BOURNEMOUTH students are among those still waiting for grants and loans more than a month after starting university.

Nearly 150,000 young people across the country are still waiting for their cash despite repeated requests to the Student Loans Company.

Now student leaders are demanding the resignation of chief executive Ralph Seymour-Jackson.

“Many students have endured a miserable start to the term” said Wes Streeting of the National Union of Students. “It is time for Ralph Seymour-Jackson to take full responsibility for this shambles and resign immediately.”

At Bournemouth University, some students have been threatened with eviction if they do not pay their rent to private landlords.

“I know one person who has had to borrow more than £1,600 from his dad to pay rent” said Students Union president James Ricci.

“If he had not been able to borrow money he would have had to leave the property and probably give up his course.”

James said the SU is doing its best to help students with food vouchers and small amounts of cash but added: “We are not in a position to pay rent for students. This has been very badly handled by the SLC.”

The SLC has blamed the rise in university applications this year. It has approved 844,000 applications but so far only 698,000 people have received their first payments.