the Lifelong Loan Entitlement consultation response PDF{:rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”}.
How To Ask SFE For An Extra Year Using CPR (Without Making It Messy)
Think of your CPR request like submitting coursework. If it’s easy to follow, it’s easier to assess. If it’s a bundle of screenshots, half-dates, and unclear statements, it slows everything down.
Start by applying for student finance for the year you need, even if you think you’re out of entitlement. CPR is usually considered alongside a current application, not instead of one.
Then prepare two things: a CPR covering statement (your words), and evidence (independent proof). Upload them via your online account where SFE requests evidence, or send them by post if you’ve been told to.
A simple process that works for many students:
- Write a timeline first: academic year affected, what happened, key dates, when study was disrupted (missed exams, placement ended, interruption).
- State what you’re asking for: that SFE apply Compelling Personal Reasons to the affected year and award an additional year of funding.
- Attach evidence that matches your dates: a GP letter dated months after the problem began can still help, but it’s stronger if it confirms the earlier period too.
- Keep it one story: if there were three separate issues, explain them clearly, but don’t scatter the timeline.
- Upload clean files: readable scans, full pages, correct orientation. If you keep getting rejections, this Student Finance evidence upload checklist can save a lot of back-and-forth.
If your funding issue is linked to income assessment rather than entitlement, that’s a different path. This guide on Student Finance household income checks can help you separate “not enough entitlement” from “assessed on the wrong income”.
Evidence That Actually Works For CPR (And What Often Gets Rejected)
For CPR, SFE isn’t looking for the most dramatic story. They’re looking for proof that a serious situation happened, when it happened, and how it affected your ability to study.
The best evidence usually has three features: dates, details, and authority (someone independent confirming it).
Here’s a quick reference table for common CPR evidence types:
| Situation | Evidence That Tends To Work | What Often Fails |
|---|---|---|
| Physical illness or injury | GP letter, hospital letters, fit notes, specialist letter | Undated screenshots, vague “was unwell” notes |
| Mental health difficulties | GP or mental health professional letter, counselling service letter (dated), wellbeing team letter | A personal statement without any support |
| Bereavement | Death certificate, funeral order of service, GP letter noting impact | Social media posts, informal messages |
| Caring responsibilities | Carer’s assessment, GP letter for the person cared for, social worker letter | General family statements with no dates |
| Serious family crisis | Professional letters (support services, GP, counsellor), police incident numbers where relevant | Long explanations with no third-party proof |
You don’t need to over-share. A short professional letter that says, “I saw this student during X to Y, they experienced Z symptoms, this would have impacted attendance and study,” can be enough.
If you’re unsure how SFE expects evidence to be presented, the Student Loans Company publishes evidence guidance documents, such as the evidence fact sheet for tuition fee only students and sponsors{:rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”}. It’s not CPR-specific, but it helps you stick to the sort of paperwork standards they expect.
Copy-Paste Statement Template For A CPR Request
Copy this, then edit it so it’s true to your situation. The aim is clarity, not perfect wording.
Subject: Request For Additional Funding Due To Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR)
Dear Student Finance England,
My name is [Full Name], Customer Reference Number [CRN], Date of Birth [DD/MM/YYYY].
I’m writing to request that you apply Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR) to my student finance entitlement and award an additional year of funding.
Course and university: [Course Title], [University], [Full-time/Part-time]
Academic year affected: [e.g., 2024/25]
What happened (CPR): In [month/year], I experienced [brief description, e.g., severe illness/mental health difficulties/bereavement/caring responsibilities].
Dates and impact on study: From [date] to [date], this affected my studies by [missed attendance/failed assessments/needed to suspend/withdrew/repeated year]. I took [any steps taken, e.g., contacted university support, saw GP, applied for interruption].
Outcome: As a result, I was unable to complete that academic year as planned and [withdrew/suspended/repeated].
I’m asking that you disregard the affected year when assessing my remaining entitlement and provide funding for [the academic year you now need].
I’ve attached supporting evidence: [list documents in one line, e.g., GP letter dated DD/MM/YYYY, hospital discharge summary dated DD/MM/YYYY, counselling service letter dated DD/MM/YYYY].
Thank you for reviewing my request. I’m happy to provide any further information you need.
Yours faithfully,
[Full Name]
[Phone number]
[Email]
If you’re staring at this thinking, “I don’t even know where to start,” start with the timeline. Once the dates are in place, the rest is just explaining the impact in plain language. student finance compelling personal reasons decisions often come down to whether the evidence matches the year you want SFE to restore.
Frequently Asked Questions About Student Finance England CPR
Does CPR Give You An Extra Year Automatically?
No. CPR is considered case-by-case. You need to show that serious circumstances outside your control affected your study in a specific academic year.
Can I Use CPR For More Than One Year?
Sometimes, if more than one year was affected and you can evidence each year clearly. Write separate timelines within the same letter, and attach evidence that matches each period.
What If I Don’t Have A GP Letter From The Time?
Use what you can, but try to get something independent that confirms the period affected. A later letter can still help if it clearly references the earlier dates and impact.
Should I Upload Lots Of Extra Documents “Just In Case”?
Usually no. Extra, unrelated files can slow review. Send what supports your timeline and request, and keep it readable.
What If SFE Rejects My CPR Request?
Ask for the decision explanation, check whether the issue was missing evidence or unclear dates, then resubmit with stronger proof. Your university advice team can often help you tighten the timeline and wording.