Students at universities in the Black Country and Staffordshire have been forced to take emergency payments after their student loans failed to arrive for the start of term, it emerged today.

Wolverhampton University has had to provide funds totalling £15,000 to 60 students since the start the new academic year earlier this month. Meanwhile, Staffordshire University has handed emergency funding to 22 students.

Students today criticised the process of applying for loans, describing it as “a nightmare”.

Loans are administered by Student Finance England and paid by the Student Loans Company, which provides loans and grants to more than one million students in the UK every year.

The organisation also collects repayments from three million people who are no longer in education.

Wolverhampton University war studies and politics student Charlotte Hale, aged 21, from Shareshill, said she knew of numerous students who had had problems with loans.

“The issue is you can only get in touch with Student Finance England on the phone,” said Miss Hale.

“They need to be more accessible. Better support needs to be in place.”

Miss Hale said her 19-year-old sister, Natasha, who is a modern world history student at Central Lancashire University, had had loan issues. “Hers wasn’t paid on time which meant she couldn’t pay the rent.”

Miss Hale said the process of applying for a loan could take longer if students had a disability or if they had children, because of extra forms.

Wolverhampton University spokeswoman Emma Pugh said the institution had processes in place to ensure students could receive support when facing financial difficulties.

Breea Keenan, from Student Finance England, said: “The majority of students from England have been paid or are due to receive payment.”

By Shaun Jepson