GBS Students - Your Specific Situation with Oxford Brookes
GBS Students — Your Specific Situation
If you study at GBS (Global Banking School), your lead provider is Oxford Brookes University. That means Oxford Brookes registered your course with SLC. They bear regulatory responsibility.
Here is what is happening specifically for GBS students.
Oxford Brookes Has Published Guidance
Oxford Brookes has a dedicated page for GBS students. Check it for the latest updates. This is your lead provider's official communication channel.
Any formal complaint or appeal about your course classification goes to Oxford Brookes. Not to GBS.
GBS Is Offering Hardship Loans
GBS has launched a "weekend hardship fund." GBS Executive Director Aaron Lowman calls it support for students "significantly financially disadvantaged" by the decision.
To apply: email wellbeing@globalbanking.ac.uk with subject line "Weekend Hardship Fund." An application form is attached to the email GBS sent students.
The key terms from the application form: loans are interest free. GBS will not seek repayment until you start receiving SFE payments again. Standard award is £50 per week for campus attendance costs. Four weeks are paid in a single payment (£200). Other costs can be applied for with evidence. Decisions are communicated within 2 working days.
GBS has also added extra stock to food banks on each campus. Your campus Wellbeing team can help with local resources.
This is still a loan, not a grant. But the terms are better than typical hardship loans. No interest. No repayment until SFE resumes.
Who Is Responsible
Oxford Brookes is the lead provider. They submitted your course data to SLC. They classified it as in-attendance. Wonkhe confirms that lead providers bear legal responsibility for classification data.
GBS is the delivery partner. They taught your classes. But the regulatory responsibility sits with Oxford Brookes.
Your complaint about the misclassification goes to Oxford Brookes. Your request for compensation goes to Oxford Brookes. GBS can offer operational support. But the legal obligation is on the lead provider.
What You Should Do
Check Oxford Brookes' GBS guidance page for updates.
Apply to GBS hardship fund if you are in immediate financial need. But read the terms carefully. It is a loan.
Write to Oxford Brookes using the template in our letter to university article. Ask about hardship support, compensation, and what they are doing to protect affected students.
File an appeal with SLC. Our SLC appeal guide has the full process.
Free advice from NASMA and Citizens Advice.
Don't Miss Critical Updates
This situation is changing daily. Ministerial decisions, legal challenges, parliamentary questions. When something changes, you need to know immediately.
We will contact you directly when new information becomes available. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.
Sources: Oxford Brookes — GBS student guidance · Wonkhe — full analysis · NASMA · Citizens Advice