Leave or Defer

Gemmzie

I'm 90% sure that I'm not going back to uni this year. I've completed my first year but it's been a struggle because of my health. I need a break and a re-think.I might well go back to the same course, but I'm not sure which is another reason not to start the second year being unsure.

I believe there's quite a big difference between leaving and deferring? I rely on 16 hours work, tax credits and DLA at the moment if that makes a difference.

Any advice would be appreciated.

bestpud

I deferred last semester and it made no difference tax credit wise - I assume that is what you are wondering about?

You won't get the council tax rebate but am I right in thinking you are the only adult in your house anyway? In which case it won't matter at all.

At my uni, students who defer are essentially not treated as students during that period. I had to be a guest member to use the library for instance (even though I had outstanding assessments to complete!) Luckily they didn't charge me (because I had mit circs) but it was only limited access!

That may not be a problem for you unless you wanted to get some work done before you go back?

Basically, it won't make a difference to your benefits and you can always change your course, or your mind, at a later stage, so it may be easier to defer rather than leave and have to enrol from scratch again?

Have you considered going part time. You will get most of your fees paid and it is a grant, not loan. You can't get a loan but you can access the hardship fund.

It wasn't an option (funding wise) when I started out but I would not do full time if I had my time again and I am going to finish my course part time.

Lokolo

There is that 10%.

Why not give it a few weeks into the new year before deciding?

Also, as poster above said, what about parttime?

Woodyrocks

bestpud wrote: »

I deferred last semester and it made no difference tax credit wise - I assume that is what you are wondering about?

You won't get the council tax rebate but am I right in thinking you are the only adult in your house anyway? In which case it won't matter at all.

At my uni, students who defer are essentially not treated as students during that period. I had to be a guest member to use the library for instance (even though I had outstanding assessments to complete!) Luckily they didn't charge me (because I had mit circs) but it was only limited access!

That may not be a problem for you unless you wanted to get some work done before you go back?

Basically, it won't make a difference to your benefits and you can always change your course, or your mind, at a later stage, so it may be easier to defer rather than leave and have to enrol from scratch again?

Have you considered going part time. You will get most of your fees paid and it is a grant, not loan. You can't get a loan but you can access the hardship fund.

It wasn't an option (funding wise) when I started out but I would not do full time if I had my time again and I am going to finish my course part time.

Interesting point, do you end up with less student fees to pay back if you go p/t ? This could really help me make my decision as to what to do next year so would really love to know the ins and outs so to speak. As a single parent with a young child I just haven't got 3yrs full time hours to give so it would be great. And tbh the debt aspect really freaks me out because I am seriously averse to debt :rolleyes:

bestpud

Woodyrocks wrote: »

Interesting point, do you end up with less student fees to pay back if you go p/t ? This could really help me make my decision as to what to do next year so would really love to know the ins and outs so to speak. As a single parent with a young child I just haven't got 3yrs full time hours to give so it would be great. And tbh the debt aspect really freaks me out because I am seriously averse to debt :rolleyes:

If you earn less than around £20k then you can get grants of £1040 per year if you do 50% of a full time course.

At my uni, the fees would be around £1200 so you'd have to find the difference, BUT it is a grant and not a loan.

I don't know how it works out if you are on full benefits, ie not working, though. I'm not sure about things like HB.

I think, for people who are working and have a family, it is a much better way to get a degree, buy that is perhaps just me.

Your income needs to be enough to keep you though iyswim?

Woodyrocks

Gemmzie, apologies for the rudeness in hijacking your thread. I can actually offer some informed advice on this. I got a place on a Foundation degree back in the day (!) but was unable to take up the place because I was waiting for my residency situation to be resolved so I deferred for a year. This meant I could take up my place on the course at a later date without having to go through the whole application and interview process all over again. If you leave and decide to go back to Uni you will have to go through the whole UCAS madness again.

I also left an Access course early and this was classed as a deferral when I enventually went back and I was allowed to resume the course 2yrs later with the added bonus of knowing that I needed less credit than everyone else to achieve the qualification because the credits already gained are taken into consideration.

The most important thing is that if you defer you do not lose the credit from your first year.

bestpud

I've just thought, Gemmzie, I'm pretty sure you only need to do 25% of a full time course to get funding and to access the hardship find, as you get DLA.

Check this out though as I can't remember where I read it.

Gemmzie

Lokolo wrote: »

There is that 10%. Yes, that really depends on an outside factor which I have no influence over, it's a very teeny chance though.

Why not give it a few weeks into the new year before deciding? Because wouldn't it negatively affect future funding if I started my second year?

Also, as poster above said, what about parttime?

Part-time isn't going to be possible I think as the course is available part-time and it'd be confusing as I wouldn't be a full-time 2nd year or a part-time 2nd year, if that makes sense.

The issue with returning isn't the first semester. I can manage that probably if I could get another part-time job.

The issue is with the second semester really.

Gemmzie

bestpud wrote: »

I deferred last semester and it made no difference tax credit wise - I assume that is what you are wondering about? Yes one of the questions in my very confused head.

You won't get the council tax rebate but am I right in thinking you are the only adult in your house anyway? In which case it won't matter at all. I live with my parents so that doesn't affect me at all.

At my uni, students who defer are essentially not treated as students during that period. I had to be a guest member to use the library for instance (even though I had outstanding assessments to complete!) Luckily they didn't charge me (because I had mit circs) but it was only limited access! All my work from year one is finished so I haven't got anything to finish.

That may not be a problem for you unless you wanted to get some work done before you go back? ^^

Basically, it won't make a difference to your benefits and you can always change your course, or your mind, at a later stage, so it may be easier to defer rather than leave and have to enrol from scratch again? That's what I thought might be the case

Have you considered going part time. You will get most of your fees paid and it is a grant, not loan. You can't get a loan but you can access the hardship fund. See my reply above.

It wasn't an option (funding wise) when I started out but I would not do full time if I had my time again and I am going to finish my course part time.

Answered above

Thanks

Gemmzie

Woodyrocks wrote: »

Gemmzie, apologies for the rudeness in hijacking your thread. I can actually offer some informed advice on this. I got a place on a Foundation degree back in the day (!) but was unable to take up the place because I was waiting for my residency situation to be resolved so I deferred for a year. This meant I could take up my place on the course at a later date without having to go through the whole application and interview process all over again. If you leave and decide to go back to Uni you will have to go through the whole UCAS madness again.

I also left an Access course early and this was classed as a deferral when I enventually went back and I was allowed to resume the course 2yrs later with the added bonus of knowing that I needed less credit than everyone else to achieve the qualification because the credits already gained are taken into consideration.

The most important thing is that if you defer you do not lose the credit from your first year.

No worries Woodyrocks, I didn't apply for my current course through UCAS actually so I don't think that would be an issue, it's a very small uni.

How do I ensure I don't lose the credits? I did really well this year despite the health issues so wouldn't want to chuck it away completely.

my_two_cents

In addition to advice already proferred about defering to safeguard your credit, speak to your student relations officer and tell them about your mitigating circumstances; health, and request for help from them to help you apply for a Disabled Student Allowance for next year or whenever you feel you are ready to go back.