Not entitled to...

bestpud

currynchips wrote: »

Bestpud, I am also paying the fees students are paying nowadays....and also I understand that there needs to be a cap, but the difference here is I'm not even getting a grant to begin with.

No, you're not getting a grant but you have already benefited from the student loan! It is a heavily subsidised loan, and with the newer ones at least (I'm unsure about older ones), you only pay it back if you start working. Therefore, there has to be something preventing people applying for loan after loan to cover tuition fees, and never actually getting a job and paying it back.

You said 'current students' can apply for big grants, and I was pointing out how current students pay a lot more in fees than older students did. Thus the grant is not the windfall it seems at first glance.

You are not getting a grant because you have already had funding! That is your choice iyswim? If you were a first time student then you'd get a grant, if you qualified.

currynchips

bestpud, the loan I got previously is under the same rules as the current one, pay it back at 9% at over £15k etc. I agree there has to be a cap to stop people just getting them over and over, but this is the one part of the funding that I am still eligible for!

Your other point about paying more in fees than older students - I'm paying those exact same fees. It's not about what I 'did' pay, it's about now. The major difference that you ignore is that I'm never eligible for a grant, however I still pay the higher fees.
Students now can get up to £7/8k in various funding to pay £3k fees, whereas previously I got £2.5k for £1k of fees.
You are explaining your case well but it doesn't explain how it's fair.

dmg - I don't know right now. Bursaries are handed out for all sorts, my brother got £500 on a Sports Management degree last year so might as well try.

currynchips

ps iyswim???

Oldernotwiser

currynchips wrote: »

Students now can get up to £7/8k in various funding to pay £3k fees, whereas previously I got £2.5k for £1k of fees.
.

.

I can see (I think) with your first example that nowadays someone borrows £3,000 for their fees and £4,000 maintenance. I can also understand that when you went before, fees were £1,000 with no fee loan. I don't see where the figure of £2.5K comes into it. I think that you're muddling up the fee loan with the maintenance loan and I assume that you're ineligible for the maintenance grant because of your parents' income.

iswim - if you see what I mean

bestpud

currynchips wrote: »

bestpud, the loan I got previously is under the same rules as the current one, pay it back at 9% at over £15k etc. I agree there has to be a cap to stop people just getting them over and over, but this is the one part of the funding that I am still eligible for!

You are eligible for the maintenance loan not the fees loan. Therefore, you can study again if you like but you have to pay your own fees. Plus it is changing soon so that second time students pay the real cost of their education, which is much higher than £3k!

Your other point about paying more in fees than older students - I'm paying those exact same fees. It's not about what I 'did' pay, it's about now. The major difference that you ignore is that I'm never eligible for a grant, however I still pay the higher fees.
Students now can get up to £7/8k in various funding to pay £3k fees, whereas previously I got £2.5k for £1k of fees.
You are explaining your case well but it doesn't explain how it's fair.

I did not say you were eligible for the grant. I said you'd be eligible IF you qualified for it - ie you could apply for it and be assessed as everyone else is, IF you were a first time student.

On the older system, less well off students got a HE grant of £1k and their tuition fees paid for them. Plus there were extra grants for people with dependents or disabilities.

If you did not get this, it was because your parents earn too much. There has to be a cut off for funding and it is 'fair' that those from lower income families get it over those from wealthier families.

dmg - I don't know right now. Bursaries are handed out for all sorts, my brother got £500 on a Sports Management degree last year so might as well try.

HE courses are heavily subsidised and the loans for them are too. I am on no way saying I agree with fees as I do not, but you are not repaying the true cost of the education you have received thus far. And you will not be repaying the true cost of this course either. That is why it is not a free for all and why you are being asked to fund your first year!

I am not sure why you made the point about current students getting grants as it seems irrelevant if you wouldn't get them anyway?

You have switched courses and that was your choice. There is no point getting sour grapes over the funding available to first time students who are different to you in terms of funding eligibility anyway!

currynchips

I apologise for the time-wasting I've caused. I am actually getting the maintenance loan, and no tuition fee loan.
older - the £2.5k was the standard loan when nothing else was available. Half of which went on fees.
There are various points that could still be discussed, the fact that this is a follow up course, a top up of some respects, and that the grant is/has always been unavailable to be - regardless of parents income.

However, thanks for your time and I'll crack on.

bestpud

currynchips wrote: »

I apologise for the time-wasting I've caused. I am actually getting the maintenance loan, and no tuition fee loan.
older - the £2.5k was the standard loan when nothing else was available. Half of which went on fees.
There are various points that could still be discussed, the fact that this is a follow up course, a top up of some respects, and that the grant is/has always been unavailable to be - regardless of parents income.

However, thanks for your time and I'll crack on.

You should have been eligible to apply for the grant on your first course, and the final year of this one.

If you have been denied this then you need to take it up with your LEA, or post more details on here and see if ayone can offer an explanation and/or advice.

Glad you are getting the maintenance loan after all. :beer:

Oldernotwiser

I've just been rereading this thread (get a life, I hear you cry!) and I wonder whether the OP thinks that he should be eligible to be assessed for the maintenance grant independently of his parents. If that is the case, then he should remember that years in education don't count towards the "living independently for 3 years" rule for independent assessment.

currynchips

older - thanks for reading and helping, it's not sad at all!!
I do think I should be assessed independent of parents for whatever funding, and yes I have more than 3 years independence. I have actually already taken proof of work(P45's and P60's) into the council and am awaiting the LEA's response to this.

Oldernotwiser

currynchips wrote: »

older - thanks for reading and helping, it's not sad at all!!
I do think I should be assessed independent of parents for whatever funding, and yes I have more than 3 years independence. I have actually already taken proof of work(P45's and P60's) into the council and am awaiting the LEA's response to this.

If you were working or claiming benefits for 3 years, and weren't a student for any part of this time, then I don't see why you wouldn't be eligible for the maintenance grant.