No such thing as a second chance?

Magpie10

I'm working as a full-time graphic designer and have been accepted as a mature student onto a 2-year Design for Graphic Communication Foundation Degree at the London College of Communication.

Because I did 2 years previously of another degree course (which I didn't graduate from) and received funding, I won't get a tuition fee loan for the first year - apparently everyone is entitled to a total of 3 years' help, but why I only get help in the last year is a mystery.

Can anyone suggest any loans or other hidden pots of cash which may be available to help me cover my 3,145 tuition fees? I've looked into Career Development Loans, which aren't applicable as I'm receiving £4800 Student Loan (for maintenance), and bank Professional Development Loans which seem to only be given to students of certain subjects (usually banking...).

I'm 24 and a long-time Wandsworth resident, in case this is applicable.

Thank you!

XEO25

i did 2 years of computer science, then decided it wasn't for me. i then started advertising and marketing and was told students can apply for finance for 4 years.

i think its becuase your doing a foundation degree

lilysgarden

My boyfriend started uni years ago at 18 and then dropped out in the 2nd year. He was told this time round that he isn't entitled to student fee loans because he's already attended uni.
Pretty much eveyone I know who was refused the fee loan, was told the same thing and have been to uni. Seems if you tried once, regardless of how you did, then it's a case of tough luck.

If you talk to the uni, they can and will come to some arrangement with you to pay the fee's over a more managable amount of time instead of three lump sums each year.

Ytaya

Talk to the student services department at the uni - they might go under various names. The student union might also have an advice centre. They'll be able to make suggestions for you. See also about getting your fees split into installments. If the worst comes to the worst, you can earn that much in a part-time job!

Lokolo

Foundation degrees do not get student funding.

Oldernotwiser

Lokolo wrote: »

Foundation degrees do not get student funding.

What rubbish!! Foundation degrees, whether full time or part time come under exactly the same funding regime as academic degrees.

Lokolo

No they don't.

My OH is doing Art Foundation in London and she cannot get student loan.

[edit]

says on the direct.gov website you can:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/FinanceForNewStudents/DG_070193

But I know when my OH filled in the form she said she wasn't allowed to :-/

---

But yeh you have the maintenance loan (ha which I onlu just read).

Will you use ALL of that? Some of it surely could be saved and used which would take the final amount down.

Oldernotwiser

Lokolo wrote: »

No they don't.

My OH is doing Art Foundation in London and she cannot get student loan.

[edit]

says on the direct.gov website you can:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/FinanceForNewStudents/DG_070193

But I know when my OH filled in the form she said she wasn't allowed to :-/

---

But yeh you have the maintenance loan (ha which I onlu just read).

Will you use ALL of that? Some of it surely could be saved and used which would take the final amount down.

A Foundation Degree and a Foundation Art course are totally separate things! Your daughter's course will lead to her going into HE, but it's actually an FE course, which is why funding is different. A Foundation Degree is definitely Higher Education - the clue's in the word "degree"!

Lokolo

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

A Foundation Degree and a Foundation Art course are totally separate things! Your daughter's course will lead to her going into HE, but it's actually an FE course, which is why funding is different. A Foundation Degree is definitely Higher Education - the clue's in the word "degree"!

:-O shes my b*tch not my daughter, mwahahahaha.

Yeh I thought her title thing was Art Foundation Degree :-D but its not. I just went on the college website and it explains it mwahaha.

Thanks!

Oldernotwiser

Lokolo wrote: »

:-O shes my b*tch not my daughter, mwahahahaha.

Yeh I thought her title thing was Art Foundation Degree :-D but its not. I just went on the college website and it explains it mwahaha.

Thanks!

Oops - I must learn to read more carefully!

Magpie10

Thanks to everyone who posted - some useful advice and some heated debate (or at least lukewarm, I'm not trying to overdramatise!)

I did a Foundation BTEC Diploma in Art & Design as a means of getting onto my first BA degree, which is an additional compulsory year of study for prospective artists - Lokolo you're right, you don't get help with living costs although my LA paid my tuition fees back in 2002.

Oldernotwiser hit the nail on the head though - a Foundation Degree is a completely different animal from a FE Diploma. It's a new course tailored to meet the needs of the industry, and is only 2 years so as to minimise disruption to your career; many unis offer FDs in subjects from Art to Construction to Bioscience- there's more info at http://www.findfoundationdegree.co.uk/

Getting back to money - Lokolo, I'll definitely do as you suggest and save the loan I get, although I'm sure this will go pretty quickly! I guess I was looking for a bursary that could help.

Lilysgarden, good to know what your bf's been through though it's yet another testament to the miserly nature of our government - where's all our money going if it's not to subsidise student loans and tuition fees, for all students??