Students at Oxford Brookes University are suffering financial hardship after they were forced to extend their studies.

Former teacher Robert Hill, 52, who is studying to become an osteopath, was hoping to use qualifications gained from the course to do remedial massage work to help fund his studies.

But, as the Oxford Mail reported last month, the university has been forced to extend the length of the course after it failed to gain professional recognition from the General Osteopathic Council.

Students have not been issued with certificates allowing them to work as masseurs in the meantime.

Mr Hill is one of about 50 osteopathy students seeking compensation.

He started the course in January 2000 with the aim of graduating as a qualified osteopath in December 2003. It has since been extended by six months to July 2004.

Mr Hill, who is married with children, said: "I took out a career development loan which I was supposed to start repaying from January 2004, but I will still be studying until July. Some students are now in their sixth year of what was supposed to be a four-year course.

"Most of us are mature students and this has had a terrible effect on those of us with families and mortgages."

Mr Hill has criticised managers of the course and says the university did not act promptly enough to improve the situation.

He was threatened with legal action after he refused to pay course fees, and he could be sued, pending the result of a complaints hearing held in July.

The university is hoping to gain accreditation from the General Osteopathic Council following a visit by inspectors in April.

A Brookes spokesman said students suffering hardship would be offered some financial assistance.