Student contribution charge

Just thinking there I've been struggling and fighting susi to get my grant since September and iv been in college studying and passing exams the whole way through barely scraping by thanks to loans from family and friends. I'm still waiting on appeals and the college have told me if I don't get the grant I will still have to pay college fees ie student contribution charges. I was expecting to get the grant so never thought of any of this and without it I cannot pay the fees. Just wondering if any body knows how long into the course until you can drop out without paying the fees? Surely there's some exemptions especially since the arrival of the susi grant system as it is painfully slow and a nightmare to deal with!